Dear Alison

> I think the key is that all these names refer to water collected at, or close 
> to, the surface (including the vegetation canopy).

> In contrast to the amount names, I think the mass_content names mean mass per 
> unit area integrated throughout the entire atmospheric column or through a 
> specified atmospheric layer. The concept is therefore not quite the same as 
> thinking of a substance collected at the surface.

I agree that's basically the distinction. We've used "amount" for a mass per
unit area on a surface e.g. rainfall_amount, sea_ice_amount, whereas
"mass content" is mass per unit area contained within a medium.

> I suggest that we don't alter all the amount names to use mass_content, but 
> instead review them to make sure that both they and their  definitions are 
> clearly marked as surface/canopy quantities. Does that sound like a 
> reasonable way forwards?

Yes, I think so. Thanks

Best wishes

Jonathan
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

Reply via email to