[gradsusr] WRF data in grads: Problem with the levels

Nick Heath nkh09 at fsu.edu
Thu Sep 15 09:05:23 EDT 2011


Steve,

Thank you for the info.  This sounds like a better approach to using WRF and GrADS.  

-Nick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Masters.Steve" <masters.steve at ensco.com>
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011 12:59 pm
Subject: Re: [gradsusr] WRF data in grads: Problem with the levels
To: GrADS Users Forum <gradsusr at gradsusr.org>

> An alternative to ARWpost that is not talked about much...You can 
> convert WRF data to grib format using the wrfpost program.  The 
> wrfpost program interpolates the data to constant pressure surfaces 
> (and other levels as you require) and writes the data in grib.  You 
> then use the utilities grib2ctl.pl and gribmap to produce the files 
> needed for grads.    Since I'm used to dealing with grib files from 
> NCEP models in grads, I find this approach very workable.  You can 
> find the wrfpost program from the WRF-NMM/DTC page at 
> http://www.dtcenter.org/wrf-nmm/users/.
> 
> Steve Masters
> ENSCO, Inc.
> Melbourne, FL
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gradsusr-bounces at gradsusr.org [mailto:gradsusr-
> bounces at gradsusr.org] On Behalf Of Nick Heath
> Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 8:38 AM
> To: GrADS Users Forum
> Subject: Re: [gradsusr] WRF data in grads: Problem with the levels
> 
> Hey Catherine,
> 
> Unfortunately, to extract the height/pressure levels at the model 
> sigma levels, and display WRF data in GrADS, there is an 
> intermediate step.  If you go here: 
> http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users/  and go to the Download tab, 
> there is a Post-Processing program called ARWPost that converts WRF 
> output into a GrADS friendly binary and even produces the control 
> file for you.  As you will see, the control file will look almost 
> identical to the one you created, but will have the extracted 
> pressure/height levels that you specify in the namelist.  I have 
> had problems with ARWPost creating really weird output, but I do 
> not think there is any alternative right now if you want to use GrADS.
> 
> -Nick
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Catherine Meissner <catherine at windsim.com>
> Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011 8:39 am
> Subject: [gradsusr] WRF data in grads: Problem with the levels
> To: gradsusr at gradsusr.org
> 
> > Hello,
> >
> >
> >
> > I am using WRF data files in GrADS version 2.0.a9oga, in windows.
> >
> > Having been unable to open the WRF files using xdfopen or sdfopen I
> > havewritten my own CTL file in order to open the data. Everything
> > is working for
> > me except that the z levels which the file contains do not seem to
> > correspond to the pressure. The nc dump suggests there are 29
> > levels (which
> > is correct as there were 29 eta levels in the WRF file).
> >
> > However the range of
> >
> > these levels is from 2986950,2887400,2787850 ... up to  199550,
> > 100000. How
> > can these numbers be related to pressure?
> >
> >
> >
> > All I need to know is what these Z levels mean and how I can wither
> > convertthem to pressure or to height. Thanks for any help offered.
> >
> >
> >
> > The Corresponding CTL file is:
> >
> >
> >
> > dset ^wrfout_d02_%y4-%m2-%d2_%h2_%n2_00
> >
> > dtype netcdf
> >
> > title "Iberdrola data for Jan2008"
> >
> > undef -1e+30
> >
> > options template
> >
> > pdef 140 140 lcc 33.87970 -11.30862777011 1 1 43.427 43.427 -
> > 3.839993 10000
> > 10000 xdef 140 linear -4.5000000 0.004 ydef 140 linear 41.950000
> > 0.0032 zdef
> > 30 linear 2986950 2887400,
> > 
> 2787850,2688300,2588750,2489200,2389650,2290100,2190550,2091000,1991450,1891> 800,1792300,1692800,1593250,1493700,1394150,1294600,1195050,1095500,995950,8
> > 96400,
> >
> > 796850,697300,597750,498200,398650,299100,199550,100000
> >
> > tdef 480 linear 00:00Z01jan2008 1hr
> >
> >
> >
> > vars 4
> >
> > U=>u          29  t,z,y,x westerly wind
> >
> > V=>v          29  t,z,y,x southerly wind
> >
> > P=>p          29  t,z,y,x  Pressure
> >
> > T=>t          29  t,z,y,x  perturbation potential temperature
> > (theta-t0)
> >
> > Endvars
> >
> >
> >
> > the ncdump is:
> >
> >
> >
> > netcdf wrfout_d02_2007-12-31_18_00_00 {
> >
> > dimensions:
> >
> >         Time = UNLIMITED ; // (1 currently)
> >
> >         DateStrLen = 19 ;
> >
> >         west_east = 140 ;
> >
> >         south_north = 140 ;
> >
> >         bottom_top = 29 ;
> >
> >         bottom_top_stag = 30 ;
> >
> >         soil_layers_stag = 4 ;
> >
> >         west_east_stag = 141 ;
> >
> >         force_layers = 8 ;
> >
> >         south_north_stag = 141 ;
> >
> > variables:
> >
> >         char Times(Time, DateStrLen) ;
> >
> >         float LU_INDEX(Time, south_north, west_east) ;
> >
> >                 LU_INDEX:FieldType = 104 ;
> >
> >                 LU_INDEX:MemoryOrder = "XY " ;
> >
> >                 LU_INDEX:description = "LAND USE CATEGORY" ;
> >
> >                 LU_INDEX:units = "" ;
> >
> >                 LU_INDEX:stagger = "" ;
> >
> >                 LU_INDEX:coordinates = "XLONG XLAT" ;
> >
> >         float ZNU(Time, bottom_top) ;
> >
> >                 ZNU:FieldType = 104 ;
> >
> >                 ZNU:MemoryOrder = "Z  " ;
> >
> >                 ZNU:description = "eta values on half (mass)
> > levels" ;
> >
> >                 ZNU:units = "" ;
> >
> >                 ZNU:stagger = "" ;
> >
> >         float ZNW(Time, bottom_top_stag) ;
> >
> >                 ZNW:FieldType = 104 ;
> >
> >                 ZNW:MemoryOrder = "Z  " ;
> >
> >                 ZNW:description = "eta values on full (w) levels" ;
> >
> >                 ZNW:units = "" ;
> >
> >                 ZNW:stagger = "Z" ;     (... and many more variables
> > listed)
> >
> > // global attributes:
> >
> >                 :TITLE = " OUTPUT FROM WRF V3.1.1 MODEL" ;
> >
> >                 :START_DATE = "2007-12-31_18:00:00" ;
> >
> >                 :SIMULATION_START_DATE = "2007-12-31_18:00:00" ;
> >
> >                 :WEST-EAST_GRID_DIMENSION = 141 ;
> >
> >                 :SOUTH-NORTH_GRID_DIMENSION = 141 ;
> >
> >                 :BOTTOM-TOP_GRID_DIMENSION = 30 ;
> >
> >                 :DX = 10000.f ;
> >
> >                 :DY = 10000.f ;
> >
> >                 :GRIDTYPE = "C" ;
> >
> >                 :DIFF_OPT = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :KM_OPT = 4 ;
> >
> >                 :DAMP_OPT = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :DAMPCOEF = 0.2f ;
> >
> >                 :KHDIF = 0.f ;
> >
> >                 :KVDIF = 0.f ;
> >
> >                 :MP_PHYSICS = 6 ;
> >
> >                 :RA_LW_PHYSICS = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :RA_SW_PHYSICS = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :SF_SFCLAY_PHYSICS = 2 ;
> >
> >                 :SF_SURFACE_PHYSICS = 2 ;
> >
> >                 :BL_PBL_PHYSICS = 2 ;
> >
> >                 :CU_PHYSICS = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :SURFACE_INPUT_SOURCE = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :SST_UPDATE = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :GRID_FDDA = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :GFDDA_INTERVAL_M = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :GFDDA_END_H = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :GRID_SFDDA = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :SGFDDA_INTERVAL_M = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :SGFDDA_END_H = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :SF_URBAN_PHYSICS = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :FEEDBACK = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :SMOOTH_OPTION = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :SWRAD_SCAT = 1.f ;
> >
> >                 :W_DAMPING = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :MOIST_ADV_OPT = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :SCALAR_ADV_OPT = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :TKE_ADV_OPT = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :DIFF_6TH_OPT = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :DIFF_6TH_FACTOR = 0.12f ;
> >
> >                 :OBS_NUDGE_OPT = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :WEST-EAST_PATCH_START_UNSTAG = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :WEST-EAST_PATCH_END_UNSTAG = 140 ;
> >
> >                 :WEST-EAST_PATCH_START_STAG = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :WEST-EAST_PATCH_END_STAG = 141 ;
> >
> >                 :SOUTH-NORTH_PATCH_START_UNSTAG = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :SOUTH-NORTH_PATCH_END_UNSTAG = 140 ;
> >
> >                 :SOUTH-NORTH_PATCH_START_STAG = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :SOUTH-NORTH_PATCH_END_STAG = 141 ;
> >
> >                 :BOTTOM-TOP_PATCH_START_UNSTAG = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :BOTTOM-TOP_PATCH_END_UNSTAG = 29 ;
> >
> >                 :BOTTOM-TOP_PATCH_START_STAG = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :BOTTOM-TOP_PATCH_END_STAG = 30 ;
> >
> >                 :GRID_ID = 2 ;
> >
> >                 :PARENT_ID = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :I_PARENT_START = 14 ;
> >
> >                 :J_PARENT_START = 10 ;
> >
> >                 :PARENT_GRID_RATIO = 5 ;
> >
> >                 :DT = 60.f ;
> >
> >                 :CEN_LAT = 40.5046f ;
> >
> >                 :CEN_LON = -3.839993f ;
> >
> >                 :TRUELAT1 = 43.427f ;
> >
> >                 :TRUELAT2 = 43.427f ;
> >
> >                 :MOAD_CEN_LAT = 43.427f ;
> >
> >                 :STAND_LON = -3.84f ;
> >
> >                 :POLE_LAT = 90.f ;
> >
> >                 :POLE_LON = 0.f ;
> >
> >                 :GMT = 18.f ;
> >
> >                 :JULYR = 2007 ;
> >
> >                 :JULDAY = 365 ;
> >
> >                 :MAP_PROJ = 1 ;
> >
> >                 :MMINLU = "" ;
> >
> >                 :NUM_LAND_CAT = 24 ;
> >
> >                 :ISWATER = 16 ;
> >
> >                 :ISLAKE = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :ISICE = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :ISURBAN = 0 ;
> >
> >                 :ISOILWATER = 0 ;
> >
> > }
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Catherine Meissner
> > Software Development Manager
> >
> >
> >    Fjordgaten 15
> >    N-3125 Tønsberg, Norway
> >
> >    Switchboard +47 33 38 18 00
> >
> >     <http://www.windsim.com/> www.windsim.com
> >
> > Email
> >
> > Direct
> >
> > Fax
> >
> >
> >
> > <mailto:kristine at windsim.com> catherine at windsim.com
> >
> > +47 33 38 18 06
> > +47 33 38 18 08
> >
> > Upcoming WindSim events:
> >
> >
> >
> > Brazil WindPower 2011
> >
> > August 31 - 2, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
> > Booth 141
> >
> > VIND 2011
> >
> > September 14 - 15, Stockholm, Sweden
> >
> >
> >
> > EOLICA EXPO 2011
> >
> > September 14 - 16, Rome, Italy
> > Booth B8/C7
> >
> >
> >
> > GREEN EXPO 2011
> >
> > September 27 - 29, Mexico City, Mexico
> >
> >
> >
> > WIND POWER EXPO+
> >
> > September 27 - 29, Zaragoza, Spain
> >
> > CanWEA
> >
> > October 3 - 6, Vancouver, Canada
> >
> >
> >
> > For upcoming WindSim training courses, please visit:
> > <http://www.windsim.com/events/training-courses.aspx>
> > http://www.windsim.com/events/training-courses.aspx
> >
> >
> >
> > This  message  contains  information  that  may  be  privileged  or
> > confidential and  is  the  property  of  WindSim  AS.  It  is
> > intendedonly  for  the  person  to whom  it  is  addressed.  If
> > you  are  not  the
> > intended  recipient,  you  are  not authorized  to  print,  retain,
> > copy,
> > disseminate,  distribute,  or  use  this message  or  any  part
> > thereof.If  you  receive  this  message  in  error,  please notify
> > the  sender
> > immediately  and  delete  all  copies  of  this  message.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gradsusr mailing list
> gradsusr at gradsusr.org
> http://gradsusr.org/mailman/listinfo/gradsusr
> 
> The information contained in this email message is intended only 
> for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed and may 
> contain information that is privileged and sensitive. If you are 
> not the intended recipient, or otherwise have received this 
> communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by 
> email at the above referenced address and note that any further 
> dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is 
> strictly prohibited.
> 
> The U.S. Export Control Laws regulate the export and re-export of 
> technology originating in the United States. This includes the 
> electronic transmission of information and software to foreign 
> countries and to certain foreign nationals. Recipient agrees to 
> abide by these laws and their regulations -- including the U.S. 
> Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations and the 
> U.S. Department of State International Traffic in Arms Regulations -
> - and not to transfer, by electronic transmission or otherwise, any 
> content derived from this email to either a foreign national or a 
> foreign destination in violation of such laws.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gradsusr mailing list
> gradsusr at gradsusr.org
> http://gradsusr.org/mailman/listinfo/gradsusr
> 




More information about the gradsusr mailing list