Standard name for pressure and potential temperature in WRF

[weiwilliam]

Hello all,

I have an application that would like to directly work with WRF output and follow the naming convention, but there are some variables in WRF not described in the standard name convention.

Here is my current consideration for those variables,

• P: perturbation_of_air_pressure
• PB: base_state_of_air_pressure
• T: perturbation_of_air_potential_temperature
• pt_base: base_state_of_air_potential_temperature

Please let me know if you need further information.
Looking forward to have your inputs.
Thanks!

[mkavulich]

@weiwilliam I would suggest somewhat different names for greater precision:

• PB: eta_coordinate_reference_air_pressure
• P: perturbation_from_eta_coordinate_reference_air_pressure
• T: perturbation_from_eta_coordinate_reference_potential_temperature
• pt_base: eta_coordinate_reference_potential_temperature

This way it is clear the type of perturbation that is being specified, in case other models employ different strategies. I wasn't sure what variable pt_base was supposed to correspond to, but I guessed this is T00 in WRF output?

While I did reference section 5.2.2 of the WRF technical guide for these descriptions, I haven't worked with WRF output in a few years, and it's possible the wording could be better, so I welcome any different suggestions.