Re: 19991108: Radar Coded Message plotting

Tom,

It sounds like you have a typo in your pqact.conf file so that
when pqact reads the configuration, it dies. There usually will
be a log message to what line number is offensive in the ldmd.log file.

The important thing about pqact.conf is that TABS are very important. 

Check that you have

HRS <TAB> ^SDUS4[1-6] .... ([0-3][0-9])([0-2][0-9])([0-5][0-9])
 <TAB>  FILE <TAB> data/rcm/(\1:yyyy)(\1:mm)\1\2_rcm.dat

The LDM will create data/rcm directory if it does not already exist.

Steve CHiswell
Unidata User SUpport

On Thu, 11 Nov 1999, Tom Priddy wrote:

> From:  Tom Priddy
> 
> Steve...per instructions you sent yesterday....I put the statements in the 
> pqact.conf
> as follows:
> # All RCM sites for composite plots
> HRS     ^SDUS4[1-6] .... ([0-3][0-9])([0-2][0-9])([0-5][0-9])
>         FILE    data/rcm/(\1:yyyy)(\1:mm)\1\2_rcm.dat
> But from the time I put that in...not only did nothing go into data/rcm 
> subdirectory...
> the LDM stopped putting anything into my system yesterday until I noticed
> the problem this morning.  Could the subdir "data/rcm" be the problem?
> 
> 
> Steve Chiswell wrote:
> 
> > Tom,
> >
> > The Radar Coded Message bulletins are part of the HRS IDD feed, and are not
> > proprietary. They are a digitized summary of radar data, similar to the
> > Manually Digitized Radar (MDR) 40km products, but automated from the PUP
> > at the radar site.
> >
> > The PUP uses the 2 nmi x 2 nmi composite reflectivity product and assigns
> > the highest reflectivity value in a 5nmi square grid box. In otherwords,
> > the RCM value for a gridbox is the greatest value of all the radar
> > reflectivities that fall in that box. The RCM provides the 5nmi grid box
> > reflectivities, as well as TVS and MESO cyclone positions as determined
> > by the PUP, as well as maxtop values and storm centroid vectors.
> >
> > The pqact.conf pattern for capturing these products is found at:
> > http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/gempak/examples/gprcm/
> >
> > While these data are not as high resolution as the WSI nowrad product,
> > and they are primarily unedited by the PUP- they do provide a useful 
> > product.
> >
> > Enjoy...
> >
> > Steve Chiswell
> > Unidata User Support
> >
> > On Wed, 10 Nov 1999, Tom Priddy wrote:
> >
> > > From:  Tom Priddy
> > >
> > > Steve...I don't current subscribe to any special commerial service to get 
> > > the
> > > radar data (nids). From your message, does that mean I can now get these
> > > data free in the LDM datastream and setup the software as per your 
> > > instructions?/ktp
> > >
> > > Steve Chiswell wrote:
> > >
> > > > Gempak Users,
> > > >
> > > > I have posted a new GEMPAK program "GPRCM" which will plot the
> > > > Radar Coded Message bulletins in the NOAAport data stream.
> > > >
> > > > This program can be found in the nawips-5.4/contrib directory of
> > > > the gbuddy ftp account for Gempak as gprcm.tar.Z. I will attatch the
> > > > gprcm.README file from that directory at the end of this message.
> > > >
> > > > The RCM bulletins contain digitized radar reflectivity values as well
> > > > as annotations including Maxtop heights, cell centroid motion, 
> > > > mesocylone and
> > > > TVS locations.
> > > >
> > > > GPRCM can be used to plot single site and composite reflectivity maps
> > > > with the capability to turn annotations and reflectivities on/off
> > > > as needed. Since GPRCM is derived from GPMAP, GPRCM can be used in 
> > > > conjunction
> > > > with other GEMPAK programs to create overlays including satellite and
> > > > NIDS imagery products (Yes, you can overlay RCM echos on satellite 
> > > > images
> > > > and annotate NIDS images with maxtop, tvs, mesocyclones and cell 
> > > > movement).
> > > > A dithering feature has been added for allowing some method of 
> > > > transparency or
> > > > echoes.
> > > >
> > > > Examples of using GPRCM, including LDM patterns, can be found at:
> > > > http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/gempak/examples/gprcm/
> > > > I have included a sample plotting script as well.
> > > >
> > > > To install gprcm, download the tarfile to your $NAWIPS directory, 
> > > > unpack with:
> > > > zcat gprcm.tar.Z | tar cvf -
> > > > Then build and install with:
> > > > cd $NAWIPS/unidata/programs/gprcm
> > > > make clean
> > > > make all
> > > > make install
> > > > make clean
> > > >
> > > > Please address any questions or problems to address@hidden.
> > > >
> > > > Steve Chiswell
> > > > Unidata User Support
> > > >
> > > > GPRCM is a version of GPMAP that plots Radar Coded Message (RCM)
> > > > bulletins. For examples of the use and capabilities of this program,
> > > > see the GEMPAK Examples www page:
> > > > http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/gempak/examples/
> > > >
> > > > INPUT PARAMETERS
> > > >
> > > >     MAP       *Map color/dash/width
> > > >     GAREA     *Graphics area
> > > >     PROJ      *Map projection/angles/margins|drop flag
> > > >     SATFIL    *Satellite image filename(s)
> > > >     RADFIL    *Radar image filename(s)
> > > >     LATLON    *Line color/dash/width/label/inc
> > > >     PANEL     *Panel loc/color/dash/width/regn
> > > >     TITLE     *Title color/line/title
> > > >     TEXT      *Text size/font/width/hw flag
> > > >     CLEAR     *Clear screen flag
> > > >     DEVICE    *Device|name|x size;y size|color type
> > > >     LUTFIL    *Enhancement lookup table filename
> > > >     STNPLT    *Txc|mkc/mkt/mks/mkwd/hwfl|stnfil
> > > >     RCMFIL    *Input source text file
> > > >     RADTIM    *Valid Plot time {current or dattim}
> > > >     RADDUR    *Time duration (min_prior to RADTIM)
> > > >     DITHER    *dither level
> > > >     MESO      *mesocyclone color/marker/size/width/hw
> > > >     TVS       *tornado vortex signature color/marker/size/width/hw
> > > >     CNTR      *Cell Centroid movement barb color/size/width
> > > >     MAXTOP    *Maxtop color
> > > >     RADINFO   *Radar status color
> > > >     ECHO      *Plot radar echoes (0=None,1=PRCP,2=PRCP&CLAR)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
> > > >
> > > >    GPRCM is derived from the standard GEMPAK program GPMAP.
> > > >    The behavior is similar to gpmap, with the addition of
> > > >    reading Radar Coded Message (RCM) bulletins and optionally
> > > >    plotting radar echoes and/or annotations from the remarks
> > > >    included within the RCM bulletin.
> > > >
> > > >    RCM bulletins contain digitized reflectivity values derived
> > > >    from the 2.2 x 2.2 nmi NIDS Composite reflectivity product
> > > >    over the radar area of coverage out to 248 nmi based on grid squares
> > > >    approximately 5.4 nmi on a side. The reflectivity intensity
> > > >    value for each grid box is determined by assigning the maximum
> > > >    value of all Composite Reflectivity boxes whose centers
> > > >    are contained within the grid square. The RCM message
> > > >    comprises 9 intesity categories as follows:
> > > >
> > > >    Code                       Color Plotted (Precip mode)
> > > >      0    ND
> > > >      1    15-30 dBZ             23
> > > >      2    30-40 dBZ             22
> > > >      3    40-45 dBZ             21
> > > >      4    45-50 dBZ             20
> > > >      5    50-55 dBZ             17
> > > >      6    >= 55 dBZ             15
> > > >      7    data beyond 124 nmi that are above threshold
> > > >      8    data beyond 124 nmi that are below threshold
> > > >
> > > >    RCM data within a user specified time range are plotted.
> > > >
> > > >    RCMFIL is the RCM data file. Bulletins with radar observation times
> > > >    in the RCM file will be plotted if the observation time is within
> > > >    the range specified by the starting and ending times.
> > > >
> > > >    RADTIM (current or dattim) specifies the ending time for accepted 
> > > > data.
> > > >    RADDUR is the number of minutes prior to the ending time to begin
> > > >    accepting data.
> > > >
> > > >    DITHER is used to specify the plotting behavior of the reflectivity
> > > >    intensities. A value of 0 specifies no dithering, the grid box is
> > > >    completely filled. Values 1-4 increase the number of dither points
> > > >    per grid box, approaching an increasingly opaque value. Dither
> > > >    can be used to overlay image data with radar reflectivity in
> > > >    order to simulate transparency. A dither value >= 5 will outline
> > > >    the grid box.
> > > >
> > > >    MESO specifies the color/marker/size/width/hw for mesocyclones to be
> > > >    marked. A color value of 0 is used to turn off mesocyclone plotting.
> > > >    Marker attributes behave as MARKER for other plotting programs.
> > > >
> > > >    TVS specifies the color/marker/size/width/hw for tornado vortex 
> > > > signatures
> > > >    to be marked. A color value of 0 is used to turn off TVS plotting.
> > > >
> > > >    CNTR specifies the color/size/width for Cell Centroid movement barbs 
> > > > (knots).
> > > >    A value of 0 is used to turn off centroid plotting.
> > > >
> > > >    MAXTOP specifies the color for cell top annotations (feet).
> > > >    A value of 0 is used to turn off cell top annotations.
> > > >
> > > >    RADINFO specifies the color for radar site operational status 
> > > > annotations.
> > > >    NA, data not available; OM, out for maintenance; NE, no echoes.
> > > >
> > > >    ECHO specifies whether to plot the grid box intesities. A value of 0
> > > >    specifies no plotting of echoes; 1 specifies plotting only those
> > > >    echoes from radars in precipitation mode; 2 specifies plotting
> > > >    of echoes from radars in both precipitation and clear air mode.
> > > >
> > > >    GPRCM utilizes the nexrad.tbl station table to determine the radar
> > > >    location (not all RCM bulletins contain radar location as of Nov. 
> > > > 1999).
> > > >    The radars listed in the station table are also used to determine
> > > >    which locations are missing (Not Available: NA).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > EXAMPLES
> > > >
> > > >     1.  Draw a Lambert Conformal map of the US.
> > > >         Display RCM data from the file rcm.dat. Plot radar observations
> > > >         for the past 60 minutes. Display the echo intensities (no 
> > > > dithering),
> > > >         maxtop values in yellow, and radar status in red. Do not plot 
> > > > mesocyclone,
> > > >         or TVS locations. Plot the cell centroid motion barbs in white.
> > > >
> > > >          GAREA    = us
> > > >          PROJ     = str/90;-105;0
> > > >          SATFIL   =
> > > >          RADFIL   =
> > > >          LATLON   = 0
> > > >          PANEL    = 0
> > > >          TITLE    = 1/-1/Radar Summary
> > > >          TEXT     = 1.3/22/1/hw
> > > >          CLEAR    = yes
> > > >          DEVICE   = xw
> > > >          RCMFIL   = rcm.dat
> > > >          RADTIM   = current
> > > >          RADDUR   = 60
> > > >          DITHER   = 0
> > > >          MAXTOP   = 5
> > > >          RADINFO  = 2
> > > >          MESO     = 0
> > > >          TVS      = 0
> > > >          CNTR     = 1/1/1
> > > >
> > > >     2.  Overlay the IR satellite imagery with RCM data for the US west 
> > > > coast.
> > > >         Use a DITHER value of 2 to for moderate transparency. Plot the 
> > > > radar
> > > >         CLRBAR horizontally above title. Satellite CLRBAR will be 
> > > > vertical along
> > > >         the left side of the image.
> > > >
> > > >          GAREA    = ca-
> > > >          PROJ     = sat
> > > >          SATFIL   = $SAT/GOES-10/4km/IR/IR_991108_1600
> > > >          RADFIL   =
> > > >          LATLON   = 0
> > > >          PANEL    = 0
> > > >          TITLE    = 1/-1/Satellite and Radar Composite
> > > >          TEXT     = 1/22/1/hw
> > > >          CLEAR    = yes
> > > >          DEVICE   = xw
> > > >          RCMFIL   = rcm.dat
> > > >          RADTIM   = current
> > > >          RADDUR   = 60
> > > >          DITHER   = 2
> > > >          MESO     = 0
> > > >          TVS      = 0
> > > >          CNTR     = 0
> > > >          MAXTOP   = 0
> > > >          RADINFO  = 0
> > > >          ECHO     = 1
> > > >          CLRBAR   = 1/h/cc/.46;.06
> > > >
> > > > ERROR MESSAGES
> > > >
> > > >     [GPRCM  -1]     Fatal error initializing TAE.
> > > >     [GPRCM  -2]     Fatal error reading TAE parameters.
> > > >     [GPRCM  -3]     Fatal error initializing GEMPLT.
> > >
> > > --
> > > ============================================================
> > > Tom Priddy                                address@hidden
> > > Extension Ag. Meteorologist          ph:  606-257-3000ext245
> > > Ag. Weather Center                  fax:  606-257-5671
> > > 243 Ag. Engineering Bldg
> > > Dept. of Biosystems and Ag. Engr.
> > > University of Kentucky
> > > Lexington, KY 40546-0276
> > > HOMEPAGE   http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu
> > > ============================================================
> > >
> > >
> > >
> 
> --
> ============================================================
> Tom Priddy                                address@hidden
> Extension Ag. Meteorologist          ph:  606-257-3000ext245
> Ag. Weather Center                  fax:  606-257-5671
> 243 Ag. Engineering Bldg
> Dept. of Biosystems and Ag. Engr.
> University of Kentucky
> Lexington, KY 40546-0276
> HOMEPAGE   http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu
> ============================================================
> 
> 
>