There are various standard names for x- and y-components of vector quantities. 
For instance: `sea_water_x_velocity`. The description always states: `"x" 
indicates a vector component along the grid x-axis, positive with increasing 
x`. I assume that this description stems from the idea that the computational 
grid is a simple Cartesian mesh in some coordinate reference system. The 
attribute name `grid_mapping` also refers to that assumption.

However, in my case the curvilinear grid is not Cartesian in any coordinate 
system, but the grid may have been created in some local coordinate system 
(e.g. a UTM zone), so the grid coordinates are stored using 
`projection_x_coordinate` and `projection_y_coordinate` variables and the 
grid_mapping describes (via WKT) the relationship between those x/y coordinates 
and global latitude/longitude. On this curvilinear grid a 
`sea_water_x_velocity` quantity is stored. How should it be interpreted? As

1. a vector component along a (curvilinear) grid direction (but which one)?
2. a vector component along the `projection_x_coordinate` direction?

If 1, how should we interpret the data if it results from an unstructured model 
without two grid directions?
If 2, can we remove the word "grid" from the description `"x" indicates a 
vector component along the grid x-axis, positive with increasing x`?

Best regards,

Bert



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