[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

19990708: vertical coordinate table

This archive contains answers to questions sent to Unidata support through mid-2025. Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated. For the most up-to-date information on the use of NSF Unidata software and data services, please consult the Software Documentation first.

  • Subject: 19990708: vertical coordinate table
  • Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 14:28:47 -0600
Lynn,

Here is the $GEMTBL/grid/vcrdgrib1.tbl file I use to decode the 
NCEP model data here. It is also in the most recent gempak tar file-
but might have some levels which were not in there when your copy
was downloaded. I update the table as supplements to the WMO #388
table are released. Sometimes NCEP uses undefined numbers first however.

If the coordinate you need isn't in the table (check dcgrib log
messages, if I can get the coordinate number or the offending
grib file) I can try to track it down for you.

Steve Chiswell


!
! VCRDGRIB1.TBL -- GRIB 1 vertical coordinate conversion table
!
!ID# NAME                             UNITS                GNAM SCALE
!
000 Reserved grid level                                    NONE     0
001 Surface of earth (inc sea sfc)                         NONE     0
002 Cloud base level                                       CLDL     0
003 Cloud top level                                        CLDT     0
004 Level of 0 deg C isotherm (low)                        FRZL     0
005 Adiabatic condensation level                           LCLV     0
006 Maximum wind speed level                               MWSL     0
007 Tropopause level                                       TROP     0
008 Nominal top of atmosphere         KPa                  TOPA     0
009 Sea bottom                                             SEAB     0
!
100 Isobaric surface                  hPa                  PRES     0
101 Layer between two isobaric sfcs   kPa                  PRES     1
102 Mean sea-level                                         NONE     0
103 Specified altitude above MSL      m                    HGHT     0
104 Lyr bet two spec alts (abv MSL)   hm                   HGHT     2
105 Spec height lvl (abv grnd level)  m                    HAGL     0
106 Layer between 2 hght lvls (agl)   hm                   HAGL     2
107 Sigma level                       1/10000              SGMA     0
108 Layer between two sigma levels    1/100                SGMA     2
109 Hybrid level                      Level number         HYBL     0
110 Layer between two hybrid levels   Level number         HYBL     0
111 Depth below land surface          cm                   DPTH     0
112 Layer btwn 2 dpths below lnd sfc  cm                   DPTH     0
113 Isentropic surface                K                    THTA     0
114 Layer btwn 2 Isen surfaces        K                    THTA     0
115 Pressure diff level (abv GL)      hPa                  PAGL     0
116 Pressure diff layer (abv GL)      hPa                  PAGL     0
117 Potential vorticity               10**-6/km**2/kg      POTV     0
118 Top of Atmosphere                                      SGMA     0
119 ETA level                         1/10000              ETAL     0
120 ETA layer                         1/100                ETAL     2 
121 Layer btwn 2 isobaric sfc, high   1100-hPa             PRES     0
125 Height abv grnd level (high prec) cm                   HAGL    -2
128 Layer between 2 sigma lvls, high  1.1-1/1000           SGMA     1
141 Layer btwn 2 isobaric sfc, mixed  kPa & 1100-hPa       PRES     0
160 Depth below sea-level             m                    DPTH     0
!
200 Entire atmosphere as a layer                           EATM     0
201 Entire ocean as a layer                                EOCN     0
204 Level of 0 deg C isotherm (high)                       FRZH     0
211 Boundary Layer Cloud Layer                             BLCL     0
212 Low cloud bottom level                                 LCBL     0
213 Low cloud top level                                    LCTL     0
214 Low cloud layer                                        LCLY     0
222 Middle cloud bottom level                              MCBL     0
223 Middle cloud top level                                 MCTL     0
224 Middle cloud layer                                     MCLY     0
232 High cloud bottom level                                HCBL     0
233 High cloud top level                                   HCTL     0
234 High cloud layer                                       HCLY     0
242 Convective cloud bottom level                          CCBL     0
243 Convective cloud top level                             CCTL     0
244 Convective cloud layer                                 CCLY     0