Note

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Point-Stat: Investigating Preciptitation Types

model_application/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.conf

Scientific Objective

During a storm that produces mulitiple precipitation types, the validation process becomes critical to investigating how well a model does during these situations. Using METplus’ PointStat tool in this use case creates an opportunity to compare three separate model outputs for a multi-precipitation type storm across several valid times and create statistical output that can help modelers fine-tune curent numerical models to perform better in this forecast situation.

Datasets

  • Forecast dataset: operational GFS, GFSv16, NAM

  • Observation dataset: METARs (via NAM prepbufr reanalysis)

METplus Components

This use case runs PB2NC on each NAM prepbufr file, extracts the METAR data within a 30-minute window of the valid time, then runs Point-Stat on the model forecasts, comparing each valid time to the newly created netCDFs.

METplus Workflow

The following tools are used for each run time: PB2NC, PointStat

This example loops by initialization time. For each initialization time it will process the listed lead hours (12 hour steps from 12 to 84 hours)

Run times:

Init: 2021-02-15_12Z
Forecast leads: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 hour

METplus Configuration

METplus first loads all of the configuration files found in parm/metplus_config, then it loads any configuration files passed to METplus via the command line with the -c option, i.e. -c parm/use_cases/model_applications/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.conf

[config]

# Documentation for this use case can be found at
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/generated/model_applications/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.html

# For additional information, please see the METplus Users Guide.
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide

###
# Processes to run
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide/systemconfiguration.html#process-list
###

#The first PointStat call is for the GFS
PROCESS_LIST = PB2NC,PointStat,PointStat(nam_run),PointStat(gfsx_run)


###
# Time Info
# LOOP_BY options are INIT, VALID, RETRO, and REALTIME
# If set to INIT or RETRO:
#   INIT_TIME_FMT, INIT_BEG, INIT_END, and INIT_INCREMENT must also be set
# If set to VALID or REALTIME:
#   VALID_TIME_FMT, VALID_BEG, VALID_END, and VALID_INCREMENT must also be set
# LEAD_SEQ is the list of forecast leads to process
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide/systemconfiguration.html#timing-control
###

LOOP_BY = INIT
INIT_TIME_FMT = %Y%m%d%H%M
INIT_BEG = 202102151200
INIT_END = 202102151200
INIT_INCREMENT = 12H

LEAD_SEQ = 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84


###
# File I/O
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide/systemconfiguration.html#directory-and-filename-template-info
###

# PB2NC
PB2NC_OFFSETS = 0, 12

PB2NC_SKIP_IF_OUTPUT_EXISTS = True

PB2NC_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/model_applications/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons
PB2NC_INPUT_TEMPLATE = nam.{valid?fmt=%Y%m%d}.t{valid?fmt=%H}z.prepbufr.tm00

PB2NC_OUTPUT_DIR = {OUTPUT_BASE}/model_applications/precipitation
PB2NC_OUTPUT_TEMPLATE = nam.obsfile_sfc_prwe.{valid?fmt=%m%d%Y}_{valid?fmt=%H}z.nc


# PointStat

FCST_POINT_STAT_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/model_applications/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons
FCST_POINT_STAT_INPUT_TEMPLATE = gfs.t12z.pgrb2.0p25.f{lead?fmt=%3H}

OBS_POINT_STAT_INPUT_DIR = {OUTPUT_BASE}/model_applications/precipitation
OBS_POINT_STAT_INPUT_TEMPLATE = {PB2NC_OUTPUT_TEMPLATE}

POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_DIR = {OUTPUT_BASE}/model_applications/precipitation


###
# Field Info
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide/systemconfiguration.html#field-info
###

FCST_VAR1_NAME = CRAIN
FCST_VAR1_LEVELS = L0
FCST_VAR1_THRESH = >=1.0

OBS_VAR1_NAME = PRWE
OBS_VAR1_LEVELS = Z0
OBS_VAR1_THRESH = >=161&&<=163

FCST_VAR2_NAME = CSNOW
FCST_VAR2_LEVELS = L0
FCST_VAR2_THRESH = >=1.0

OBS_VAR2_NAME = PRWE
OBS_VAR2_LEVELS = Z0
OBS_VAR2_THRESH = >=171&&<=173

FCST_VAR3_NAME = CFRZR
FCST_VAR3_LEVELS = L0
FCST_VAR3_THRESH = >=1.0

OBS_VAR3_NAME = PRWE
OBS_VAR3_LEVELS = Z0
OBS_VAR3_THRESH = >=164&&<=166

FCST_VAR4_NAME = CICEP
FCST_VAR4_LEVELS = L0
FCST_VAR4_THRESH = >=1.0

OBS_VAR4_NAME = PRWE
OBS_VAR4_LEVELS = Z0
OBS_VAR4_THRESH = >=174&&<=176


###
# PB2NC Settings
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide/wrappers.html#pb2nc
###

PB2NC_OBS_WINDOW_BEGIN = -1800
PB2NC_OBS_WINDOW_END = 1800

PB2NC_GRID =
PB2NC_POLY =
PB2NC_STATION_ID =
PB2NC_MESSAGE_TYPE = ADPSFC

PB2NC_PB_REPORT_TYPE =

PB2NC_LEVEL_CATEGORY =

PB2NC_QUALITY_MARK_THRESH = 2

# Leave empty to process all
PB2NC_OBS_BUFR_VAR_LIST = PRWE

PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_FLAG = False
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_BEG = 000000
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_END = 235959
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_VAR_NAMES =
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_TYPES = min, max, range, mean, stdev, median, p80

PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_RAW_DATA = False
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_STEP = 3600
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_WIDTH = 3600
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_GRIB_CODES =
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_VALID_FREQ = 0
PB2NC_TIME_SUMMARY_VALID_THRESH = 0.0


###
# PointStat Settings
# https://metplus.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Users_Guide/wrappers.html#pointstat
###

MODEL = gfs

OBS_POINT_STAT_WINDOW_BEGIN = -1800
OBS_POINT_STAT_WINDOW_END = 1800

POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_PREFIX = gfs

POINT_STAT_MESSAGE_TYPE = ADPSFC

POINT_STAT_MASK_POLY = MET_BASE/poly/CONUS.poly

POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_FLAG_CTC = STAT
POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_FLAG_CTS = STAT

[gfsx_run]
MODEL = gfsx
FCST_POINT_STAT_INPUT_TEMPLATE= gfsx.t12z.pgrb2.0p25.f{lead?fmt=%3H}
POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_PREFIX = gfsx 

[nam_run]
MODEL = nam
FCST_POINT_STAT_INPUT_TEMPLATE=nam.t12z.awip32{lead?fmt=%2H}.tm00.grib2
POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_PREFIX = nam

MET Configuration

METplus sets environment variables based on user settings in the METplus configuration file. See How METplus controls MET config file settings for more details.

YOU SHOULD NOT SET ANY OF THESE ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES YOURSELF! THEY WILL BE OVERWRITTEN BY METPLUS WHEN IT CALLS THE MET TOOLS!

If there is a setting in the MET configuration file that is currently not supported by METplus you’d like to control, please refer to: Overriding Unsupported MET config file settings

PB2NCConfig_wrapped

Note

See the PB2NC MET Configuration section of the User’s Guide for more information on the environment variables used in the file below:

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// PB2NC configuration file.
//
// For additional information, see the MET_BASE/config/README file.
//
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// PrepBufr message type
//
${METPLUS_MESSAGE_TYPE}

//
// Mapping of message type group name to comma-separated list of values
// Derive PRMSL only for SURFACE message types
//
message_type_group_map = [
   { key = "SURFACE"; val = "ADPSFC,SFCSHP,MSONET";               },
   { key = "ANYAIR";  val = "AIRCAR,AIRCFT";                      },
   { key = "ANYSFC";  val = "ADPSFC,SFCSHP,ADPUPA,PROFLR,MSONET"; },
   { key = "ONLYSF";  val = "ADPSFC,SFCSHP";                      }
];

//
// Mapping of input PrepBufr message types to output message types
//
message_type_map = [];

//
// PrepBufr station ID
//
${METPLUS_STATION_ID}


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Observation time window
//
${METPLUS_OBS_WINDOW_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Observation retention regions
//
${METPLUS_MASK_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Observing location elevation
//
elevation_range = {
   beg =  -1000;
   end = 100000;
}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Observation types
//
//pb_report_type =
${METPLUS_PB_REPORT_TYPE}

in_report_type  = [];

instrument_type = [];

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Vertical levels to retain
//
//level_range = {
${METPLUS_LEVEL_RANGE_DICT}

//level_category =
${METPLUS_LEVEL_CATEGORY}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// BUFR variable names to retain or derive.
// If emtpy, process all available variables.
//
${METPLUS_OBS_BUFR_VAR}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Mapping of BUFR variable name to GRIB name. The default map is defined at
// obs_prepbufr_map. This replaces/expends the default map.
//
//obs_bufr_map =
${METPLUS_OBS_BUFR_MAP}

// This map is for PREPBUFR. It will be added into obs_bufr_map.
// Please do not override this map.
//obs_prepbufr_map =


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//quality_mark_thresh =
${METPLUS_QUALITY_MARK_THRESH}

event_stack_flag    = TOP;

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// Time periods for the summarization
//
${METPLUS_TIME_SUMMARY_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

tmp_dir = "${MET_TMP_DIR}";

//version = "V9.0";

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

${METPLUS_MET_CONFIG_OVERRIDES}

PointStatConfig_wrapped

Note

See the PointStat MET Configuration section of the User’s Guide for more information on the environment variables used in the file below:

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// Point-Stat configuration file.
//
// For additional information, see the MET_BASE/config/README file.
//
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Output model name to be written
//
// model =
${METPLUS_MODEL}

//
// Output description to be written
// May be set separately in each "obs.field" entry
//
// desc =
${METPLUS_DESC}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Verification grid
//
// regrid = {
${METPLUS_REGRID_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// May be set separately in each "field" entry
//
censor_thresh = [];
censor_val    = [];
cat_thresh    = [ NA ];
cnt_thresh    = [ NA ];
cnt_logic     = UNION;
wind_thresh   = [ NA ];
wind_logic    = UNION;
eclv_points   = 0.05;
//hss_ec_value =
${METPLUS_HSS_EC_VALUE}
rank_corr_flag = FALSE;

//
// Forecast and observation fields to be verified
//
fcst = {
  ${METPLUS_FCST_FILE_TYPE}
  ${METPLUS_FCST_FIELD}
}

obs = {
  ${METPLUS_OBS_FILE_TYPE}
  ${METPLUS_OBS_FIELD}
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Point observation filtering options
// May be set separately in each "obs.field" entry
//
// message_type =
${METPLUS_MESSAGE_TYPE}
sid_exc        = [];

//obs_quality_inc =
${METPLUS_OBS_QUALITY_INC}

//obs_quality_exc =
${METPLUS_OBS_QUALITY_EXC}

duplicate_flag = NONE;
obs_summary    = NONE;
obs_perc_value = 50;

//
// Mapping of message type group name to comma-separated list of values.
//
//message_type_group_map =
${METPLUS_MESSAGE_TYPE_GROUP_MAP}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Climatology data
//
//climo_mean = {
${METPLUS_CLIMO_MEAN_DICT}


//climo_stdev = {
${METPLUS_CLIMO_STDEV_DICT}

//
// May be set separately in each "obs.field" entry
//
//climo_cdf = {
${METPLUS_CLIMO_CDF_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Point observation time window
//
// obs_window = {
${METPLUS_OBS_WINDOW_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Verification masking regions
//
//mask = {
${METPLUS_MASK_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Confidence interval settings
//
ci_alpha  = [ 0.05 ];

boot = {
   interval = PCTILE;
   rep_prop = 1.0;
   n_rep    = 0;
   rng      = "mt19937";
   seed     = "";
}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Interpolation methods
//
//interp = {
${METPLUS_INTERP_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// HiRA verification method
//
//hira = {
${METPLUS_HIRA_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// Statistical output types
//
//output_flag = {
${METPLUS_OUTPUT_FLAG_DICT}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Threshold for SEEPS p1 (Probability of being dry)

//seeps_p1_thresh =
${METPLUS_SEEPS_P1_THRESH}

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

tmp_dir = "${MET_TMP_DIR}";

// output_prefix =
${METPLUS_OUTPUT_PREFIX}
//version        = "V10.0.0";

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

${METPLUS_MET_CONFIG_OVERRIDES}

Running METplus

This use case can be run two ways:

  1. Passing in PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.conf then a user-specific system configuration file:

    run_metplus.py -c /path/to/METplus/parm/use_cases/model_applications/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.conf -c /path/to/user_system.conf

  2. Modifying the configurations in parm/metplus_config, then passing in PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.conf:

    run_metplus.py -c /path/to/METplus/parm/use_cases/model_applications/precipitation/PointStat_fcstMULTI_obsMETAR_PtypeComparisons.conf

The former method is recommended. Whether you add them to a user-specific configuration file or modify the metplus_config files, the following variables must be set correctly:

  • INPUT_BASE - Path to directory where sample data tarballs are unpacked (See Datasets section to obtain tarballs). This is not required to run METplus, but it is required to run the examples in parm/use_cases

  • OUTPUT_BASE - Path where METplus output will be written. This must be in a location where you have write permissions

  • MET_INSTALL_DIR - Path to location where MET is installed locally

Example User Configuration File:

[dir]
INPUT_BASE = /path/to/sample/input/data
OUTPUT_BASE = /path/to/output/dir
MET_INSTALL_DIR = /path/to/met-X.Y

NOTE: All of these items must be found under the [dir] section.

Expected Output

A successful run will output the following both to the screen and to the logfile:

INFO: METplus has successfully finished running.

Refer to the value set for OUTPUT_BASE to find where the output data was generated. Output for this use case will be found in model_applications/precipitation (relative to OUTPUT_BASE) The following PB2NC output files will be created:

  • nam.obsfile_sfc_prwe.02[dd]2021_[hh].nc

Where [dd] and [hh] corespond to each valid time run (total of 7 files).

The following PointStat output files will also be created in model_applications/precipitation (relative to OUTPUT_BASE):

  • point_stat_[model]_[lead]0000L_[valid_YYMMDD_time]_[valid_HH_time].stat

Where [model] is gfs, gfsx (for gfsv16), or nam, and valid times correspond to the 7 valid times being processed (total of 21 files).

Keywords

Note

  • PointStatToolUseCase

  • PB2NCToolUseCase

  • PrecipitationAppUseCase

  • GRIB2FileUseCase

  • prepBUFRFileUseCase

Navigate to the METplus Quick Search for Use Cases page to discover other similar use cases.

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