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Improve definitions and usage of "surface" vs "surface_adjacent_layer" for wind variables, as well as "direction" #155

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Improve definitions and usage of "surface" vs "surface_adjacent_layer" for wind variables, as well as "direction" #155

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516c1a8
Addressing Issue 151: adjust `wind_at_surface` to `wind_at_surface_ad…
mkavulich Jul 23, 2026
e272c04
Rule defining "direction", add `wind_to_direction` to balance `wind_f…
mkavulich Jul 23, 2026
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14 changes: 8 additions & 6 deletions Metadata-standard-names.md
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ Variables defining or relating to timing, dates, calendar, and related concepts
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `eastward_wind_at_10m`: Wind vector component at 10 meters above surface, positive when directed eastward
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `eastward_wind_at_surface`: Wind vector component closest to surface, positive when directed eastward
* `eastward_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, positive when directed eastward
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `geopotential_at_interfaces`: Geopotential at interfaces
* `real`: units = m2 s-2
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ Variables defining or relating to timing, dates, calendar, and related concepts
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `northward_wind_at_10m`: Wind vector component at 10 meters above surface, positive when directed northward
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `northward_wind_at_surface`: Wind vector component closest to surface, positive when directed northward
* `northward_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, positive when directed northward
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `physics_state_due_to_dynamics`: Physics state due to dynamics
* `ddt`: units = none
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -601,14 +601,16 @@ Variables defining or relating to timing, dates, calendar, and related concepts
* `real`: units = kg kg-1
* `water_vapor_mixing_ratio_wrt_moist_air_two_timesteps_back`: Specific humidity (water vapor mass mixing ratio with respect to moist air) two timesteps back
* `real`: units = kg kg-1
* `wind_from_direction_at_surface`: Direction, from north, of wind speed closest to surface
* `wind_from_direction_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Direction (clockwise from north) wind vector is pointing away from, at the layer closest to surface.
* `real`: units = degrees
* `wind_speed_at_surface`: Scalar wind speed closest to surface
* `wind_speed_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Scalar wind speed at layer closest to surface
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `wind_to_direction_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Direction (clockwise from north) wind vector is pointing towards at the layer closest to surface.
* `real`: units = degrees
* `x_wind`: Horizontal wind in a direction perpendicular to y_wind
* Equivalent CF name: `x_wind`
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `x_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: X wind at surface adjacent layer
* `x_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, perpendicular to y_wind
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `x_wind_of_new_state`: X wind of new state
* `real`: units = m s-1
Expand All @@ -617,7 +619,7 @@ Variables defining or relating to timing, dates, calendar, and related concepts
* `y_wind`: Horizontal wind in a direction perpendicular to x_wind
* Equivalent CF name: `y_wind`
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `y_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Y wind at surface adjacent layer
* `y_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer`: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, perpendicular to x_wind
* `real`: units = m s-1
* `y_wind_of_new_state`: Y wind of new state
* `real`: units = m s-1
Expand Down
32 changes: 20 additions & 12 deletions Metadata-standard-names.yaml
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Expand Up @@ -901,9 +901,9 @@ section:
eastward
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: eastward_wind_at_surface
description: Wind vector component closest to surface, positive when directed
eastward
- name: eastward_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, positive when
directed eastward
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: geopotential_at_interfaces
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1020,9 +1020,9 @@ section:
northward
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: northward_wind_at_surface
description: Wind vector component closest to surface, positive when directed
northward
- name: northward_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, positive when
directed northward
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: physics_state_due_to_dynamics
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1170,21 +1170,28 @@ section:
moist air) two timesteps back
type: real
units: kg kg-1
- name: wind_from_direction_at_surface
description: Direction, from north, of wind speed closest to surface
- name: wind_from_direction_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: Direction (clockwise from north) wind vector is pointing away from,
at the layer closest to surface.
type: real
units: degrees
- name: wind_speed_at_surface
description: Scalar wind speed closest to surface
- name: wind_speed_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: Scalar wind speed at layer closest to surface
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: wind_to_direction_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: Direction (clockwise from north) wind vector is pointing towards
at the layer closest to surface.
type: real
units: degrees
- name: x_wind
cfname: x_wind
description: Horizontal wind in a direction perpendicular to y_wind
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: x_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: X wind at surface adjacent layer
description: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, perpendicular
to y_wind
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: x_wind_of_new_state
Expand All @@ -1201,7 +1208,8 @@ section:
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: y_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer
description: Y wind at surface adjacent layer
description: Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, perpendicular
to x_wind
type: real
units: m s-1
- name: y_wind_of_new_state
Expand Down
1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions StandardNamesRules.rst
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Expand Up @@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ Terminology
| | | | vegetation categories |
+-------------------+-----------+---------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+

#. The ``direction`` of a vector, unless noted otherwise, is the geographical bearing measured in the positive clockwise direction from due north. For example, ``wind_to_direction = 90`` is the same as ``wind_from_direction = 270``, meaning wind blowing towards the east.

#. **Disallowed terms:** A few terms are disallowed as standard name components for various reasons; mostly due to
ambiguity.
Expand Down
15 changes: 9 additions & 6 deletions standard_names.xml
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -669,7 +669,7 @@
<standard_name name="eastward_wind_at_10m" description="Wind vector component at 10 meters above surface, positive when directed eastward">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="eastward_wind_at_surface" description="Wind vector component closest to surface, positive when directed eastward">
<standard_name name="eastward_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, positive when directed eastward">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="geopotential_at_interfaces">
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -757,7 +757,7 @@
<standard_name name="northward_wind_at_10m" description="Wind vector component at 10 meters above surface, positive when directed northward">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="northward_wind_at_surface" description="Wind vector component closest to surface, positive when directed northward">
<standard_name name="northward_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, positive when directed northward">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="physics_state_due_to_dynamics">
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -862,17 +862,20 @@
<standard_name name="water_vapor_mixing_ratio_wrt_moist_air_two_timesteps_back" description="Specific humidity (water vapor mass mixing ratio with respect to moist air) two timesteps back">
<type units="kg kg-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="wind_from_direction_at_surface" description="Direction, from north, of wind speed closest to surface">
<standard_name name="wind_from_direction_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Direction (clockwise from north) wind vector is pointing away from, at the layer closest to surface.">
<type units="degrees">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="wind_speed_at_surface" description="Scalar wind speed closest to surface">
<standard_name name="wind_speed_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Scalar wind speed at layer closest to surface">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="wind_to_direction_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Direction (clockwise from north) wind vector is pointing towards at the layer closest to surface.">
<type units="degrees">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="x_wind" description="Horizontal wind in a direction perpendicular to y_wind">
<cfname>x_wind</cfname>
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="x_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer">
<standard_name name="x_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, perpendicular to y_wind">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="x_wind_of_new_state">
Expand All @@ -885,7 +888,7 @@
<cfname>y_wind</cfname>
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="y_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer">
<standard_name name="y_wind_at_surface_adjacent_layer" description="Wind vector component at layer closest to surface, perpendicular to x_wind">
<type units="m s-1">real</type>
</standard_name>
<standard_name name="y_wind_of_new_state">
Expand Down
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