diff --git a/Metadata-standard-names.md b/Metadata-standard-names.md
index 346defa..20d51b7 100644
--- a/Metadata-standard-names.md
+++ b/Metadata-standard-names.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 * [coordinates](#coordinates)
 * [state_variables](#state_variables)
 * [land_surface](#land_surface)
+* [marine](#marine)
 * [diagnostics](#diagnostics)
 * [atmospheric_composition](#atmospheric_composition)
 * [atmospheric_composition: GOCART aerosols](#atmospheric_composition-gocart-aerosols)
@@ -544,6 +545,17 @@ Note that appending '_on_previous_timestep' to standard_names in this section yi
     * `real`: units = m3 m-3
 * `volume_fraction_of_liquid_water_in_soil_at_wilting_point`: volume fraction of water in liquid phase in soil at wilting point
     * `real`: units = m3 m-3
+## marine
+* `potential_temperature_of_sea_water`: sea water potential temperature
+    * `real`: units = K
+* `sea_water_depth`: The depth below the surface of the sea
+    * `real`: units = m
+* `sea_water_salinity`: The practical salinity of sea water
+    * `real`: units = PSU
+* `sea_water_absolute_salinity`: The absolute salinity of sea water
+    * `real`: units = g kg-1
+* `sea_water_temperature`: The temperature of sea water
+    * `real`: units = K
 ## diagnostics
 * `total_precipitation_rate_at_surface`: Total precipitation rate at surface
     * `real`: units = m s-1
diff --git a/standard_names.xml b/standard_names.xml
index 6390bea..4065702 100644
--- a/standard_names.xml
+++ b/standard_names.xml
@@ -1000,6 +1000,28 @@
       <type units="m3 m-3">real</type>
     </standard_name>
   </section>
+  <section name="marine">
+    <standard_name name="potential_temperature_of_sea_water"
+                   description="sea water potential temperature">
+      <type units="K">real</type>
+    </standard_name>
+    <standard_name name="sea_water_depth"
+                     description="The depth below the surface of the sea">
+        <type units="m">real</type>
+    </standard_name>
+    <standard_name name="sea_water_salinity"
+                   description="The practical salinity of sea water">
+       <type units="PSU">real</type>
+    </standard_name>
+    <standard_name name="sea_water_absolute_salinity"
+                   description="The absolute salinity of sea water">
+       <type units="g kg-1">real</type>
+    </standard_name>
+    <standard_name name="sea_water_temperature"
+                     description="The temperature of sea water">
+        <type units="K">real</type>
+    </standard_name>
+  </section>
   <section name="diagnostics">
     <standard_name name="total_precipitation_rate_at_surface">
       <type units="m s-1">real</type>