Request to change Sea-ice surface temperature (code 405) to Sea-ice temperature, name, definition, and unit

[jeffrkey]

Initial request

This request is to change the name, definition, and units of the variable Sea-ice surface temperature, code 405, to Sea-ice temperature. While the surface temperature of the sea ice is unquestionably important, it is insufficient for modeling the conductive flux through the ice and hence ice growth. The new definition would include the surface temperature of sea ice, so the current requirement would be satisfied.

Current name: Sea-ice surface temperature
Proposed name: Sea-ice temperature
Current definition: Temperature of the surface of sea-ice
Proposed definition: Sea ice temperature measured at defined vertical levels in the ice and any snow on the ice, including the temperature at the ice and snow surfaces
Current units, Measuring and Uncertainy: K, Horizontal: km, Stability: K (per decade)
Current units, Measuring and Uncertainy: K, Horizontal: m, Stability: K (per decade)

Amendment details

The existing variable will be updated as follws:

notation	name	definition
405	Sea-ice temperature	Sea ice temperature measured at defined vertical levels in the ice and any snow on the ice, including the temperature at the ice and snow surfaces

All the units involved exist and no changes are needed.

Requestor(s)

Enter Group: Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW)
POCs:

• Jeff Key ([email protected]), University of Wisconsin
• Stefan Kern, University of Hamburg, [email protected]
• Petra Heil, University of Tasmania and Australian Antarctic Division, [email protected]
• Rodica Nitu, WMO, [email protected]list of requestors.

Stakeholder(s)

Numerical weather prediction for coupled ice-ocean-atmosphere modeling.

Applications or Systems

• OSCAR/Surface
• OSCAR/requirements
• Radar/DB
• OceanOPS
• WHOS
• WDQMS
• GBON Compliance Monitor
• Other

Expected impact of change

LOW

Collaborators

GCW Sea Ice Best Practices team; GCW Cryosphere and Polar Observations (CRYORA) team; Belén Martín Míguez, Ocean Earth System Category (ESAC)

References

Comments

Publication(s)

Manual on Codes (WMO-No. 306), Volume I.3, WMO Codes Registry - WMDR

To be added

Validation

To be added

[joergklausen]

How the vertical levels are defined is not specified in the above definition. We presume the reference level can be defined and will be part of the metadata accompanying the results of the measurements. If this needs to be part of the definition, then please expand on the proposal.