diff --git a/src/lib/data/adaptors/diff.py b/src/lib/data/adaptors/diff.py
index 41e3bb3..940549e 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/adaptors/diff.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/adaptors/diff.py
@@ -1,78 +1,91 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Literal
 
 import xarray as xr
 
 from lib.data.adaptor import BareAdaptor
+from lib.data.data_with_attrs import Metadata
+from lib.latex import Latex
 from lib.parsing import parse_util
 from lib.parsing.args_registry import arg_parser
 
-type Boundary = Literal["periodic", "pad"]
+type Boundary = Literal["truncate", "periodic", "pad"]
+BOUNDARY_KEYS: tuple[Boundary, ...] = Boundary.__value__.__args__
 
 
-def _diff_one(da: xr.DataArray, dim: str, interp_dir: int, boundary: Boundary) -> xr.DataArray:
-    shifted = da.roll({dim: -interp_dir}, roll_coords=False)
+@dataclass
+class _Diff1d:
+    dim_key: str
+    dir: Literal[-1, 1]
+    boundary: Boundary
 
-    if boundary == "pad":
-        boundary_idx = 0 if interp_dir == -1 else -1
-        shifted = shifted.copy()
-        shifted[{dim: boundary_idx}] = da[{dim: boundary_idx}]
+    def apply_field_bare(self, da: xr.DataArray) -> xr.DataArray:
+        shifted = da.roll({self.dim_key: -self.dir}, roll_coords=False)
+        diff = self.dir * (shifted - da)
+
+        if self.boundary == "truncate":
+            isel = slice(1, None) if self.dir == -1 else slice(0, -1)
+            return diff.isel({self.dim_key: isel})
+
+        if self.boundary == "pad":
+            boundary_idx = 0 if self.dir == -1 else -1
+            diff[{self.dim_key: boundary_idx}] = 0.0
 
-    return interp_dir * (shifted - da)
+        return diff
 
 
 class Diff(BareAdaptor):
-    def __init__(self, specs: list[tuple[str, int, Boundary]]):
-        self.specs = specs
+    def __init__(self, diffs_1d: list[_Diff1d]):
+        self.diffs_1d = diffs_1d
+
+    def get_modified_display_latex(self, metadata: Metadata) -> Latex:
+        dims = ",".join(diff_1d.dim_key for diff_1d in self.diffs_1d)
+        return Latex(f"\\Delta_{{{dims}}}{metadata.active_var_info.display}")
 
     def apply_field_bare(self, da: xr.DataArray) -> xr.DataArray:
-        for dim, interp_dir, boundary in self.specs:
-            da = _diff_one(da, dim, interp_dir, boundary)
+        for diff_1d in self.diffs_1d:
+            da = diff_1d.apply_field_bare(da)
         return da
 
     def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
         parts = []
         prev_boundary: Boundary | None = None
-        for dim, interp_dir, boundary in self.specs:
-            if boundary != prev_boundary:
-                parts.append(boundary)
-                prev_boundary = boundary
-            sign = "+" if interp_dir > 0 else "-"
-            parts.append(f"{dim}={sign}{abs(interp_dir)}")
+        for diff_1d in self.diffs_1d:
+            if diff_1d.boundary != prev_boundary:
+                parts.append(diff_1d.boundary)
+                prev_boundary = diff_1d.boundary
+            sign = "+" if diff_1d.dir > 0 else "-"
+            parts.append(f"{diff_1d.dim_key}={sign}{abs(diff_1d.dir)}")
         return [f"diff_{'_'.join(parts)}"]
 
 
-PERIODIC_MARKER = "periodic"
-PAD_MARKER = "pad"
 DIR_TO_SHIFT = {"+": 1, "-": -1}
-DIFF_FORMAT = f"[{PERIODIC_MARKER} | {PAD_MARKER}] dim_name[,dim_name...]={set(DIR_TO_SHIFT)} [...]"
+DIFF_FORMAT = f"[{' | '.join(BOUNDARY_KEYS)}] dim_key[,dim_key...]={set(DIR_TO_SHIFT)} [...]"
 
 
 @arg_parser(
     dest="adaptors",
     flags="--diff",
     metavar=DIFF_FORMAT,
-    help=f"Take the forward ('+') or backward ('-') difference along the given dimension(s). '{PAD_MARKER}'/'{PERIODIC_MARKER}' markers determine how to handle boundaries for subsequent specs (default: {PERIODIC_MARKER}).",
+    help=f"Take the forward ('+') or backward ('-') difference along the given dimension(s). {'/'.join(BOUNDARY_KEYS)} markers determine how to handle boundaries for subsequent specs (default: {BOUNDARY_KEYS[0]}).",
     nargs="+",
 )
 def parse(args: list[str]) -> Diff:
-    specs: list[tuple[str, int, Boundary]] = []
-    boundary: Boundary = "periodic"
+    diffs_1d: list[_Diff1d] = []
+    boundary = BOUNDARY_KEYS[0]
 
     for arg in args:
-        if arg == PERIODIC_MARKER:
-            boundary = "periodic"
-            continue
-        if arg == PAD_MARKER:
-            boundary = "pad"
+        if arg in BOUNDARY_KEYS:
+            boundary = arg
             continue
 
-        dims_arg, interp_dir_arg = parse_util.parse_assignment(arg, DIFF_FORMAT)
+        dims_arg, dir_arg = parse_util.parse_assignment(arg, DIFF_FORMAT)
 
-        parse_util.check_value(interp_dir_arg, "dir", DIR_TO_SHIFT.keys())
-        interp_dir = DIR_TO_SHIFT[interp_dir_arg]
+        parse_util.check_value(dir_arg, "dir", DIR_TO_SHIFT.keys())
+        dir = DIR_TO_SHIFT[dir_arg]
 
         for dim in parse_util.parse_comma_separated_list(dims_arg):
-            parse_util.check_identifier(dim, "dim_name")
-            specs.append((dim, interp_dir, boundary))
+            parse_util.check_identifier(dim, "dim_key")
+            diffs_1d.append(_Diff1d(dim, dir, boundary))
 
-    return Diff(specs)
+    return Diff(diffs_1d)