tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_water_vapor_due_to_sublimation_of_surface_snow_and_ice
The phrase "tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The "atmosphere content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral from the surface to the top of the atmosphere. For the content between specified levels in the atmosphere, standard names including content_of_atmosphere_layer are used. Atmosphere water vapor content is sometimes referred to as "precipitable water", although this term does not imply the water could all be precipitated. 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. Sublimation is the conversion of solid into vapor. Surface snow refers to the snow on the solid ground or on surface ice cover, but excludes, for example, falling snowflakes and snow on plants. Unless indicated in the cell_methods attribute, a quantity is assumed to apply to the whole area of each horizontal grid box.Aliases for this term
surface_snow_and_ice_sublimation_flux
The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. Sublimation is the conversion of solid into vapor. The snow and ice sublimation flux is the loss of snow and ice mass resulting from their conversion to water vapor. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics.This term is not aliased.