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Space varying wind and pressure input files (meteofiles)

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At present, for different wind meteo input files, different headers are used, which are read in different ways in the sourcecodesource code. Some effeort effort has been put to in making the files more self-descriptive, readible readable and to make the input of the different files more consistent. For three four wind-input options, a suggestion to standardise the headers is shown below. The suggestion is conform the a possible transition to NetCDF format in the future. See NetCDF standard names for more information on the used standard NetCDF names. An integrated file format is proposed which can be used for all wind input options. For meteo on the FLOW grid, meteo on an equidistant (rectilinear or spherical) grid, meteo on a separate curvilinear grid and meteo on a Spiderweb grid, examples of input files are shown below.

• Keywords are case INsensitive.
• Comments are indicated by a #

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• .
• The keyword FileVersion (= 1.02) must be the first keyword, the order of the other keywords is free to choose.
• The pressure correction on boundaries using Paver and Pcorr, which used to be prescribed in the air pressure meteo file, has been moved to the MD-File. The correction is specified using the keyword:
  PavBnd (P average on Boundaries). This average pressure is applied on all boundaries to reduce pressure gradients there. The average pressure needs to be specified in Pascals.

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• Meteo on the FLOW grid:
  For meteo on the FLOW grid, the wind velocities and air pressure are specified in 1 file, using the keyword:
  Filwnd

Code Block
### START OF HEADER ### This file is created by Deltares FileVersion = 1.02
Code Block
# START OF HEADER # This file is created by Deltares # Additional commments # General part: t_ref = 19991026.000000 # Reference time t_ref_unit = ModifiedJulianDay # Unit used for reference time t_unit = min # Time unit (sec, min, hrs, etc.) #t_unit = hrs# Version of meteo input file, to check if the newest file format is used filetype = meteo_on_flow_grid missing_value = -999.000 # Type of meteo input file: meteo_on_flow_grid, meteo_on_equidistant_grid, meteo_on_curvilinear_grid or meteo_on_spiderweb_grid NODATA_value = -9.9900000E+02 # Value used for undefined or missing data # For Pseudo ArcInfo or Spiderweb wind: n_cols = # 400Value used for undefined or missing data n_quantity = 3 # Number of columns used for wind datafield n_rows = # 16Number of quantities prescribed in the file quantity1 = x_wind # Number of rows used for wind datafield grid_unit = # Name of degreequantity1 quantity2 = y_wind # Unit of distances on the grid in both x- and y-direction #grid_unit # Name of quantity2 quantity3 = m = air_pressure # Only for Pseudo ArcInfo wind: x0 = -12.000 # Name of quantity3 unit1 = m s-1 # Xcoordinate of starting point of grid (in units specified in grid_unit) y0 = 48.000 # Unit of quantity1 unit2 = m s-1 # Ycoordinate of starting point of grid (in units specified in grid_unit) value_pos = centre # Unit of quantity2 unit3 = mbar # Location where the data is specified in a cell (centre or corner) #value_pos = corner # Unit of quantity3 ### END OF HEADER TIME = 0 minutes since 2008-01-08 00:00:00 +00:00 dx = 0.12500 # Fixed format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 -9.9900000E+02 -9.9900000E+02 -8.6049000E+00 # Grid dimensions: dx and dy (in units specified in grid_unit) dy = 0.083333333 n_quantity = 3 -1.0240000E+01 -5.4150000E+00 -1.8900000E+00 -2.9040000E+00 -9.9900000E+02 -9.9900000E+02 -9.9900000E+02 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 1.0000000E+03 TIME = 660 minutes since 2008-01-08 00:00:00 +00:00 # NumberFixed offormat: quantities<time> prescribed<time inunit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 -9.9900000E+02 -9.9900000E+02 -2.3290000E+00 -9.0440000E+00 -1.3230000E+01 -8.3310000E+00 -6.9210000E+00 -9.9900000E+02 -9.9900000E+02 -9.9900000E+02 -1.0000000E+01 -1.1000000E+01 -1.2000000E+01 -1.5000000E+01 -1.8000000E+01 -1.4000000E+01 -1.2000000E+01 -0.8000000E+01 -1.2000000E+01 -1.6000000E+01 -1.2000000E+01 -1.0000000E+01 -0.7000000E+01 -0.4000000E+01 0.0000000E+00 -0.3000000E+01 1.0130000E+03 1.0140000E+03 1.0140000E+03 1.0160000E+03 1.0120000E+03 1.0120000E+03 1.0180000E+03 1.0200000E+03 1.0160000E+03 1.0140000E+03 1.0110000E+03 1.0130000E+03 1.0110000E+03 1.0180000E+03 1.0150000E+03 1.0130000E+03

• Meteo on an equidistant grid:
  For meteo on an equidistant grid, the wind velocities and air pressure are specified in 3 separate files using the keywords:
  Filwu
  Filwv
  Filwp
  and Filwr, Filwt, Filwc for relative humidity, air temperature and cloudiness respectively.

Code Block

### START OF HEADER ### This file is created by Deltares ### All text on a line behind the first # is parsed as commentary ### Additional commments FileVersionthe file quantity1 = x_wind # Name of quantity1 quantity2 = y_wind # Name of quantity2 quantity3 = air_pressure # Name of quantity3 unit1 = m s-11.02 # UnitVersion of quantity1 unit2meteo input file, to check if the newest file format =is used filetype m s-1 = meteo_on_equidistant_grid # Type of meteo input file: meteo_on_flow_grid, meteo_on_equidistant_grid, meteo_on_curvilinear_grid # Unit of quantity2 unit3 or meteo_on_spiderweb_grid NODATA_value = Pa-9999.000 # Value used for undefined or missing #data n_cols Unit of quantity3 # Only for Spiderweb wind: radius = 400 = 600000.00 # RadiusNumber of spiderwebcolumns (inused unitsfor specified in rad_unit) rad_unitwind datafield n_rows = m= 16 # Unit # Number of radius n_quantityrows used for wind datafield grid_unit = = 3 degree # NumberUnit of quantitiesdistances prescribed inon the file quantity1grid in both x- and y-direction: =m wind_speedor degree x_llcorner = -12.000 # Name of quantity1 quantity2 = wind_from_direction # Xcoordinate of lower left corner of grid (in units specified in grid_unit) y_llcorner = 48.000 # Name of quantity2 quantity3 = p_drop # Ycoordinate of lower left corner of grid (in units specified in grid_unit) value_pos = # Name of quantity3 unit1centre = m s-1 # Coordinates given in centre or corner of lower left cell? dx # Unit of quantity1 unit2 = degree0.12500 # UnitGrid of quantity2 unit3 dimensions: dx and dy (in units specified in grid_unit) dy = Pa = 0.083333333 # Unit of quantity3 #n_quantity Only for wind on a= separate curvi-linear grid: grid_file 1 = hirlam.grd # Separate (curvi-linear) grid on whichNumber of quantities prescribed in the windfile quantity1 can be specified first_row = nmaxx_wind # Name #of These four parameters determine the order in which the data last_rowquantity1 (x_wind, y_wind or air_pressure) unit1 = m s-1 # Unit of quantity1 # is read from the separate wind file. In this way, data which is first_col(m s-1 for velocities or Pa/mbar for air_pressure) ### END OF HEADER TIME = 0 1minutes since 2007-10-08 15:24:00 -02:00 # Fixed format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 # supplied in a reversed1.388999 order, can also be read. last_col1.388999 =1.388999 mmax n_quantity 1.388999 = 1.388999 1.388999 2.388999 2.388999 2.388999 2.388999 2.388999 2.388999 # Number of quantities2.388999 prescribed in the file quantity1 2.388999 = air_pressure2.388999 2.388999 3.388999 3.388999 3.388999 3.388999 # Name3.388999 of quantity1 unit1 3.388999 = 3.388999 Pa 3.388999 3.388999 3.388999 TIME = 1440 minutes since 2007-10-08 15:24:00 -02:00 # UnitFixed of quantity1 # END OF HEADER TIME format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> 2.435253 = 0.0000000E+002.435253 5.435253 1.435253 3.435253 4.435253 2.435253 # Time where first2.557653 dataset is supplied x_spw_eye 2.412253 = 1152.4435255 1.435253 2.435253 1.435253 2.435253 1.435253 2.435253 #1.435253 Xcoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at1.435253 specified TIME y_spw_eye = 18.92.435253 1.435251 4.435253 4.435253 1.435253 3.355253 3.456253 5.425253 # Ycoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME p_drop_spw_eye = 1.223453 53005.523341 5.521246 # Pressure drop at cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.3889993.255258

• Explanation of the data to grid conversion for meteo on an equidistant grid

For meteo on an equidistant grid the orientation of the data is the same as the grid (visually). The first data value is thus located at the grid at (1,nmax). A line is then read as a row on the grid and the second line in the dataset is row nmax-1 on the grid. See also figure 1.

Image Added
Figure 1: Data to grid conversion for meteo on an equidistant grid.

• Meteo on a separate curvilinear grid:
  For meteo on a separate curvilinear grid, the wind velocities and air pressure are specified in 3 separate files using the keywords:
  Fwndgu
  Fwndgv
  Fwndgp
  and Fwndgr, Fwndgt, Fwndgc for relative humidity, air temperature and cloudiness respectively.

Code Block

### START OF HEADER ### This file is created by Deltares ### All text on a line behind the first # is parsed as commentary ### Additional commments FileVersion = 1.02 1.388999 155.0000 346.2500 357.5000 8.750000 20.00000 31.25000 # Version of meteo input file, 42.50000to check if the newest file format 53.75000 is used filetype 65.00000 = 76.25000meteo_on_curvilinear_grid 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000# Type of meteo input file: 5300.000 5300.000 meteo_on_flow_grid, meteo_on_equidistant_grid, meteo_on_curvilinear_grid or meteo_on_spiderweb_grid NODATA_value = 5300-999.000999 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 TIME = 1440 # Value used for undefined or missing data grid_file = hirlam.grd # Time where next dataset is supplied x_spw_eye = 114.4000# Separate (curvi-linear) grid on which the wind can be specified first_data_value = grid_llcorner # Xcoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME y_spw_eye # Options: grid_llcorner, grid_ul_corner, grid_lrcorner or grid_urcorner data_row = 18.90000grid_row # Ycoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIMEOptions: grid_row or grid_col. For switching rows and columns. n_quantity = p_drop_spw_eye =1 5300.000 # Pressure drop# atNumber cycloneof eyequantities (Spiderwebprescribed centre)in at specified TIME 2.435253the file quantity1 2.435253= x_wind 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 # Name of quantity1 (x_wind, 2.435253 65.01978y_wind, air_pressure, relative_humidity, air_temperature or cloudiness) unit1 = m s-1 75.11859 85.25320 95.45370 105.7529 # Unit of quantity1 116.1833 126.7762 137.5612 148.5649 159.8090 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 (m s-1 for velocities, Pa/ mbar for air_pressure, % for relative_humidity or cloudiness and Celcius for air_temperature) ### END OF HEADER TIME = 0 hours since 2006-01-01 00:00:00 -06:00 # Fixed format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> 101530.000 101300.000 101600.000 101550.000 101500.000 101300.000 1013300.000 101400.000 101430.000 101500.000 101130.000 101320.000 101260.000 101620.000 1013400.000 101520.000 TIME = 1440 hours since 2006-01-01 00:00:00 -06:00 # Fixed format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> 101298.544 102108.102 101998.521 101928.544 101721.314 101811.152 1013410.400 101323.214 101430.000 101500.000 101130.000 101320.000 101260.000 101620.000 1013400.000 101520.000

• Explanation of the data to grid conversion for wind on a separate curvilinear grid.

The first_data_value keyword is used to determine the starting point on the grid. The first_data_value is the first value that is read in the meteo file, i.e. the upper left value in a data block. The keyword has 4 possible values:

grid_llcorner, meaning m = 1, n = 1 (on the curvilinear grid)
grid_lrcorner, meaning m = mmax, n = 1 ( " )
grid_ulcorner, meaning m = 1, n = nmax ( " )
grid_urcorner, meaning m = mmax, n = nmax ( " )

The data_row keyword is then used to determine the direction of placing the data on the grid, i.e. data_row = grid_column means that a row that is read in the meteo file becomes a column in the array on the grid (so fixed m, increasing n).

Example:

Code Block
first_data_value = grid_ll_corner data_row = grid_column

means:
The first read value (top left) of the meteofile coincides with the point (1,1) on the grid. The first row in the meteofile is then the first column on the grid, i.e. (1,1:nmax). The second row is then the second column (2,1:nmax) and so on. See also Figure 2.

Image Added
Figure 2: Data to grid conversion for wind on a separate curvilinear grid.

• Meteo on a Spiderweb grid:
  For meteo on a Spiderweb grid, the wind velocities and air pressure are specified in 1 file using the keyword:
  Filweb
  Meteo on a Spiderweb grid can be added to one of the other wind formats. Near and in the cyclone the winds are added using an averaging algorithm.

Code Block

### START OF HEADER ### This file is created by Deltares ### All text on a line behind the first # is parsed as commentary ### Additional commments FileVersion = 1.02 # Version of meteo input file, to check if the newest file format is used filetype = meteo_on_spiderweb_grid # Type of meteo input file: meteo_on_flow_grid, meteo_on_equidistant_grid, meteo_on_curvilinear_grid or meteo_on_spiderweb_grid NODATA_value = -999.000 # Value used for undefined or missing data n_cols = 16 # Number of columns used for wind datafield n_rows = 400 # Number of rows used for wind datafield spw_radius = 600000.00 # Radius of spiderweb (in units specified in rad_unit) spw_rad_unit = m # Unit of radius n_quantity = 3 # Number of quantities prescribed in the file quantity1 = wind_speed # Name of quantity1 quantity2 = wind_from_direction # Name of quantity2 quantity3 = p_drop # Name of quantity3 unit1 = m s-1 # Unit of quantity1 unit2 = degree # Unit of quantity2 unit3 = Pa # Unit of quantity3 ### END OF HEADER TIME = 0 minutes since 2004-01-03 11:02:00 +01:00 # Fixed format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> x_spw_eye = 115.4 # Xcoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME y_spw_eye = 18.9 # Ycoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME p_drop_spw_eye = 5300 # Pressure drop at cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 1.388999 155.0000 346.2500 357.5000 8.750000 20.00000 31.25000 42.50000 53.75000 65.00000 76.25000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 5300.000 TIME = 1440 minutes since 2004-01-03 11:02:00 +01:00 # Fixed format: <time> <time unit> "since" <date> <time> <time zone> x_spw_eye = 114.4000 # Xcoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME y_spw_eye = 18.90000 # Ycoordinate of cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME p_drop_spw_eye = 5300.000 # Pressure drop at cyclone eye (Spiderweb centre) at specified TIME 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 2.435253 65.01978 75.11859 85.25320 95.45370 105.7529 116.1833 126.7762 137.5612 148.5649 159.8090 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544 5298.544

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• Explanation of the grid definition for wind on a Spiderweb grid.

The Spiderweb grid is defined using the number of rows 'n_rows' and the number of columns 'n_cols'.
The number of rows is used to divide the radius of the Spiderweb in small rings of width spw_radius/n_rows [m].
The number of columns is used to divide the circle in parts with angles of 2*pi/n_cols [rad].
The wind direction is defined according to the nautical convention, i.e. wind from the North has direction 0 degrees and the angle increases when turning clockwise.
If the grid_unit is 'degree' than the coordinates of the Spiderweb/cyclone eye are given in spherical coordinates using keywords 'x_spw_eye' and 'y_spw_eye'.
For each time of the time series, the coordinates of the Spiderweb eye and the pressure drop in the eye must be specified.