CF Standard Names - Construction of Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Terms
Return to Start page for Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Names PLEASE DO NOT USE THE NAVIGATION BAR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE!
This page provides our ideas on how to construct new names for chemistry and aerosols in the future.
For the standard_names actually proposed to the CF convention see Proposed Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Names
UNFINISHED - WORK IN PROGRESS Version update
- first version 22 May 2006
- updated 2 June 2006 Christiane Textor
- updated 8 June 2006 Christiane Textor
- updated 12 June 2006 Michael Schulz
- updated 13 June 2006 Christiane Textor
- updated 30 June 2006 Christiane Textor
- updated 30 June 2006 Olivier Boucher (Aerosols)
- updated 3 July 2006 Christiane Textor (Aerosols and name concepts)
Comments to ChristianeTextor or directly on our discussion page are highly welcome!
You can directly modify the tables here, all versions are stored under 'history'. However, in order to keep track of the changes, please send an email to ChristianeTextor.
The ideas in these table are based on work in the PRISM project (Peter van Velthoven) see PRISM Standard Name Tables, latest Version, V 1.3
Table 1 provides the name-components and terms to be used in constructing CF names for Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol purposes.
Tables 2 add a list of chemical and aerosol species to be used together with the name components given in table 1.
Tables 3 provide a list of most often used standard names, constructed solely from name components and species already mentioned in tables 1 and 2.
Table 1: Components to construct full CF standard names
Several types of Name-components exist: 1) Compartments; 2) Interface or Origin information; 3) Concentration/mixing ratio/column burden; 4) Fluxes; 5) Optical properties
Missing:
- forcing variables for aerosols are still missing, see however existing names for radiative forcing
Remarks:
- articles and prepositions should be avoided
- try to use SI units (e.g. not hours but seconds)
- atmosphere_optical_thickness_due_to_X is defined by CF, however: 1) very long name, 2) does not fit with cloud_optical_depth, 3) is there any opt. depth not in the atmosphere? therefore suggestion of this new name/alias"
Construction | |||||||
Large Scale compartement | explanation | unit | further remark | ||||
atmosphere | atmosphere, in all phases, if no phase (e.g. in air, in clouds) is given | large-scale property, prefix | |||||
below_chemical_tropopause | from surface to chemical tropopause (150 ppb O3 isosurfac), in all phases, if no phase (e.g. in air, in clouds) is given | large-scale property but very long, so not prefix | |||||
Medium | explanation | unit | further remark | ||||
in_air | in humid air | locally measurable | |||||
in_cloudy_air | in cloudy air | locally measurable | |||||
in_cloud_water | within cloud-water or cloud-ice | locally measurable | |||||
in_rain_water | within precipitating rain water | locally measurable | |||||
in_sea_water | in sea water | locally measurable | |||||
in_stomata | in stomata of leaves | locally measurable | |||||
Horizontal position (surface): Interface or Origin information | |||||||
from_stratosphere | origin in stratosphere | ||||||
from_troposphere | origin of tracer in troposphere | ||||||
surface | at surface level, prefix | ||||||
xx_tropopause | tropopause level (xx: chemical (150 ppv O3 isosurface), more definitions??) | ||||||
toa | top of atmosphere level, prefix | ||||||
Concentration/mixing ratio/column | unit | ||||||
mass_content | vertically integrated mass | kg m-2 | |||||
mole_content | vertically integrated moles | mole m-2 | |||||
number_content | vertically integrated number | 1 m-2 | |||||
mole_fraction | for gases | mole mole-1, 1 | |||||
mass_fraction | for gases and aerosols | kg kg-1, 1 | |||||
mass_concentration | aerosols mass | kg m-3 | |||||
number_concentration | aerosols number | 1 m-3 |
| ||||
Fluxes | [species-unit second-1] | ||||||
dry_deposition_mass_flux_due_to_turbulence | turbulent dry deposition | kg m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_mole_flux_due_to_turbulence | turbulent dry deposition | mole m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_number_flux_due_to_turbulence | turbulent dry deposition | 1 m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_mass_flux_due_to_sedimentation | sedimentation/gravitational settling | kg m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_mole_flux_due_to_sedimentation | sedimentation/gravitational settling | mole m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_number_flux_due_to_sedimentation | sedimentation/gravitational settling | 1 m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_mass_flux | dry deposition due to turbulence and sedimentation | kg m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_mole_flux | dry deposition due to turbulence and sedimentation | mole m-2 s-1 | |||||
dry_deposition_number_flux | dry deposition due to turbulence and sedimentation | 1 m-2 s-1 | |||||
emission_mass_flux | emission | kg m-2 s-1 | |||||
emission_mole_flux | emission | mole m-2 s-1 | |||||
emission_number_flux | emission | 1 m-2 s-1 | |||||
chemical_gross_X_production_rate | chemical production rate, X can be mole, mole fraction, mass, etc. | [unit of X] s-1 | |||||
chemical_net_X_production_rate | net chemical production rate of X, X can be mole, mole fraction, mass, etc. | [unit of X] s-1 | |||||
chemical_X_destruction_rate | chemical destruction rate of X, X can be mole, mole fraction, mass, etc. | [unit of X] s-1 | |||||
chemical_gross_X_production | chemical production, X can be mole, mole fraction, mass, etc., time period of production provided by cell method | [unit of X] | |||||
chemical_net_X_production | net chemical production of X, X can be mole, mole fraction, mass, etc., time period of production provided by cell method | [unit of X] | |||||
chemical_X_destruction | chemical destruction of X, X can be mole, mole fraction, mass, etc., time period of production provided by cell method | [unit of X] | |||||
gases G | |||||||
chemical_gross_mole_production | chemical production | mole m-3 | |||||
chemical_net_mole_production | net chemical production | mole m-3 | |||||
chemical_mole_destruction | chemical destruction | mole m-3 | |||||
emission_mole_flux_of_G | mole m-2 s-1 | ||||||
surface_dry_deposition_mole_flux_of_G | mole m-2 s-1 | ||||||
surface_wet_deposition_mole_flux_of_G | mole m-2 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_gross_mole_fraction_production_rate_of_G_in_air | s-1=mole mole-1 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_net_mole_fraction_production_rate_of_G_in_air | s-1=mole mole-1 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_mole_fraction_destruction_rate_of_G_in_air? | s-1=mole mole-1 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_gross_mole_fraction_production_G_in_air | s-1=mole mole-1 | ||||||
chemical_net_mole_fraction_production_of_G_in_air | s-1=mole mole-1 | ||||||
chemical_mole_fraction_destruction_of_G_in_air? | s-1=mole mole-1 | ||||||
aerosols A | |||||||
surface_emission_mass_flux_of_A | kg m-2 s-1 | ||||||
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_due_to_turbulence_of_A | kg m-2 s-1 | ||||||
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_due_to_sedimentation_of_A | kg m-2 s-1 | ||||||
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_of_A | kg m-2 s-1 | ||||||
surface_wet_deposition_mass_flux_of_A | kg m-2 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_gross_mass_concentration_production_rate_of_A_in_air | kg m-3 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_net_mass_concentration_production_rate_of_A_in_air | kg m-3 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_mass_concentration_destruction_rate_of_A_in_air | kg m-3 s-1 | ||||||
chemical_gross_mass_concentration_production_of_A_in_air | kg m-3 | ||||||
chemical_net_mass_concentration_production_of_A_in_air | kg m-3 | ||||||
chemical_mass_concentration_destruction_of_A_in_air | kg m-3 | ||||||
Velocities | |||||||
dry_deposition_velocity_due_to_turbulence | turbulent dry deposition velocity | m s-1 | |||||
Optical properties / forcing | |||||||
optical_depth_at_XX_nm | aerosol optical depth at wavelength XX nm | 1 | equivalent to atmosphere_optical_thickness_due_to_X ? | ||||
Existing terms for Radiative Forcing | forcing specified per species | W m-2 | to be used with species name (X_forcing) | ||||
Others | |||||||
flash_frequency_due_to_lightning | flash frequency due to lightning | s-1=flashes s-1 | |||||
grid_box_area | model grid box area | m2 |
Table 2: Species names
Table 2.1: Chemicals
Gas Species | |||
CF species_name | Species | Chemical formula | Remarks |
gases | |||
nitrogen_monoxide | Nitrogen monoxide | NO | |
hydrogen_peroxide | Hydrogen peroxide | H2O2 | |
methane | Methane | CH4 | |
carbon_monoxide | Carbon monoxide | CO | |
nitric_acid | Nitric acid | HNO3 | |
methyl_hydrogen_peroxide | Methyl hydrogen peroxide | CH3O2H | |
formaldehyde | Formaldehyde | CH2O | |
peroxyacetyl_nitrate | Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) | CH3C(O)O2NO2 | |
sulfur_dioxide | Sulfur dioxide | SO2 | |
dimethyl_sulfide | Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) ** | CH3SCH3 | |
ammonia | Ammonia | NH3 | |
ammonium | Ammonium | NH4 | |
methane_sulfonic_acid | Methane sulfonic acid (MSA) | CH3SO2OH | |
hydroperoxy_radical | Hydroperoxy radical | HO2 | |
methyl_peroxy_radical | Methyl peroxy radical | CH3O2 | |
hydroxyl_radical | Hydroxyl radical (hydroxy radical) | OH | |
nitrogen_dioxide | Nitrogen dioxide | NO2 | |
nitrate_radical | Nitrate radical | NO3 | |
dinitrogen_pentoxide | Dinitrogen pentoxide | N2O5 | |
noy | NOy | NOy | NOy is the sum of all simulated oxidized nitrogen species, out of NO, NO2, HNO3, HNO4, NO3aerosol, NO3(radical), N2O5, PAN, other organic nitrates
|
nitric_acid | Nitric acid | HNO3 | |
peroxy_nitric_acid | Peroxy nitric acid | HNO4 | |
peroxyacetyl_radical | Peroxy acetyl radical | C2O3 | |
oxygen_radical_in_1D_state | Oxygen radical in the 1D (excited) state | O(1-D) | |
ethane | ethane | C2H6 | |
ethylene | ethylene or ethene | C2H4 | |
acetylene | acetylene | C2H2 | |
propane | propane | C3H8 | |
propene | propene | C3H6 | |
acetone | acetone | C3H6O | |
butane | butane | C4H10 | |
methyl_glyoxal | Methyl glyoxal | CH3C(O)C(O)H | |
isoprene | Isoprene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene | C5H8 | |
lead | lead | Pb | |
radon | radon | Rn | |
lumped species (modified CBMiv) | Species | ||
paraffinic_carbon_bonds | paraffinic (alkanic) carbon bonds | ||
olefinic_carbon_bonds | olefinic (alkenic) carbon bonds | ||
aldehydes_higher_than_2 | acetaldehyde and higher aldehydes, | ||
organic_peroxides | lumped higher organic peroxides, ROOH | ||
organic_nitrates | lumped alkyl nitrates, organic nitrates, RNO3 | ||
secondary_organic_oxy_radical | the secondary_organic_oxy_radical, ROR | ||
alkyl_peroxy_radical | alkyl peroxy radicals, XO2 | ||
intermediate_product_of_isoprene_oxidation | XO2N (intermediate product of isoprene oxidation) | ||
families | |||
nox | NOx=NO+NO2 | ||
hox | HOx=OH+HO2 | ||
Table 2.2: Aerosols
Aerosol Species | |||
CF species_name | Species | Chemical formula | Remarks |
aerosols | |||
dust_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol dust | ||
seasalt_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol seasalt | ||
black_carbon_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol black carbon | BC | |
hydrophilic_black_carbon_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol hydrophilic black carbon | BC | |
hydrophobic_black_carbon_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol hydrophobic black carbon | BC | |
organic_carbon_aerosol_from_terpenes_as_particulate_organic_matter_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol organic carbon aerosol from terpenes | ? | |
organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_matter_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol organic carbon | OM (organic matter) | |
hydrophilic_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_matter_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol hydrophilic organic carbon | OM (organic matter) | |
hydrophobic_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_matter_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol hydrophobic organic carbon | OM (organic matter) | |
sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol sulfate | SO4 | |
nitrate_as_nitrate_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol nitrate | NO3 | |
ammonium_as_ammonium_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol ammonium | NH4 | |
ammonium_sulfate_dry_aerosol | dry aerosol ammonium sulfate | (NH4)2SO4 | |
dry_aerosol | dry aerosol total aerosol | ||
aerosol_water | water (H2O) associated with aerosol | ||
conversion_factor_OC_POM_aerosol | conversion factor organic carbon to particulate organic carbon | ||
pm10_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diameter of 10um or less | ||
pm2p5_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diameter of 2.5um or less | ||
pm1_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diameter of 1um or less | ||
pm0p1_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diameter of 0.1um or less | ||
nucleation_mode_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diamater of 0.01um or less | ||
aitken_mode_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diamater between 0.01 and 0.1um | ||
accumulation_mode_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diamater between 0.1 and 1um | ||
coarse_aerosol | particles of ambient aerodynamic diamater between 2.5 and 10um |
Table 3: Future names
Table 3.1: Future names for chemicals
Proposed Standard names | ||
CF Standard_name | Canonical unit | |
gas phase species | ||
mole_fraction_of_methane_in_air | volume mixing ratio of methane, CH4 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_methyl_hydrogen_peroxide_in_air | volume mixing ratio of methyl hydrogen peroxide, CH3O2H | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_dimethyl_sulfide_in_air | volume mixing ratio of dimethyl sulfide, DMS, CH3SCH3 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_ammonia_in_air | volume mixing ratio of ammonia, NH3 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_ammonium_in_air | volume mixing ratio of ammonium, NH4 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_methane_sulfonic_acid_in_air | volume mixing ratio of methane sulfonic acid, MSA, CH3SO2OH | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_methyl_peroxy_radical_in_air | volume mixing ratio of the methyl peroxy radical, CH3O2 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_nitrate_radical_in_air | volume mixing ratio of the nitrate radical, NO3 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_dinitrogen_pentoxide_in_air | volume mixing ratio of dinitrogen pentoxide, N2O5 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_peroxy_nitric_acid_in_air | volume mixing ratio of peroxy nitric acid, HNO4 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_peroxy_acetyl_radical_in_air | volume mixing ratio of the peroxy acetyl radical, C2O3 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_oxygen_radical_in_1D_state_in_air | volume mixing ratio of the oxygen radical in the 1D excited state, O(1D) | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_ethane_in_air | volume mixing ratio of ethane, C2H6 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_ethene_in_air | volume mixing ratio of ethene, C2H4 (aka ethylene) | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_acetylene_in_air | volume mixing ratio of acetylene, C2H2 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_propane_in_air | volume mixing ratio of propane, C3H8 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_propene_in_air | volume mixing ratio of propene, C3H6 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_acetone_in_air | volume mixing ratio of acetone, C3H6O | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_butane_in_air | volume mixing ratio of butane, C4H10 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_methyl_glyoxal_in_air | volume mixing ratio of methyl_glyoxal, CH3COCOH | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_isoprene_in_air | volume mixing ratio of isoprene, C5H8 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
derived: | ||
lumped species | ||
mole_fraction_of_paraffinic_carbon_bonds_in_air | volume mixing ratio of paraffinic carbon bonds | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_olefinic_carbon_bonds_in_air | volume mixing ratio of olefinic carbon bonds | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_aldehydes_higher_than_2_in_air | volume mixing ratio of aldehydes with more than one C atom, RCHO | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_organic_peroxides_in_air | volume mixing ratio of lumped higher organic peroxides, ROOH | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_organic_nitrates_in_air | volume mixing ratio of lumped alkyl nitrates, organic nitrates, RNO3 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_secondary_organic_oxy_radical_in_air | volume mixing ratio of the secondary_organic_oxy_radical, ROR | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_alkyl_peroxy_radical_in_air | volume mixing ratio of alkyl peroxy radicals, XO2 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
mole_fraction_of_intermediate_product_of_isoprene_oxidation_in_air | volume mixing ratio of XO2N (intermediate product of isoprene oxidation) | 1 (mole mole-1) |
Families | ||
mole_fraction_of_hox_in_air | volume mixing ratio of HOx=OH+HO2 | 1 (mole mole-1) |
gases: fluxes/productions/emissions | ||
chemical_mole_fraction_destruction_rate_of_sulfur_dioxide | chemical destruction rate of SO2 | s-1=(mole mole-1 s-1) |
Table 3.2: Future names for aerosols
Proposed Standard names | ||
aerosols | ||
mass_concentration_of_sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry aerosol sulfate aerosol (SO4) | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_nitrate_as_nitrate_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry aerosol nitrate aerosol (NO3-) | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_ammonium_sulfate_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry ammoniumsulfate aerosol ((NH4)2SO4) | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_seasalt_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry seasalt aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_organic_carbon_from_terpenes_as_particulate_organic_carbon_aerosol_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry aerosol from terpenes | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry organic carbon aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_hydrophilic_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry hydrophilic organic carbon aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_hydrophobic_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry hydrophobic organic carbon aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_black_carbon_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry black carbon aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_hydrophilic_black_carbon_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry hydrophilic black carbon aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_hydrophobic_black_carbon_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry hydrophobic black carbon aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_dust_dry_aerosol_in_air | dry dust aerosol | kg m-3 |
mass_concentration_of_aerosol_water | aerosol water | kg m-3 |
aerosols: fluxes/productions/emissions | ||
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_of_sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol | dry deposition of dry sulfate at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_of_seasalt_dry_aerosol | dry deposition of dry seasalt at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_of_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol | dry deposition of dry organic carbon at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_of_black_carbon_dry_aerosol | dry deposition of dry black carbon at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_dry_deposition_mass_flux_of_dust_dry_aerosol | dry deposition of dry dust at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_wet_deposition_mass_flux_of_sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol | wet deposition of dry sulfate at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_wet_deposition_mass_flux_of_seasalt_dry_aerosol | wet deposition of dry seasalt at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_wet_deposition_mass_flux_of_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol | wet deposition of dry organic carbon at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_wet_deposition_mass_flux_of_black_carbon_dry_aerosol | wet deposition of dry black carbon at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_wet_deposition_mass_flux_of_dust_dry_aerosol | wet deposition of dry dust at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_emission_mass_flux_of_sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol | emission of dry sulfate at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_emission_mass_flux_of_seasalt_dry_aerosol | emission of dry seasalt at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_emission_mass_flux_of_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol | emission of dry organic carbon at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_emission_mass_flux_of_black_carbon_dry_aerosol | emission of dry black carbon at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
surface_emission_mass_flux_of_dust_dry_aerosol | emission of dry dust at the surface 2D | kg m-2 s-1 |
atmosphere_emission_mass_flux_of_sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol | emission of dry sulfate in the atmosphere 3D (including chemical production) | kg m-3 s-1 |
atmosphere_emission_mass_flux_of_organic_carbon_as_particulate_organic_carbon_dry_aerosol | emission of dry organic carbon in the atmosphere 3D | kg m-3 s-1 |
atmosphere_emission_mass_flux_of_black_carbon_dry_aerosol | emission of dry black carbon in the atmosphere 3D | kg m-3 s-1 |
atmosphere_chemical_net_mass_concentration_production_rate_of_sulfate_as_sulfate_dry_aerosol | chemical production rate of dry sulfate | kg m-3 s-1 |
optical properties | ||
sulfate_ambient_aerosol_optical_depth_at_XX_nm | sulfate aerosol optical depth at XX nm | 1 |
black_carbon_ambient_aerosol_optical_depth_at_XX_nm | dry black carbon aerosol optical depth at XX nm | 1 |
organic_carbon_ambient_aerosol_optical_depth_at_XX_nm | organic carbon aerosol optical depth at XX nm | 1 |
dust_aerosol_ambient_optical_depth_at_XX_nm | dry dust aerosol optical depth at XX nm | 1 |
seasalt_aerosol_ambient_optical_depth_at_XX_nm | dry seasalt aerosol optical depth at XX nm | 1 |