sfcdec
Sections
NAME
sfcdec - Surface decoder (METAR, SAO, Synop)
SYNOPSIS
sfcdec [parameters...] filename
PARAMETERS
| Command Line | Resource | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| -h | help | No | Lists basic help information. |
| -df=filename | default | wxp.cfg | Sets the name of the resource file. |
| -na=name | name | sfcdec | Specifies the name used in resource file parsing. |
| -me=level | message | out2 | Specifies level of messages to be displayed
|
| -fp=path | file_path | the current directory | Specifies location of database files. |
| -dp=path | data_path | the current directory | Specifies location of input raw data files. |
| -cp=path | con_path | the current directory | Specifies location of output decoded data files. |
| -gp=path | grid_path | the current directory | Specifies location of gridded output files from WXP. |
| -rp=path | raw_path | the current directory | Specifies location of output raw files generated by WXP. |
| -ip=path | image_path | the current directory | Specifies location of output image files (.gif/,png) from WXP. |
| -tp=path | text_path | the current directory | Specifies location of raw ingest text data |
| -mp=path | model_path | the current directory | Specifies location of raw model GRIB data |
| -sp=path | sat_path | the current directory | Specifies location of satellite images. |
| -nc=name_conv | name_conv | name.cnv or name_conv file | This sets which name convention file to use. |
| -if=in_file | in_file | program specific | Specifies the input file name tag. |
| -of=out_file | out_file | program specific | Specifies the output file name tag. |
| -in=input | input | program specific | Specifies the type of the input data. |
| -ou=output | output | wxp | Specifies what type of output file is to be created:
|
| -cu=[hour] | current | none | This specifies to use current data files. |
| -ho=hour | hour | none | Specifies the exact hour that a data file is valid for. |
| -nh=hours[,skip] | num_hour | Value Generally 0 | Specifies the number of hours worth of data to use in the program |
| -pa=param[,param...] | parameter | none | Extra parameters:
|
| filename (positional) | filename | none | Specify input filename |
DESCRIPTION
The intent of the surface data conversion process is to combine all the surface data (SAO, METAR, SYNOP, SHIP, BUOY, DRIBU, CMAN) into one format so that a single program can process or plot all the data. All stations for a particular report time are decoded and put into an output converted data file.
The sfcdec program will determine the input filename from the in_file and current resource. This file should contain surface observations in any of the formats listed above. Typically, these files are split on hourly boundaries since observations are reported at least once an hour. The resrc:current resource along with the resrc:out_file resource determines the decode time which sets up the output filename. The input file tag (resrc:in_file) is by default sfc_dat. This will determine the input files. The program program will only decode one input filename unless the resrc:num_hour resource is specified. If the input data for a specific time spans several files, use the range feature in the num_hour resource to specify this. For example, to decode the two previous hours data files plus the following one, specify "-nh=-2-1".
The valid time range for data is from 15 before the hour to 4 minutes after the hour. Only regular reports (not specials) during that time are saved. This can be changed with the "range" parameter.
The raw observation data are parsed for individual reports which are then passed through the various decode modules for each type of data. Once decoded, the output is saved to the output file. By default, only one report per station is saved to the output file. This will remove duplicates and apply any corrections to the observation. If the "all" option is specified, all reports will be saved including duplicates. This is only for debugging since plotting this data would show multiple possibly different reports for each station.
The sfcdec program will not show decoded output while decoding. If this is desired, set the message level to "out3". This will show a tabular output of decoded data: displayed to the screen as an attempt to speed up the conversion process. Decoded output can be displayed is the out3a message level is set:
Decoding for: 2011/08/30 06:MM:MM ID TIME T TD RH DIR SPD GST ALT SLP VIS CIL COV WX MAX MIN PR6 PR24 SC Decoded file: ../../tmp/11083006_sao.wxp Processing: /data/nwstg/data/11083006_sao.wmo CYVM 0543 3 3 100 190 7 967 9 52 OVC R- CYUX 0543 2 -0 87 290 9 15 968 9 17 BKN - OEDM 0500 35 3 13 150 7 986 10 CLR MGGT 0600 18 18 100 180 4 019 15 BKN R- CYKJ 0544 16 180 6 969 8 55 OVC R+ CYKJ 0545 15 10 72 180 8 969 063 7 60 OVC R CYSF 0545 12 12 100 90 14 19 964 047 5 11 OVC R CWEF 0540 18 13 71 260 30 36 122 SBBV 0600 26 21 74 30 2 986 20 SCT
If the raw input needs to be displayed, set the message level to out4:
ID TIME T TD RH DIR SPD GST ALT SLP VIS CIL COV WX MAX MIN PR6 PR24 SC Decoded file: ../../tmp/11083006_sao.wxp Processing: /data/nwstg/data/11083006_sao.wmo CYVM:SP:CN:SPECI CYVM 300543Z AUTO 19007KT 9SM -RA OVC052 03/03 A2967 CYVM 0543 3 3 100 190 7 967 9 52 OVC R- CYUX:SP:CN:SPECI CYUX 300543Z AUTO 29009G15KT 9SM -UP BKN017 02/M00 A2968 CYUX 0543 2 -0 87 290 9 15 968 9 17 BKN - OEDM:ME:XX:METAR OEDM 300500Z 15007KT CAVOK 35/03 Q1011 OEDM 0500 35 3 13 150 7 986 10 CLR MGGT:ME:XX:METAR MGGT 300600Z 18004KT 9999 -RA BKN015 BKN090 18/18 Q1022 A3018 MGGT 0600 18 18 100 180 4 019 15 BKN R- CYKJ:SP:CN:SPECI CYKJ 300544Z AUTO 18006KT 160V230 8SM +RA BKN055 OVC074 16/ A2969 RMK PRESRR PCPN 0.8MM PAST HR MAX WND 16019KT AT 0517Z CYKJ 0544 16 180 6 969 8 55 OVC R+
The raw data shows the station ID, the type of data (ME=METAR, SP=SPECI, sa=SAO, sp=SAO SP, SY=SYNOP, SH=SHIP, BU=BUOY, DR=DRIBU, CM=CMAN), the location (US, CN, MX or XX) and the actual data.
There are three types of output data file types available. The ASCII WXP flat file, the WXP XML file, and a netCDF output. Information on each of these formats can be seen in the File Reference.
EXAMPLES
sfcdecsfcdec -if=syn_dat -pa=app,ship,buoy,dribusfcdec -if=cman_dat -pa=app
This decodes the METAR data and then appends SHIP and BUOY data and then appends CMAN observations.
FILES
SEE ALSO
Last updated October 2013