Sample Data

Analysis Data

Observational Data

Observational input data for LITTLE_R and/or RAWINS

• Input data format for LITTLE_R/RAWINS

• Obtaining observational input data

  • Resent datasets - available to ALL users

  • Older datasets

Input data format for LITTLE_R/RAWINS

Program LITTLE_R expects specifically formatted observational data

• The data format is ASCII, and easy to read/create
• Like REGRID, this allows a user to input his/her own data conveniently
• The input format to LITTLE_R is described in Chapter 6 of the Tutorial Notes
• A good starting point to creating your own input data is the sample program in the LITTLE_R TAR file (LITTLE_R/util/upa.f)
• We support two utility programs to obtain/convert input data for LITTLE_R
  1. fetch-little_r-data.csh will download ADP format data from NCAR's mass store and convert this data into LITTLE_R input data
  2. adp_to_little-r.csh (inside that latest FETCH TAR file - after Jan 21, 2004), will only convert ADP data into LITTLE_R input data
• ADP data are archived at NCAR/Scientific Computing Division (SCD)/Data Support Section (DSS) with dataset numbers DS353.4 and DS464.0, respectively

Program Rawins

• Is hardwired to take ADP data (described by NCEP Office Notes 29) for both upperair and surface
• We support a utility ,fetch-rawins-data.csh, that will download the ADP format data needed from NCAR's mass store
• ADP data are archived at NCAR/Scientific Computing Division (SCD)/Data Support Section (DSS) with dataset numbers DS353.4 and DS464.0, respectively

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Obtaining observational input data

• Resent dataset - available to ALL users
1. NCAR/DSS kindly provides a full year's of surface and upper-air observational data (in ADP format) to all users
2. This data can be downloaded from the Web directly
   1. Surface and Ship data (ds464.0)
   2. Upper Air data (ds353.4)
3. This site is updated monthly with new data, while data older than one year will be removed from time to time
4. Once you have the ADP data on your machine, you can use the script adp_to_little-r.csh (inside that latest FETCH TAR file - after Jan 21, 2004) to convert it to LITTLE_R input format
5. If you run RAWINS, you can use the ADP data directly

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Obtaining observational input data

• Older datasets
  1. How do I get the older ADP observational data?
  • You must either have a NCAR computing account to access the data for free or order the data from DSS with a fee (see points 3/4 below for details on how to download data)
  • To find out if you are eligible to apply for a NCAR account, contact NCAR/SCD.
  • To order data from DSS, please click here. Before you order data from DSS, you should check the data inventories (see 2 below) carefully and find out if the data for the dates you are interested are available
  • If you order the ADP data, use the script adp_to_little-r.csh (inside that latest FETCH TAR file - after Jan 21, 2004) to convert this data to LITTLE_R format
      
  2. Where can I get inventories for ADP observational data?
  • Inventories for the upper-air data (DS353.4):
    http://dss.ucar.edu/datasets/ds353.4/MSS-file-list.html
    Note that the upperair dataset DS353.4 is a subset of dataset DS353.1, and Rawins only uses data from A list.
  • Inventories for the surface and ship data (DS464.0):
    http://dss.ucar.edu/datasets/ds464.0/MSS-file-list.html
    Note, for surface data in DS464.0, use A and B lists for dates before April 1997, and E and F lists for dates after April 1997.
      
  3. Downloading ADP data for LITTLE_R:
     • The best way to do this is to use fetch-little_r-data.csh from ~mesouser/MM5V3/Util directory on NCAR's IBM, or fetch.deck in LITTLE_R/util directory in the program tar file
     • Edit the script variables that control the dates you want to download, and run the script. This deck msread data from MSS, and converts ADP data to that accepted by LITTLE_R
     • You can also download the data manually (see point 4 below)
     • If you download the data manually, you need to use the script adp_to_little-r.csh (inside that latest FETCH TAR file - after Jan 21, 2004) to convert the ADP data into LITTLE_R format  
         
  4. Downloading ADP data for RAWINS:
     You can do one of the following:
  1. Find the DSS file name from the above MSS-file-list files, and log on to one of the NCAR computers,
     
     Change directory to the temporary disk (/tmp/$USER or /ptmp/$USER on the IBM)
     
          msread -fBI upperairdata_9303 /DSS/Y19116
     
     where the DSS file name is for upperair data from Feb 28 to March 19, 1993 from DS353.4, and msread option fBI must be used to remove Cray data-blocking if you want to use the data on any workstations and Linux PCs.
     
     After msread, you may ftp the data (using binary transfer mode) to where you will be using the data.
       
  2. Use fetch-rawins-data.csh from ~mesouser/MM5V3/Util directory. Edit the script variables that control the date you want to download. Submit to the Loadleveler, or run interactively.

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