The table below is adpated from
Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC)
and climate data store documantation.
Atmosphere variables
| Variable |
Unit |
Meaning |
Related patterns |
| Flow properties |
|
|
|
| Temperature |
K |
Hot or cold |
|
| Mean sea level pressure/ Surface pressure |
Pa |
Pressure |
NAO;PNA(see sea part) |
| U/V/vertical wind |
$m/s$ |
Convection speed and direction |
QBO |
| Energy budget (heat cycle) |
|
|
|
| Mean top net long-wave radiation flux/ Outgoing Longwave Radiation |
$W m^{-2}$ |
Longwave radiation emitted to outer space. The radiation flux is negative. |
Energy output? |
| Mean top net short-wave radiation flux |
$W m^{-2}$ |
Incoming solar radiation minus the outgoing solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere |
Energy input? |
| Cloud & water content (water cycle) |
|
|
|
| Total precipitation |
m |
Accumulated liquid and frozen water |
MJO |
| Specific humidity |
kg/kg |
The mass of water vapour per kilogram of moist air |
|
| Total column water vapour |
$kg \ m^{-2}$ |
total amount of water vapour |
|
| Total column water |
$kg \ m^{-2}$ |
total amount of water vapour, liquid water, cloud ice, rain and snow in a column |
|
Land variables
| Variable |
Unit |
Meaning |
Related patterns |
| Water cycle |
|
|
|
| Mean evaporation rate |
$kg \ m^{-2} \ s^{-1}$ |
Amount of water evaporated from the Earth’s surface into the air |
|
| Vegetation |
/ |
TBC |
|
| Heat cycle |
|
|
|
| Mean evaporation rate |
$kg \ m^{-2} \ s^{-1}$ |
Amount of water evaporated from the Earth’s surface into the air |
|
| Temperature |
/ |
TBC |
|
| Ice/Glaciers |
/ |
Latent heat, TBC |
|
Ocean variables
| Variable |
Unit |
Meaning |
Related patterns |
| Sea Surface Temperature |
k |
Temperature |
Pacific Decadal Oscillation |
| Sea level pressure |
Pa |
Pressure |
North Atlantic Oscillation; Pacific North American Oscillation |
| Sea Ice |
/ |
TBC |
|