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 Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated.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.
Hi Kwan, re: > I checked the contents of mcidas2006/src/sfccon.pgm and > found the comments shown below. The parameter PRE is what > I want to contour over land where most METAR data are > found. In addition, I want to combine the PRE of METAR > with SLP from ships and buoys in SFCCON when plotting the > PMSL isobars. The comments say that PRE does not match > with ISFC schema. I sense that that is the source of the > obstacle. The default definition for PMSL definition is contained in the file ~mcidas/data/SFCCON.CORE: PMSL UNIT=MB \ ISFC=PRE SVCA=na SYN=PSL ISHP=PSL By this definition, when you specify PMSL as the parameter to be contoured, you are selecting PRE from datasets with the ISFC schema (e.g., RTPTSRC/SFCHOURLY) and PSL from datasets with either the SYN (e.g., RTPTSRC/SYNOPTIC) or ISHP (e.g., RTPTSRC/SHIPBUOY) schemas. I just plotted a world map of PMSL contours and I think it is what you want (GIF is attached): ERASE;SFCCON PMSL WORLD 18 LSIZE=6 CIN=4 COL=3 LLI=.75 .75 DAT=RTPTSRC/SFCHOURLY RTPTSRC/SHIPBUOY RTPTSRC/SYNOPTIC Erased image frame(s) 1-1 Erased graphic frame(s) 1-1 ERASE: Done Accessing Dataset Name = RTPTSRC/SFCHOURLY.ALL Accessing Dataset Name = RTPTSRC/SHIPBUOY.ALL Accessing Dataset Name = RTPTSRC/SYNOPTIC.ALL Number of data points input to objective analysis: 7567 PTCON: Done SFCCON - Done FRMSAVE 1 sfccon_pmsl.gif Frame saved in /home/mcidas/linux64/workdata/sfccon_pmsl.gif Please let me know if you agree that a contour of PMSL is what you are looking for. Cheers, Tom **************************************************************************** Unidata User Support UCAR Unidata Program (303) 497-8642 P.O. Box 3000 address@hidden Boulder, CO 80307 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unidata HomePage http://www.unidata.ucar.edu **************************************************************************** Ticket Details =================== Ticket ID: VPF-945811 Department: Support McIDAS Priority: Normal Status: Closed