Re: 20001018: 20001018: METAR reports, cloud types and precip groups

Hi again,

> Since the CYUL report doesn't fit that format, that would explain why
> they aren't decoded. The WMO 306 FM-15-IX doesn't provide for this
> group (which I suppose is why it is reported in the
> RMK section, national specific codes). Do you have a refernce for
> Canadian METAR coding practices?

Yes, you can find one at this address :

http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/nwsd/metar/methom2_e.cfm

There are reference cards and study guides about Canadian METAR code pratices.


> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: Christian Page <address@hidden>
> >Organization: UCAR/Unidata
> >Keywords: 200010181911.e9IJBD420625
> 
> >
> >> >1- I am including cloud types in my parameters when using SFMAP :
> >> >Example :
> >> >SFPARM = skyc;tmpc;wsym;pmsl;ptnd;dwpc;p24m;csyh;brbk:.7:2;csyl;csym
> >> >
> >> >But the cloud type symbols only appears for very few stations (1 or 2) 
> >> >for 
> > my
> >> >Northeast plot. Why?
> >> 
> >> Can you provide me an example? Are you saying that the station is reporting
> >> cloud types and not getting plotted- or, why don't stations report this
> >> information.
> >> 
> >> The cloud type information is provided in the 8/ group of a metar remarks
> >> section, for example:
> >> 
> >> SFPARM=csyl;csym;csyh;text
> >> 
> >>     STN    YYMMDD/HHMM      CSYL     CSYM     CSYH
> >>     BUF    001018/1200      6.00     0.00     0.00
> >> 
> >> 
> >> KBUF 181154Z 00000KT 3SM BR SCT007 OVC010 11/10 A3010 RMK AO2 SFC VIS 4 
> >> SLP1
> > 94 8/6// 60001 70008 T01060100 10117 20100 51013
> >> 
> >> You see that the 8/6// group provides that CSYL=6. Cloud groups are
> >> reported at 3 hourly intervals. Also, you have to have an observer 
> >> to report those groups.
> >> 
> >
> >I tried to look for that at, by example, KBTV, but couldn't find any. Also, 
> >fo
> > r
> >Canadian stations, it is not reported the same way... by example for CYUL. 
> >May
> > be
> >it is the same for European stations?
> >
> >KBTV:
> >METAR KBTV 181654Z 17014KT 6SM RA BR FEW008 BKN034 OVC050 10/09 
> >A3005 RMK AO2 SLP178 P0004 T01000089
> >METAR KBTV 181754Z 17011KT 10SM FEW008 SCT029 OVC044 11/09 A3003 RMK 
> >AO2 RAE38 SLP172 P0001 60027 T01060094 10106 20089 58018
> >METAR KBTV 181854Z 16008KT 10SM FEW008 OVC038 11/10 A3002 RMK AO2 
> >SLP169 T01110100
> >
> >CYUL:
> >METAR CYUL 181600Z 17010KT 4SM -RA BR BKN005 BKN011 OVC022 10/10
> >A3002 RMK SF5SC2SC2 SLP168=
> >METAR CYUL 181700Z 17008KT 6SM -RA BR SCT005 BKN011 OVC020 11/11
> >A3000 RMK SF3SC2SC2 SLP161=
> >METAR CYUL 181800Z 18007KT 10SM -RA SCT005 BKN009 OVC020 11/11 A2999
> >RMK SF3SC3SC2 SLP155=
> >
> >LFPG (Paris, France):
> >LFPG 181600Z 18011KT 3500 -DZRA FEW002 SCT003 BKN005 13/12 Q1018
> >NOSIG=
> >LFPG 181700Z 19010KT 3500 -DZRA SCT003 BKN004 BKN006 13/12 Q1018
> >NOSIG=
> >LFPG 181800Z 19010KT 3000 -RA FEW002 OVC004 13/12 Q1018 NOSIG=
> >LFPG 181900Z 19011KT 3000 -RA FEW002 OVC006 13/13 Q1017 NOSIG=
> >
> >Cloud types for CYUL are reported with SF5SC2SC2 by example. For France, I 
> >don
> > 't
> >know. For Burlington, Vermont, I don't know either. When I specify to GEMPAK 
> >t
> > o
> >plot 1500Z, by example, which time does it use? The closest one (by example 
> >if
> >there are SPECI obs)?
> >
> >
> >> >2- Is it possible to plot accumulation of precipitation in mm for the 
> >> >last 
> > 24h
> >> > ,
> >> >as well as accumulation of precipitation since the last 12h?
> >> 
> >> The P03x and P06x groups provide 3 hourly and 6 hourly accumulation.
> >> These are the fields provided in the METAR report using the 6RRRR group.
> >> The 24 hour accumulation is given in the 7RRRR group.
> >> Again, these groups will most likely be found every 3 hours of reporting.
> >> 
> >
> >Thanks, I will try that. Is it possible to sum data with GEMPAK, or it is not
> >possible? And if I try to plot accum with GEMPAK, since it is reported each 3
> >hour, must I run GEMPAK exactly the hour of reporting?
> >
> >
> >> >
> >> >On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Unidata Support wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> 
> >> >> Christian,
> >> >> 
> >> >> No, its not possible to store ship/buoy in the same output file
> >> >> as METAR observations using the real-time decoders for several reasons:
> >> >> 
> >> >> 1) The ship file format is different than standard surface files.
> >> >> The decoded METAR file uses a station table of fixed locations,
> >> >> where Montreal for example is in the same place at every time in
> >> >> the file, so that information ins only stored once. A ship on the other
> >> >> hand can have a different position for every time, so that position 
> >> >> infor
> > mat
> >> > ion
> >> >> is stored as variables along with the reported data at every time.
> >> >> 
> >> >> 2) If both dchrly and dcsynop try to write data to the same file at the
> >> >> same time, the output file will become corrupted.
> >> >> 
> >> >> 3) The parameters reported by surface land stations are different than 
> >> >> marine stations report.
> >> >> 
> >> >> What you can do is merge the decoded data into a common file for 
> >> >> plotting
> > .
> >> >> 
> >> >> Start by creating an empty standard surface file with enough space for 
> >> >> yo
> > ur
> >> >> ship and metar data. You will want a different file for every hour you
> >> >> merge since ships will move with time. Specify what parameters you want
> >> >> in the merged file using SFPRMF:
> >> >> 
> >> >>  SFOUTF   = testsf.gem
> >> >>  SFPRMF   = tmpc;dwpc;sped;drct;pmsl
> >> >>  STNFIL   =  
> >> >>  SHIPFL   = n
> >> >>  TIMSTN   = 24/5000
> >> >>  SFFSRC   =  
> >> >>  GEMPAK-SFCFIL>r
> >> >> 
> >> >>  SFCFIL PARAMETERS: 
> >> >> 
> >> >>  New surface file:      testsf.gem                                      
> >> >>  
> >    
> >> >         
> >> >>  Parameter file:        tmpc;dwpc;sped;drct;pmsl                        
> >> >>  
> >    
> >> >         
> >> >>  Station file:                                                          
> >> >>  
> >    
> >> >         
> >> >>  Number of stations in STNFIL:       0
> >> >>  Number of additional stations:   5000
> >> >>  Total number of stations:        5000
> >> >>  Total number of times:             24
> >> >> 
> >> >>  This file will be a standard surface file.
> >> >> 
> >> >> Enter <cr> to accept parameters or type EXIT:
> >> >>  Parameters requested: SFOUTF,SFPRMF,STNFIL,SHIPFL,TIMSTN,SFFSRC.
> >> >>  GEMPAK-SFCFIL>e
> >> >> 
> >> >> 
> >> >> 
> >> >> Then copy the metar data into the surface file (the parameters
> >> >> found in the file that match those in the file you created with
> >> >> sfcfil will be copied):
> >> >> 
> >> >>  SFFILE   = 20001018_sao.gem
> >> >>  SFOUTF   = testsf.gem
> >> >>  DATTIM   = 18/1200
> >> >>  AREA     = dset
> >> >>  GEMPAK-SFMOD>r
> >> >> 
> >> >>  SFMOD PARAMETERS: 
> >> >> 
> >> >>  Input file:        ./20001018_sao.gem
> >> >>  Output file:       testsf.gem
> >> >>  Area:              dset
> >> >>  Date/time          001018/1200
> >> >> 
> >> >> Enter <cr> to accept parameters or type EXIT:
> >> >>  Parameters requested: SFFILE,SFOUTF,DATTIM,DATOUT,AREA,SFPARM.
> >> >>  GEMPAK-SFMOD>e
> >> >> 
> >> >> 
> >> >> And copy the ship data into the file:
> >> >> 
> >> >>  SFFILE   = $GEMDATA/ship/2000101812_sb.gem
> >> >>  SFOUTF   = testsf.gem
> >> >>  DATTIM   = 18/1200
> >> >>  AREA     = dset
> >> >>  GEMPAK-SFMOD>r
> >> >> 
> >> >>  SFMOD PARAMETERS: 
> >> >> 
> >> >>  Input file:    $GEMDATA/ship/2000101812_sb.gem                         
> >> >>  
> >    
> >> >             
> >> >>  Output file:   testsf.gem                                              
> >> >>  
> >    
> >> >             
> >> >>  Area:          dset                                                    
> >> >>  
> >    
> >> >             
> >> >>  Date/time      001018/1200         
> >> >> 
> >> >> Enter <cr> to accept parameters or type EXIT:
> >> >>  Parameters requested: SFFILE,SFOUTF,DATTIM,AREA.
> >> >>  GEMPAK-SFMOD>
> >> >> 
> >> >> Now you can plot the data using sfmap etc from the common file.
> >> >> 
> >> >> Steve Chiswell
> >> >> Unidata User Support
> >> >> 
> >> >> 
> >> >> 
> >> >> 
> >> >> >From: Christian Page <address@hidden>
> >> >> >Organization: UCAR/Unidata
> >> >> >Keywords: 200010181407.e9IE7v406965
> >> >> 
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Hi again, another question now : is it possible to store ship and buoy 
> >> >> >d
> > ata
> >> >  in
> >> >> >the same gempak file as the hourly metar data and plot everything at 
> >> >> >onc
> > e? 
> >> > Can
> >> >> >  I
> >> >> >still use the same dcsynop command in pqact.conf (of course I 
> >> >> >substitute
> >  th
> >> > e
> >> >> >output gempak filename with the one I use for hourly surface metar 
> >> >> >data)
> > ? I
> >> >> >tried and I get some error in the logs :
> >> >> >
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1400: [DCSYNOP -21] error writing data: 
> >> >> >73502 
> >   f
> >> > or 
> >> >> > 00
> >> >> >1018/0900
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1400: [DCSYNOP -21] error writing data: 
> >> >> >73509 
> >   f
> >> > or 
> >> >> > 00
> >> >> >1018/0900
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1400: [DCSYNOP -21] error writing data: 
> >> >> >74531 
> >   f
> >> > or 
> >> >> > 00
> >> >> >1018/0700
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1400: [DCSYNOP -21] error writing data: 
> >> >> >73502 
> >   f
> >> > or 
> >> >> > 00
> >> >> >1018/0700
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1400: [DCSYNOP -21] error writing data: 
> >> >> >73509 
> >   f
> >> > or 
> >> >> > 00
> >> >> >1018/0700
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1400: [DCSYNOP -21] error writing data: 
> >> >> >17557 
> >   f
> >> > or 
> >> >> > 00
> >> >> >1018/1400
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1401: [DCDOSY -1] SMVB14
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1401: [DCDOSY -1] SMVD14
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1401: [DCDOSY -1] SMVE14
> >> >> >DCSYNOP[17940445]: 001018/1401: [DCDOSY -1] SMVX14
> >> >> >
> > >> >Christian Page      finger address@hidden => tel. + adresse
> >> >> >address@hidden    http://www.sca.uqam.ca/
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Assistant de recherche / Research Assistant
> >> >> >Universite du Quebec a Montreal / Universite McGill / McGill Radar
> >> >> >
> >> >> >On Wed, 18 Oct 2000, Christian Page wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> Thanks, it was only a problem of write permissions... there was a 
> >> >> >> log 
> > fil
> >> > e
> >> >> >> already there but with read-only permissions...
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> Thanks again for your support!
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> Christian Page      finger address@hidden => tel. + adresse
> >> >> >> address@hidden    http://www.sca.uqam.ca/
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> Assistant de recherche / Research Assistant
> >> >> >> Universite du Quebec a Montreal / Universite McGill / McGill Radar
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> On Tue, 17 Oct 2000, Unidata Support wrote:
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > Christian,
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > You will need to create the ~lmd/data/gempak/surface/sao directory
> >> >> >> > if it doesn't already exist.
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > Also, your log file output is to: -d 
> >> >> >> > /io/gempak/nawips/dcsynop_sb.lo
> > g
> >> >> >> > That directory is probably in your GEMPAK tree....the LDM may
> >> >> >> > not have write permission there. Do you see any log file output?
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > Check your ldmd.log file for errors from pqact. Make sure that
> >> >> >> > the LDM use is allowed to look in the GEMPAK tree for the dcsynop
> >> >> >> > executable and the packing file. And, make sure you have run
> >> >> >> > ldmadmin pqactHUP to reread your pqact.conf file after
> >> >> >> > making any changes. Verify that all your "Tabs" are correct in the 
> >> >> >> > f
> > ile
> >> >> >> > as well.
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > Steve Chiswell
> >> >> >> > Unidata User Support
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > >From: Christian Page <address@hidden>
> >> >> >> > >Organization: UCAR/Unidata
> >> >> >> > >Keywords: 200010171806.e9HI6u428133
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >Hi,
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >I would like to add to my hourly surface METAR plots, other 
> >> >> >> > >hourly 
> > obs
> >> > erv
> >> >> > ation
> >> >> >> > > s,
> >> >> >> > >like SHIP, BUOY, etc. What should I have in pqact.conf? I have 
> >> >> >> > >the 
> > fol
> >> > low
> >> >> > ing a
> >> >> >> > > nd
> >> >> >> > >it doesn't work (I get no output file) :
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >#
> >> >> >> > ># buoy and ship reports in yymmdd.gem
> >> >> >> > >#
> >> >> >> > >WMO     ^S([INS]V.*|MV[^NS].*) .... ([0-3][0-9])([0-2][0-9])
> >> >> >> > >        PIPE    /io/gempak/nawips/bin/irix/dcsynop -v 1
> >> >> >> > >        -d /io/gempak/nawips/dcsynop_sb.log
> >> >> >> > >        -p /io/gempak/nawips/gempak5.4/tables/pack/sfship.pack
> >> >> >> > >        data/gempak/surface/sao/YYYYMMDD_buoy.gem
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >Any hints?
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >Thanks!
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >Christian Page      finger address@hidden => tel. + adresse
> >> >> >> > >address@hidden    http://www.sca.uqam.ca/
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >Assistant de recherche / Research Assistant
> >> >> >> > >Universite du Quebec a Montreal / Universite McGill / McGill Radar
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> > ********************************************************************
> > ***
> >> > ***
> >> >> > ** <
> >> >> >> > Unidata User Support                                    UCAR 
> >> >> >> > Unidata
> >  Pr
> >> > ogr
> >> >> > am <
> >> >> >> > (303)497-8644                                                  
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> > Box
> >> >  30
> >> >> > 00 <
> >> >> >> > address@hidden                                   Boulder, 
> > CO 
> >> > 803
> >> >> > 07 <
> >> >> >> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
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> >> >> >> > 
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >> 
> >> >> >
> >> >> 
> >> >> *************************************************************************
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> >> >> Unidata User Support                                    UCAR Unidata 
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> >> >  <
> >> >> (303)497-8644                                                  P.O. Box 
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> >> Unidata User Support                                    UCAR Unidata 
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> >> (303)497-8644                                                  P.O. Box 
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> Unidata User Support                                    UCAR Unidata Program <
> (303)497-8644                                                  P.O. Box 3000 <
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