GFS Grid Labeling and Real-Time Grid Dataset Changes
28 July 2003
Over the past 1.5 years the National Weather Service merged the MRF and AVN forecast models and is now officially calling it the GFS (Global Forecast System). In order to maintain consistency with the NWS and more easily accommodate future grid changes, on 05 August 2003 the SSEC Data Center will be implementing the changes listed below.
- The value of the SRC field in all real-time GFS (formerly AVN/MRF) grids will be changed from "AVN" or "MRF" to "GFS".
- The current set of 11 real-time grid dataset names in group RTGRIDS will be replaced by a new set of 71 names, including ones for GFS. The old grid dataset names in RTGRIDS will be removed, as will the grid dataset names in groups ETA, MDR, MRF and NGM. The old dataset names will be available on another server until 25 August 2003 so you can continue to use them while you transition to the new dataset names.
Users of SSEC Data Center real-time grid datasets
must take action before 05 August, or else your GRD* commands that access those datasets will stop working. See below for additional information about the new dataset names, and the
Required Actions section for the actions you must complete.
The SSEC Data Center's new real-time grid dataset naming structure will result in a much larger number of datasets in the RTGRIDS group (71 instead of the current 11), so it will take time for users to become familiar with the new names. However, in the long run the new naming structure will make it easier for users to find the real-time grids they want and make it easier for data providers to add new datasets as more grids are added to the NOAAPORT data stream in the future.
Currently many real-time grids are filed under the ADDE group RTGRIDS and are also filed under their own ADDE groups. For example, some ETA model grids are available in both RTGRIDS/ETA and ETA/LCCONUS. As stated above, on 05 August 2003 the current set of dataset names in group RTGRIDS will be replaced by new ones, and the grid dataset names in groups ETA, MDR, MRF and NGM will be removed. Each new dataset name's descriptor will indicate the model, geographic coverage and projection. This new naming scheme provides the following benefits to users:
- easier to find specific grids by running DSINFO G RTGRIDS and using the descriptor name and Content field to locate the desired model and coverage
- faster search times because the datasets are broken into smaller subsets of grid files (except for the "ALL" datasets)
- many models/sources that were previously grouped in the RTGRIDS/MISC dataset are now in their own dataset with a useful description in the Content field of DSINFO G RTGRIDS command output; for example, there are now separate datasets for the National Convective Weather Diagnostic, Alaska Waters Regional Wave Model, Flash Flood Guidance, Ice Concentration Analysis, Icing Potential, North Atlantic Hurricane Wave Model, NCEP quantitative precipitation forecast, NCEP/HPC NDFD, River Forecast Center, Sea Surface Temperature Analysis, UKMET, and Wind-Wave Forecast models
Below are sample descriptor names in the group RTGRIDS that show the new dataset naming scheme. As always, you will need to use the entire dataset name (e.g., RTGRIDS/AWR-ALL) in your GRD* commands. Click here to go to a page with a detailed description of the naming scheme and a listing of all 71 datasets.
Name Content
------------ ----------------------------------------------------
AWR-ALL AWR - All Alaska Waters Regional Wave Model grids
ECM-ALL ECMWF - All European Cntr for Med range Weather Fcst
ECM-EQME ECMWF - Equatorial strip (30S - 30N)/Merc
ETA-ALL ETA - All ETA numerical model grids
ETA-AKPS ETA - Alaska/PS
ETA-USLC ETA - CONUS/LC
ETA-USLC2 ETA - CONUS/LC (double res)
ETA-USLCAWI4 ETA - CONUS/LC (projection used by AWIPS - quad res)
ETA-USLCAWIP ETA - CONUS/LC (projection used by AWIPS)
GFS-ALL GFS - All Global Forecast System grids
GFS-AKPSLRES GFS - Alaska/PS; low resolution
GFS-GLME GFS - Global/Merc; forecast and analysis
GFS-HIMESSIF GFS - Hawaii/Merc; analysis - final run
GFS-NHPS GFS - N Hemi/PS; forecast and analysis
GFS-PRPSLRES GFS - Puerto Rico/PS; low resolution
GFS-USPS2 GFS - CONUS/PS; double resolution
ICA-ALL ICA - All Ice Concentration Analysis grids
ICN-ALL ICN - All Current Icing Potential grids
LFM-ALL LFM - All Limited-area Fine Mesh (LFM) analysis
NAH-ALL NAH - All North Atlantic Hurricane Wave Model grids
NCE-ALL NCEP - All NCEP quantitative precip forecast
NDF-ALL NDFD - All NCEP/HPC NDFD grids (quad res); CONUS/LC
NGM-ALL NGM - All Nested Grid Model grids
RFC-ALL RFC - All River Forecast Center mosaic grids; CONUS/LC
RUC-ALL RUC - All Rapid Update Cycle model grids
SST-ALL SST - All Sea Surface Temp Analysis grids
UKM-ALL UKMT - All Coastal Ocean Circulation grids; global/Merc
WHG-ALL WHG - All sig. height of wind waves; Great Lakes/LC
WNA-ALL WNA - All Western North Atlantic Regional Wave Model grids
WWF-ALL WWF - All Global Wind-Wave Forecast grids
Note that all models will be available under RTGRIDS, and that all datasets for each model will be grouped together because DSINFO lists the datasets alphabetically. Also note that every model has a dataset containing all of its grids, e.g., RTGRIDS/ETA-ALL and RTGRIDS/GFS-ALL.
Required Actions:
A list of required actions follows the table below, which lists the schedule for implementations of changes and the availability of a backup server without the changes.
| Dates |
Status / Event |
| 28 July - 05 August 2003 |
The primary server NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU and SNOOPY.SSEC.WISC.EDU are the same and therefore both contain the old configuration (old SRC field values and old dataset names). The server PIGPEN.SSEC.WISC.EDU is available for use and contains the new configuration (new SRC field value and new real-time grid dataset names). |
| 05 August 2003, 18 UTC |
The new configuration is installed on primary server NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU, so it and PIGPEN.SSEC.WISC.EDU are the same. Server SNOOPY.SSEC.WISC.EDU (with the old configuration) is available until 25 August 2003. |
| 25 August 2003 |
Server SNOOPY.SSEC.WISC.EDU is updated to the new configuration, so you no longer have access to a server with the old configuration. All users who haven't already switched to NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU (which has been running the new configuration since 18 UTC 05 August) as their server for real-time grid data must do so now. |
Actions to complete between 28 July and 05 August 2003:
If you do nothing before 18 UTC on 05 August, all grid commands accessing SSEC Data Center real-time grid datasets will break when the dataset names are changed at 18 UTC on 05 August. Therefore, you must complete either number 1 or number 2 below.
- Convert to the new configuration by switching to server PIGPEN (by running command DATALOC ADD RTGRIDS PIGPEN.SSEC.WISC.EDU) and changing your GRD* commands that contain SRC=AVN or SRC=MRF to SRC=GFS and changing the RTGRIDS/*, ETA/*, MDR/*, MRF/* and NGM/* dataset names they access to their new RTGRIDS/* names. This must be done in the GRD* commands in your scripts, BATCH files, F-Key menus, McBASI programs and SKE entries as well as the commands you enter by hand.
-
- OR -
- Extend your deadline for converting to the new configuration to 25 August 2003 by running command DATALOC ADD RTGRIDS SNOOPY.SSEC.WISC.EDU. This allows you continue using your current GRD* commands in your scripts, BATCH files, F-Key menus, McBASI programs and SKE entries until the old configuration is no longer available on SNOOPY.
Actions to complete between 06 August and 25 August 2003:
If you completed #1 in the 28 July to 05 August section above you should switch back to the primary server by running command DATALOC ADD RTGRIDS NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU since it's now running the new configuration.
If you have not completed #1 in the 28 July to 05 August section above you should complete either number 1 or number 2 below.
- Convert to the new configuration by switching to server NOAAPORT (by running command DATALOC ADD RTGRIDS NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU) and changing your GRD* commands that contain SRC=AVN or SRC=MRF to SRC=GFS and changing the RTGRIDS/*, ETA/*, MDR/*, MRF/* and NGM/* dataset names they access to their new RTGRIDS/* names. This must be done in the GRD* commands in your scripts, BATCH files, F-Key menus, McBASI programs and SKE entries as well as the commands you enter by hand.
-
- OR -
- Extend your deadline for converting to the new configuration to 25 August 2003 by running command DATALOC ADD RTGRIDS SNOOPY.SSEC.WISC.EDU. This allows you continue using your current GRD* commands in your scripts, BATCH files, F-Key menus, McBASI programs and SKE entries until the old configuration is no longer available on SNOOPY.
25 August 2003 and later:
You must be converted to the new configuration and must be using the primary server NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU. (You can verify which server you're using with command DATALOC LIST RTGRIDS, and switch to it with command DATALOC ADD RTGRIDS NOAAPORT.SSEC.WISC.EDU.)
Direct your comments/questions to the SSEC Data Center.
