Retrieving RAOB Data from the NSSL/SPC On-Line Archive
1946-Present
2/21/2002




You may retrieve and format RAOB data for use in N-AWIPS/GEMPAK applications using the NSSL on-line archive (1946-1997) or SPC (1997-present).  The outline of procedures you will follow are:

     1.   Retrieve the data from the NSSL, or SPC (depending on the dates of the data you require).
     2.   Run applications to display and analyze your upper air data on N-AWIPS.

 

I. Determine the source of your archived data and retrieve

There are two locations to retrieve archived RAOB data.  Data from 1946-1996 can be retrieved from the NSSL on-line archive using VORTEX.  The procedures for retrieving this data have been greatly streamlined in the past month.  Data from 1997 to present can be accessed from SPC and is already on-line.
 

Retrieval of Data from NSSL  (1946-1996):
 

 1.   Logon to Troi.  To do this you may go to Troi and log on OR from any hpterm,

TYPE:  telnet   troi.spc.noaa.gov
USERNAME: caseuser
PASSWORD: *********
 2.   Go to your local raob subdirectory. Type: cd   your_lastname/uair
 

 3.   Retrieve the desired files from the on-line NSSL archive.

 TYPE: ftp 129.15.69.99   (Note, must use this IP address and not VORTEX)
 USER: janish
 PASS: *********
 TYPE: cd  /optical/modelers/naraob/gempak/YYYY
      (Where YYYY is the year [1997], etc.)
 TYPE: bin
 TYPE: prompt
 TYPE: mget YYMMDD*.snd
 4.   Repeat Step 3 for additional data files as necessary.  When finished, end the FTP Session.
       TYPE: quit

          This should return you to your active hpterm on Troi.

Data files are already in a format which can be directly used on N-AWIPS applications without additional processing.  Proceed to Step II for additional information.
 
Retrieval of Data from SPC Online Archive (1997-Present):
 

 1.   Logon to Troi.  To do this you may go to Troi and log on OR from any hpterm,

TYPE:  telnet   troi.spc.noaa.gov
USERNAME: caseuser
PASSWORD: *********


 2.   Go to your local raob subdirectory. Type: cd   your_lastname/uair
 

 3.   Retrieve the desired files from the on-line SPC archive.

TYPE: ftp troi
USER: caseuser
PASS: *********
TYPE: cd /sparse/observations/uair/mmmyy   (Where mmmyy = mar97, etc.)
TYPE: bin
TYPE: prompt
TYPE: mget YYMMDD.snd


 4.   Repeat Step 3 for additional data files as necessary.  When finished, end the FTP Session.
      TYPE: quit
 

  This should return you to your active hpterm on Troi.
  These files are already named properly for use with all N-AWIPS applications.
  Once finished, you may proceed to STEP II for analysis of your data.

 

II.   Running N-AWIPS applications with archived GEMPAK upper air data on Troi.

These instructions will enable the user to display sounding data in N-AWIPS for analysis and display.  Examples include N-SHARP, GEMPAK scripts, etc.  These instructions are written specifically for workstation Troi (located in the forecaster case study area).  Directions for displaying data on other operational SPC workstations is provided at the end of this document.

First you must login into Troi.   USERNAME: caseuser
                                                    PASSWORD: ********
 
 

N-SHARP

1.   Left Mouse Click (LMC) on N-SHARP icon located on the N-AWIPS applications bar.
 

2.   LMC LOAD.
 

3.   LMC OBSERVED SOUNDINGS.
 

4.   LMC CHANGE FILE
      Under filter (in the new window):

      TYPE: /scratch/your_last_name/uair/*
      (e.g. /scratch/janish/uair/*)
 

5.   Select the sounding time you want to view and proceed as normal.
 
 
 

GEMPAK SCRIPTS
 

UAMAPA

The processed sounding files will also work with any GEMPAK script.  The following provides instruction on use of the UAMAPA script which produces horizontal plots of upper air data at any level to the screen (via x-window) or to a printer (hard copy).  A copy of uamapa has been created and placed in each forecaster’s /scratch/your_lastname subdirectory.

To access this script, go to your subdirectory on Troi (e.g. /scratch/your_lastname) and type,

uamapa h
This will give information in the form of a “help file” on the program uamapa.
 

Example:   uamapa 850 usa 12 .2 910426 <print>

This command will display an 850 mb chart over the USA for 1200 UTC 4/26/91 using a filter of .2 (has to do with spacing).  The <print> indicates an option to print the chart.  If you include “print” the output will be directed to spclj6.  If “print” is omitted, the output will be directed to the screen (x-window).
 
 

UAPLOTA

UAPLOTA is a script which creates large 11 x 17 printouts of upper air charts.  This program will work with archive data saved in /scratch/your_lastname/uair.
 

1.  To access this script, go to your subdirectory on Troi (e.g. /scratch/your_lastname)

      Type: uaplota h   (To scroll a help file which lists all the options for creating a chart).
 

2.  Run the program for the date/time and level you wish:

uaplota d  LLL  hh  yymmdd  (filter)  (printer)


Where d indicates decimals will be plotted, LLL is the level (e.g. 500), hh is the hour, yymmdd is the year, month, day; filter is a value from 0-2, and printer is the number of the laserjet printer you wish to create the hard copy (e.g. 5).

(e.g.  uaplota   d   500   12   990503   .2   2)
 In this example, a 500 mb chart with values expressed in decimal form would be printed on spclj2 for 12Z of May 3rd, 1999.
 
 
 

USING NMAP

One advantage to using NMAP is that you have better control over the type of data displays, size of printouts, and map underlays.  Once your data is in the proper subdirectory you can display it in NMAP.  To do this:

1.   Go to your subdirectory location on troi: (e.g.  cd   /scratch/your_lastname)

2.   TYPE:   setenv   OBS   /scratch/your_lastname

3.   TYPE:   nmap (lower case)
      Note...You must execute nmap from the window by typing nmap.  Do not click on the NMAP icon in the NTL button bar.

4.   Once in NMAP, load your data and Left Click on the “set date” box located on the bottom of the NMAP window.  Use the arrows or bars to set the date to the desired time.

     From here, you can use all NMAP functions to display, change map backgrounds, font sizes, annotate, print etc.

Note...the time line in the data display window may be highly compressed if you have data from multiple years in your /scratch/your_lastname/uair subdirectory.  To make sure the data you desire displays properly, you can either move data from other years to another, temporary subdirectory and/or load multiple frames around the time of interest to ensure the data you desire is displayed.
 
 
 

III. Running N-AWIPS applications with archived GEMPAK upper air files on other operational workstations.

These instructions will enable the user to display sounding data in N-AWIPS for analysis and display using any operational SPC workstation.
 

First, you must be logged on to an operational workstation.  From any x-term (or hpterm)

1.   Type:  xhost  +troi

2.   Type:  telnet troi.spc.noaa.gov

3.   Logon  using username: caseuser
              password: ********

4.   Type:  setenv  DISPLAY  ###.##.###.##:0.0   (Where ### is the ip address of your workstation)
                (e.g. 140.90.173.102:0.0)

5.   Type:  cd your_lastname   (e.g. cd janish)
 
 
 

To run N-SHARP:

1.   From the terminal you used to telnet to Troi,

Type:   Nsharp&


2.   Follow instructions on Page 3, Step 2 for N-SHARP to display soundings.
 
 
 
 

To run GEMPAK SCRIPTS or NMAP Applications:

 Use the same hpterm (terminal) used to telnet to Troi (above).
 See instructions in Section II, pages 3-4 to display data.