20050711: Scripting ATCF models

Robert,

The datatype.tbl entry you have uses the SPDATA environmental variable, which
probably isn't defined (I define SPDATA in Gemenviron as $GEMDATA, though the
historical use of SPDATA comes from NCEP's users which is why it is
that in the datatype.tbl file). You can change this to $GEMDATA/atcf if your
GEMDATA is defined as /data/ldm/gempak/ below, or add the SPDATA variable
declaration to your Gemenviron file.

I use wget to mirror the ftp directory 
ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/atcf/aid_public/
which you show below, so that only newer files are downloaded when they are 
available:

#!/bin/csh -f

setenv PATH /opt/bin:${PATH}
source ~gempak/Gemenviron

cd $SPDATA/atcf
wget -N 'ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/atcf/aid_public/a*2005.dat'


The plotting script uses the ATCF parameter in GPMAP

gpmap_gf << EOF
   restore tropics.nts
   SATFIL = \$SATDIR/${SAT_IMG}
   LUTFIL = $lutfil
   DEV = gf|tropics.gif|1000;800
   GAREA = 17.5;-95.1;34.6;-59.6
   r

   e
EOF

In the above, a csh script determines which SAT_IMG to use
(vis or IR depending on time, and sets $lutfil accordingly. Select a
GAREA of your interest depending on the satfil region. I'm using the
EAST-CONUS images from the NIMAGE feed for the gulf coast.
My tropics.nts looks like:

MAP     32/1/3
GAREA   15.5;-104.8;42.2;-60.8
PROJ    SAT
SATFIL  
RADFIL
IMCBAR  31/v/CL/.005;.5/.8;.01
LATLON  0
PANEL   0
TITLE   31/-1
TEXT    1/21/1/hw
CLEAR   y
DEVICE  
LUTFIL
STNPLT
VGFILE
AFOSFL
AWPSFL
LINE    3
WATCH
WARN
HRCN    last|15;30;23;7|||YES|YES||YES
ISIG
LTNG
ATCF    last|||YES|YES|YES|YES
AIRM
NCON
CSIG
SVRL
BND
TCMG
QSCT
WSTM
WOU
WCN



Steve Chiswell
Unidata User Support




>From: Robert Leche <address@hidden>
>Organization: UCAR/Unidata
>Keywords: 200507111626.j6BGQ1jo018022

>Hello All..
>
>With the storms brewing in the gulf we want to add a product that looks 
>like your product at:
>
>http://my.unidata.ucar.edu/content/software/gempak/images/tropics.gif
>
>This is a graph that indicates a collection of models "Tropical storm 
>projection chart" and uses the Gempak ATCF decoder. (?)
>
>Our understanding is, the data for this product is not part of the IDD 
>streams, is this correct? If so please advise how to acquire it.
>
>We are under the impression this data comes from the National Hurricane 
>Center and we must use processes outside of the IDD feed to acquire the 
>data. An example of the ATCF data we are using is the following:
>ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/atcf/aid_public/aal042005.dat
>
>This data are downloaded and placed in the /data/ldm/gempak/atcf Gempak 
>directory structure, "AS-IS" with no processing.(?)
>
>I am making a few assumptions about the mapping of the data to the 
>Gempak structures. In particular the file:
>
>"gempak/tables/config/datatype.tbl". I am assuming this file is used to 
>map the ATCF data to the Gempak MISC/ATCF selection. Is this correct?
>
>In this table file I found the ATCF definition line:
>ATCF $SPDATA/atcf A*YY.DAT   CAT_MSC  SCAT_NIL   -1   2880    360
>
>will this map to: /data/ldm/gempak/atcf/aal042005.dat?
>
>The reason I ask, is Gempak is not displaying any graphic for MISC/ATCF 
>  data. I am able to select this data type. The data selection window 
>indicates data are available every 6 hours and yet no display. I will 
>add the US continental outline is displayed, but no model graphics.
>
>Aside from displaying the ATCF charts using the Gempak display, I would 
>like to be able to produce images via a script. How are you decoding and 
>producing the tropics.gif product? Are you scripting a copy from the NHC 
>FTP site and running a gempak script to process it or using IDD?
>
>Could we get a copy of this script?
>
>Any guidance and references you can give us in this area would be 
>appreciated.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Bob
>
>
>-- 
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>Robert Leche - System Administrator
>Louisiana State University - Southern Regional Climate Center
>East 328  Howe-Russell Building - Baton Rouge, La. 70803
>rleche at srcc.lsu.edu - 225 578 5023
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>
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