Term: sea_surface_height_above_mean_sea_level_due_to_storm_surge

Unit: m

Unit ref: ULAA

AMIP:

GRIB:

"Sea surface height" is a time-varying quantity. "Height_above_X" means the vertical distance above the named surface X. "Mean sea level" means the time mean of sea surface elevation at a given location over an arbitrary period sufficient to eliminate the tidal signals. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_process" means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. Storm surge effects, due to meteorological forcing of the ocean and interaction between the generated surge and tides, are a significant contributor to the observed sea surface height.

Term: non_tidal_elevation_of_sea_surface_height

Unit: m

Unit ref: ULAA

AMIP:

GRIB:

"Sea surface height" is a time-varying quantity. "Height_above_X" means the vertical distance above the named surface X. "Mean sea level" means the time mean of sea surface elevation at a given location over an arbitrary period sufficient to eliminate the tidal signals. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_process" means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. Storm surge effects, due to meteorological forcing of the ocean and interaction between the generated surge and tides, are a significant contributor to the observed sea surface height.

Term: non_tidal_elevation_of_sea_surface_height

Unit: m

Unit ref: ULAA

AMIP:

GRIB:

"Sea surface height" is a time-varying quantity. The phrase "non_tidal_elevation" describes the contribution to sea surface height variability made by processes other than astronomic forcing of the ocean and shallow water resonance of tidal components. These processes include storm surge (due to a combination of meteorological forcing of the ocean and interaction between the generated surge and tides), effects of surface ocean waves, and seasonal and climatic variation in ocean density and circulation. The contribution made by each process varies according to the averaging time of the variable as described by the bounds and cell_methods attributes of the data variable.