deposition chemistry vocabulary

[markusfiebig]

We are in the process of defining vocabulary for variables describing deposition chemistry (needed to make EBAS content visible).

@swr99ejo , would, in your head, precipitation mass flux a.k.a. wet deposition , be the same as hydrometeor mass flux ? If so, why do we use hydrometeor instead of precipitation ?

This is related to issue #11 .

[swr99ejo]

Hydrometeor includes liquid cloud, ice particles, drizzle, rain, so not all particles are precipitating. However, vertical (and horizontal) air motion means that there can be a significant hydrometeor flux without any precipitation present. Note that these mass fluxes are not necessarily with respect to the surface, for surface fluxes we would include a surface (sfc) prefix to the variable names.

[markusfiebig]

But if I interpret your words correctly, then "hydrometeor downward flux at the surface" is the same as "precipitation"?

[swr99ejo]

Only precipitation at the surface, not in the atmosphere. In principle, hydrometeor downward flux at the surface could include situations such as dew or frost, which is not from precipitation..

[markusfiebig]

Should we then have "precipitation" as separate matrix, with the definition:

hydrometeor downward flux at the surface, including dew, frost, and fog

?

[swr99ejo]

Precipitation implies droplets/drops with appreciable terminal fall velocity, whereas there can be a flux of any droplets/particles due to air motion. Precipitation at the surface is therefore not quite the same as precipitation in the atmosphere

[markusfiebig]

Solved!