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Filing the grid in McIDAS

When the unpacking process is complete and the entire GRIB message is successfully decoded, the decoder passes the GRIB structures to DMGRID to be reformatted for McIDAS.

Once the message is converted to McIDAS format, DMGRID uses the mcrtgrdf function to determine the grid file for storing the message. The correct grid file is determined by using stored grid header information, consisting of the model, the runtime of the model, and the forecast time, geographic coverage, and the configuration file RTMODELS.CFG. If the model information is not explicitly described in RTMODELS.CFG, the grid is filed in a scratch grid file. The format of RTMODELS.CFG is described on the next page followed by an example.

Once the correct grid file is determined, DMGRID checks if this grid can be filed as is, or if the grid must be pieced together with a previously filed grid. Piecing together is often necessary because most of the gridded fields that cover the globe are sent in 4 or 8 pieces. When a partial grid is received, DMGRID checks if a similar grid has recently been filed. If so, DMGRID pieces the two fields together, refiling the new grid into the same location. If no match is found, the grid is filed as the first grid of this type.

Finally, DMGRID updates the Status Window, telling the administrator that a new grid has been filed and its location. DMGRID then checks the spool file for new data to process.

RTMODELS.CFG format

SCRATCH=

a group of 10 grid files for storing grids based on models not specified in RTMODELS.CFG; if SCRATCH=1000, the range of grid files used is 1001 through 1010 based on the Julian day of the model run time

model=

ftype   fgridf   runint   vtint   maxvt   GEO=min   max

information for filing a particular model , for example, NGM or GFS

 

ftype

filing format for this model

 

 

0

everything from the model is stored in one grid file per model run time; if this value is used, vtint and maxvt are not necessary

 

 

1

grids are filed based on model run time and valid forecast time

 

 

2

all grids from a model run are filed in the same grid file regardless of run time or forecast time; if this value is used, runint, vtint, and maxvt are not necessary

 

 

3

same as 1 except no grids are assumed beyond the maxvt forecast time

 

fgridf

first grid file in the range to use for this model

 

runint

interval between model run times (hhmmss)

 

vtint

forecast period interval to separate forecast grids

 

maxvt

maximum forecast time, after which all grids are stored in the same grid file

 

GEO=

min  max

range of geographic IDs to store in this grid file range; the file ~oper/mcidas/data/gbtbpds001.bv1 contains a list of the IDs and their corresponding geographic coverage and projections (default=1 255)

 

ID=

generating process ID from ~oper/mcidas/data/gbtbpds001.av1

RTMODELS.CFG example

If the file RTMODELS.CFG contains the following information, messages are stored in the grids listed below.

SCRATCH= 411
NGM=     3   101   120000   240000   480000
NGM=     3   141   120000   240000   480000   GEO=211 211
GFS=     1   201   120000   240000   960000
MAPS=    0   301   30000
WWFM=    2   401

 

Grid Files

Model

Run

Forecast Range

Coverage

101 - 110

NGM

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All except Regional CONUS (Lambert Conformal)

111 - 120

NGM

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

121 - 130

NGM

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

131 - 140

NGM

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

141 - 150

NGM

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

Regional CONUS (Lambert Conformal)

151 - 160

NGM

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

161 - 170

NGM

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

171 - 180

NGM

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

201 - 210

GFS

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

211 - 220

GFS

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

221 - 230

GFS

00Z

48hr < Forecast Time <= 72hr

All

231 - 240

GFS

00Z

72hr < Forecast Time <= 96hr

All

241 - 250

GFS

00Z

> 96hr Forecast Time

All

251 - 260

GFS

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

261 - 270

GFS

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

271 - 280

GFS

12Z

48hr < Forecast Time <= 72hr

All

281 - 290

GFS

12Z

72hr < Forecast Time <= 96hr

All

291 - 300

GFS

12Z

> 96hr Forecast Time

All

301 - 310

MAPS

00Z

All Forecast Times

All

311 - 320

MAPS

03Z

All Forecast Times

All

321 - 330

MAPS

06Z

All Forecast Times

All

331 - 340

MAPS

09Z

All Forecast Times

All

341 - 350

MAPS

12Z

All Forecast Times

All

351 - 360

MAPS

15Z

All Forecast Times

All

361 - 370

MAPS

18Z

All Forecast Times

All

371 - 380

MAPS

21Z

All Forecast Times

All

401 - 410

WWFM

All

All Forecast Times

All

411 - 420

All other grids

RTMODELS.CFG defaults

When McIDAS-XCD is installed, the file RTMODELS.CFG contains the default values below. These values create the grid files below.

SCRATCH= 5001
NAM=     3   5011  120000  240000  480000
NGM=     3   5051  120000  240000  480000
GFS=     1   5101  120000  240000  960000
MAPS=    0   5201   30000
GFS=     3   5401  120000  240000  720000

 

Grid File

Model

Run

Forecast Range

Coverage

5001-5010

Miscellaneous grids

5011-5020

NAM

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5021-5030

NAM

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5031-5040

NAM

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5041-5050

NAM

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5051-5060

NGM

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5061-5070

NGM

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5071-5080

NGM

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5081-5090

NGM

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5101-5110

GFS

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5111-5120

GFS

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5121-5130

GFS

00Z

48hr < Forecast Time <= 72hr

All

5131-5140

GFS

00Z

72hr < Forecast Time <= 96hr

All

5141-5150

GFS

00Z

> 96hr Forecast Time

All

5151-5160

GFS

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5161-5170

GFS

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5171-5180

GFS

12Z

48hr < Forecast Time <= 72hr

All

5181-5190

GFS

12Z

72hr < Forecast Time <= 96hr

All

5191-5200

GFS

12Z

> 96hr Forecast Time

All

5201-5210

MAPS

00Z

All Forecast Times

All

5211-5220

MAPS

03Z

All Forecast Times

All

5221-5230

MAPS

06Z

All Forecast Times

All

5231-5240

MAPS

09Z

All Forecast Times

All

5241-5250

MAPS

12Z

All Forecast Times

All

5251-5260

MAPS

15Z

All Forecast Times

All

5261-5270

MAPS

18Z

All Forecast Times

All

5271-5280

MAPS

21Z

All Forecast Times

All

5301-5310

MDR

------

All Observational Hours

All

5401-5410

GFS

00Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5411-5420

GFS

00Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5421-5430

GFS

00Z

48hr < Forecast Time <= 72hr

All

5451-5460

GFS

12Z

00hr <= Forecast Time <= 24hr

All

5461-5470

GFS

12Z

24hr < Forecast Time <= 48hr

All

5471-5480

GFS

12Z

48hr < Forecast Time <= 72hr

All


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