There are two types of GRIB output files on AWIPS Grid 212:
AWIP3Dtt.tmXX (3-D atmospheric fields)
AWIPSFtt.tmXX (2-D surface, subsurface, or near surface fields)
In the above generic file names, the value of "tt" is either
"00", denoting an analysis field, or a value ranging from
"03" to "36", denoting a forecast length in hours.
The "XX" denotes the number of hours PRIOR to the GMT time
of the directory name that the INITIAL state for this field
is valid.
For example in directory T12Z:
AWIPSF00.tm00 Analysis at 12Z (i.e. 12 GMT)
AWIPSF00.tm03 Analysis at 09Z
AWIPSF00.tm06 Analysis at 06Z
AWIPSF00.tm09 Analysis at 03Z
AWIPSF00.tm12 Analysis at 00Z (Caution: this file should
not be used, since it is a
'cold-start' analysis based
on global analysis. Instead
of this file, use AWIPSF00.tm00
from the previous cycle).
The first 4 files above (and their AWIP3D counterparts) are the
primary analysis fields of chief interest to many users. Along
with the corresponding 4 files in directory T00Z, one has eight
analyses that span the 24-hour period at intervals of 3 hours.
Continuing with directory T12Z:
AWIPSF03.tm12 3-hour forecast from 00Z (valid at 03Z)
AWIPSF03.tm09 3-hour forecast from 03Z (valid at 06Z)
AWIPSF03.tm06 3-hour forecast from 06Z (valid at 09Z)
AWIPSF03.tm03 3-hour forecast from 09Z (valid at 12Z)
These 4 files (and their AWIP3D counterparts) are important
intermediate steps in the data assimilation cycle (steps known
as the "first-guess" for the following analysis).
Finally in directory T12Z:
AWIPSF06.tm00 6-hour forecast starting from 12Z
AWIPSF12.tm00 12-hour forecast starting from 12Z
AWIPSF18.tm00 18-hour forecast starting from 12Z
AWIPSF24.tm00 24-hour forecast starting from 12Z
AWIPSF30.tm00 30-hour forecast starting from 12Z
AWIPSF36.tm00 36-hour forecast starting from 12Z
These 6 files (and their AWIP3D counterparts) represent the
mainline Early Eta forecasts of interest to many users.
In either directory T00Z or T12Z, one can determine the last
update time of all entries in the directory by acquiring and
examing the 24-character ASCII label in file "nmcdate".
Characters 03-10 given the date and GMT time in YYMMDDHH format
(YY-year, MM-month, DD-day, HH - GMT hour either 00Z or 12Z).
CAVEAT: the inventory listings are provided to give users an idea of what are
in the GRIB files. Users should set up their decoding program to retrieve
specific field by parameter number, NOT by the order of fields in the inventory
lists.
Format (from 19 Nov 1999 on. For earlier inventory format, scroll down to just
before the 'For run cycles 12Z 3 Nov 1998 --' section):
Columns Meaning
1- 4 Field number in file
6- 9 Parameter number
10-16 Parameter name
17-66 Height and time description
68-78 Min. value
80-90 Max. value
For run cycles 12Z 03 May 2005 -- present
(Last checked 2006020912)
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2005050312-present
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2005050312-present
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2005050312-present
For run cycles 12Z 09 Sep 2003 -- 00Z 03 May 2005
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2003090912-2005050300
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2003090912-2005050300
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2003090912-2005050300
For run cycles 00Z 07 Dec 2001 -- 00Z 09 Sep 2003
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2001120700-2003090900
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2001120700-2003090900
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2001120700-2003090900
For run cycles 12Z 27 Nov 2001 -- 12Z 06 Dec 2001
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2001112712-2001120612
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2001112712-2001120612
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2001112712-2001120612
For run cycles 12Z 23 Oct 2001 -- 00Z 27 Nov 2001
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2001102312-2001112700
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2001102312-2001112700
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2001102312-2001112700
For run cycles 12Z 26 Sep 2000 -- 00Z 23 Oct 2001
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2000092612-2001102300
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2000092612-2001102300
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2000092612-2001102300
For run cycles 12Z 29 Mar 2000 -- 00Z 26 Sep 2000
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.2000032912-2000092600
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.2000032912-2000092600
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.2000032912-2000092600
For run cycles 00Z 19 Nov 1999 -- 00Z 29 Mar 2000
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.1999111900-2000032900
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.1999111900-2000032900
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.1999111900-2000032900
00Z 28 Sep - 12Z 18 Nov 1999: No Eta/GCIP archive
C90 was damaged by a fire on the afternoon of 27 Sep. From 00Z 28 Sep to
00Z 18 Nov, the 80-km Eta (from static analysis) was run as the operational
model at 00Z and 12Z. The operational Eta/EDAS resumed on 12Z 18 Nov 1999
on the IBM/SP. The Eta/GCIP archive resumed on 00Z 19 Nov.
Prior to 28 Sep 1999, two types of grib inventories are listed.
You might wish to look at
both. awip212.range.* files give the min and max values for each field
(for that particular run cycle and output time), while awip212.invnt.* files
give the names of the output fields and some raw PDS (product definition
section) header information for each record.
For run cycles 12Z 3 Nov 1998 -- ????????
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.98110312-xxxxxxxx
03+tm03.range.98110312-xxxxxxxx
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.98110312-xxxxxxxx
00+tm00.range.98110312-xxxxxxxx
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.98110312-xxxxxxxx
24+tm00.range.98110312-xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx: indeterminate. Somewhere between 1998111712 and 1999092712.
For run cycles 12Z 3 Jun 1998 -- 00Z 3 Nov 1998
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.98060312-98110300
03+tm03.range.98060312-98110300
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.98060312-98110300
00+tm00.range.98060312-98110300
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.98060312-98110300
24+tm00.range.98060312-98110300
For run cycles 12Z 9 Feb 1998 -- 00Z 3 Jun 1998
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.98020912-98060300
03+tm03.range.98020912-98060300
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.98020912-98060300
00+tm00.range.98020912-98060300
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.98020912-98060300
24+tm00.range.98020912-98060300
For run cycles 00Z 11 Nov 1997 -- 00Z 9 Feb 1998
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.97111100-98020900
03+tm03.range.97111100-98020900
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.97111100-98020900
00+tm00.range.97111100-98020900
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.97111100-98020900
24+tm00.range.97111100-98020900
For run cycles 12Z 17 Jul 1997 -- 12Z 10 Nov 97
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.97071712-97111012
03+tm03.range.97071712-97111012
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.97071712-97111012
00+tm00.range.97071712-97111012
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.97071712-97111012
24+tm00.range.97071712-97111012
For run cycles 12Z 10 Jun 1997 -- 00Z 17 Jul 97
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.97061012-97071700
03+tm03.range.97061012-97071700
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.97061012-97071700
00+tm00.range.97061012-97071700
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.97061012-97071700
24+tm00.range.97061012-97071700
For run cycles 12Z 18 Feb 1997 -- 00Z 10 Jun 97
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.97021812-97061000
03+tm03.range.97021812-97061000
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.97021812-97061000
00+tm00.range.97021812-97061000
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.97021812-97061000
24+tm00.range.97021812-97061000
For run cycles 12Z 31 Jan 1996 -- 00Z 18 Feb 1997
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.96013112-97021800
03+tm03.range.96013112-97021800
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.96013112-97021800
00+tm00.range.96013112-97021800
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.96013112-97021800
24+tm00.range.96013112-97021800
For run cycles 00Z 1 Nov 1995 -- 00Z 31 Jan 1996
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.95110100-96013100
03+tm03.range.95110100-96013100
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.95110100-96013100
00+tm00.range.95110100-96013100
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.95110100-96013100
24+tm00.range.95110100-96013100
For run cycles 00Z 16 Jul 1994 -- 12Z 31 Oct 1995
For the 3-hr guess valid at tm00 (AWIP3D03.tm03 and AWIPSF03.tm03):
03+tm03.invnt.94071600-95103112
03+tm03.range.94071600-95103112
For the analysis valid at tm00 (AWIP3D00.tm00 and AWIPSF00.tm00):
00+tm00.invnt.94071600-95103112
00+tm00.range.94071600-95103112
For the 24-hour forecast (AWIP3D24.tm00 and AWIPSF24.tm00):
24+tm00.invnt.94071600-95103112
24+tm00.range.94071600-95103112
Note about the cumulative variables
The cumulative water variables include
1. Total precipitation
2. Convective precipitation
3. Surface runoff
4. Baseflow runoff
5. Snowmelt
6. Snowfall
7. Evaporation
These accumulations are in mm (equivalent to kg/m**2), over the designated
accumulation period.
In EDAS files, the accumulation period for all the above variables is 3 hours.
In ETA files, the accumulation period for variables 3--7 is 6 hours.
For the total precipitation and convective precipitation, the accumulation
period is 12 hours (this is to maintain consistency with NCEP operational
practice for field forecasts). This means that the variables holding the
accumulated total precip and accumulated convective precip are 'zeroed out'
every 12 hours:
File name Precip is accumulated during hours of
AWIPSF06.tm00 0 to 6
AWIPSF12.tm00 0 to 12
AWIPSF18.tm00 12 to 18
AWIPSF24.tm00 12 to 24
etc.
If you wish to compute 6-hour precip accumulations for, say, 18-24 hours,
just subtract the AWIPSF18.tm00 precip field from the corresponding field
in AWIPSF24.tm00.
For the time-averaged surface energy fluxes, the time period for averaging
is 3 hours in EDAS, and 6 hours in Eta.
In addition, the output files also contain instantaneous energy fluxes.
Please see the inventories for details.