Choosing a Parameter Name

1. Use commonly accepted abbreviations for parameter names where possible (e.g. POC, TOC, PON).
2. Element and chemical names follow conventions of the Periodic Table (e.g. CaCo3, Ni).
3. Do not abbreviate a name if it can be spelled out with 10 characters or less (e.g. diatom). Names greater than 10 characters are abbreviated (e.g. "hnp" from heterotrophic nanoplankton).
4. Names must not start with a numeric or special character. Special characters include:

       = ? > < ! " ' - + / \ . , : | ^ * [ ] ( ) @ # $ % &
   

5. Do not use the following special characters anywhere in parameter names:

       > < ! " ' - + / \ . : ^ * [ ] 
   

6. Compound names are constructed by appending descriptors or modifiers after the main term, separated by an underscore (e.g. depth_corr, O2_ctd, O2_bot).
7. Names and modifiers commonly used in the JGOFS Data System are abbreviated as follows:
   • _C = carbon biomass
   • _f = flux
   • _p = particulate
   • _pm = particulate matter
   • _gt = greater than
   • _lt = less than
   • _upt = uptake
   • pnp = phototrophic nanoplankton
   • hnp = heterotrophic nanoplankton