Dear Sophie and Jonathan,

I would be happy with either of Jonathan's suggestions:
>   temperature_at_top_of_ice_sheet_model
> or
>   temperature_at_base_of_surface_snow_model.

I agree that these are both clear and we do have existing names that refer 
explicitly to models.

Best wishes,
Alison

> -----Original Message-----
> From: CF-metadata [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
> Jonathan Gregory
> Sent: 06 October 2016 17:28
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [CF-metadata] additional standard name for ISMIP6
> 
> Dear Sophie and Alison
> 
> > 1. snow_land_ice_interface_temperature (K)
> 
> > 'Surface Temperature that is used to force ice sheet models. It is the
> temperature at the base of the snowpack models, and does not vary with
> seasons. Report surface temperature of ice sheet where snow thickness is
> zero.'
> 
> > I think the name itself is clear and that not mentioning firn (unless 
> > strictly
> necessary) makes the name easier to understand for non-experts as well as
> experts.
> 
> Sorry to be awkward, but I think this may not be entirely clear. I understand
> the idea and I see why it was natural to use "firn" to mean the part of
> the ice-sheet that you regard as the ice, not as overlying snow. However I
> agree that "firn" is an obscure term. In fact this level is really a model
> concept, isn't it, as the definition indicates. In reality there is not a 
> clear
> distinction between the snowpack and the ice, or at least not necessarily at
> the level we want to name here. Could we acknowledge this by calling it
>   temperature_at_top_of_ice_sheet_model
> or
>   temperature_at_base_of_surface_snow_model
> The former would have the advantage that it would *always* apply, even if
> there is no snow, and it corresponds to the first sentence of the definition
> given. In the second I suggest surface_snow instead of snowpack because we
> consistently use the former for snow lying on the ground in standard names.
> Reference to models is not unprecedented in standard names e.g.
>   net_downward_radiative_flux_at_top_of_atmosphere_model
> 
> Best wishes
> 
> Jonathan
> _______________________________________________
> CF-metadata mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

Reply via email to