# ERA5 shortname changed from msdwswrf to avg\_sdswrf?

**URL:** <https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/era5-shortname-changed-from-msdwswrf-to-avg-sdswrf/10960>\
**Category:** C3S - Datasets and Usage\
**Tags:** api, netcdf, cds, era5\
**Created:** [23 January 2025 20:01 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/era5-shortname-changed-from-msdwswrf-to-avg-sdswrf/10960 "2025-01-23T20:01:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jerl\_Simpson](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Jerl\_Simpson](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Jerl_Simpson)\
**Post date:** [23 January 2025 20:01 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/era5-shortname-changed-from-msdwswrf-to-avg-sdswrf/10960/1 "2025-01-23T20:01:35Z")

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Hi:

I’m wondering if the short name for **Mean surface downward short-wave radiation flux** has been changed with out the documentation update.  
 ![image](https://forum.ecmwf.int/uploads/default/optimized/1X/4f195a337e8bab5af495d945a1995422972dd28b_2_690x24.png)

Our scripts broke today and upon inspection it looks as if the previous short name **msdwswrf** has been changed to **avg\_sdswrf**.

I couldn’t find an announcement for this change, does anyone know if this is permanent or just a fluke.

I apologize if I missed the announcement for this change.

While typing this, I did notice it is updated on the parameter detail page:  
[Mean surface downward short-wave radiation flux](https://apps.ecmwf.int/codes/grib/param-db/235035)

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**Author:** ![Jason\_Antic](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@Jason\_Antic](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Jason_Antic)\
**Post date:** [24 January 2025 13:45 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/era5-shortname-changed-from-msdwswrf-to-avg-sdswrf/10960/2 "2025-01-24T13:45:06Z")

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Currently I’m seeing it now as “avg\_sdirswrf”. Seems that it’s still in flux. Broke our scripts too.