CycloneVerification: TC Verification Compare ADECK vs BDECK

model_applications/tc_and_extra_tc/TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample.conf

Scientific Objective

This use case run TC-Pairs to produce produce matched pairs of forecast model output and an observation dataset. TC-Pairs produces matched pairs for position errors, as well as wind, sea level pressure, and distance to land values for each input dataset. Then TC-stat will filter TC-pairs output based on user criteria.

Datasets

Forecast: Adeck

/path/to/TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample/a{basin}{cyclone}{init?fmt=%Y}.dat

Observation: Bdeck

/path/to/{TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample/b{basin}{cyclone}{init?fmt=%Y}.dat

Location: All of the input data required for this use case can be found in the met_test sample data tarball. Click here to the METplus releases page and download sample data for the appropriate release: https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/releases

The tarball should be unpacked into the directory that you will set the value of INPUT_BASE. See Running METplus section for more information.

Data Source: NHC ftp.noaa.gov/atcf

METplus Workflow

The following tools are used for each run time:

TCPairs TCStat

To generate TCPairs output, this example loops by initialization time for every 6 hour period that is available in the data set between 2021082500 and 2021083000. Then TCStat filters the TCPairs output based on user criteria (e.g. storm characteristics in this use case).

METplus Components

This use case first runs TC-Pairs to produce matched pairs of Adeck and Bdeck files. The TC-Pairs output (tcst files) is then read by the TC-Stat tool to further filter the tcst files as well as summarize the statistical information.

METplus Workflow

TCPairs is the first tool called in this example. It processes the following run times for each storm file (e.g. aal092021.dat, aal102021.dat) against the corresponding Bdeck files (e.g. bal092021.dat, bal102021.dat):

Init/Valid: 2021082500

End/Valid: 2021083000

TC-Stat is the second (and final) tool called in this example. It processes the output from TCPairs. In this example the TC-Stat filters the TC-Pairs output based on the characteristics of the storm (HU, SD, SS, TS, TD). The output from the TC-Stat can be used to aggregate verification statistics (e.g. Track, Intensity, MSLP, wind radii errors etc.).

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 /path/to/TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample.conf

#
#  CONFIGURATION
#
[config]

# Looping by times: steps through each 'task' in the PROCESS_LIST for each
# defined time, and repeats until all times have been evaluated.

# 'Tasks' to be run
PROCESS_LIST = TCPairs, TCStat

LOOP_BY = INIT


# The init time begin and end times, increment, and last init hour.
INIT_TIME_FMT = %Y%m%d%H
INIT_BEG = 2021082500
INIT_END = 2021083000

# This is the step-size. Increment in seconds from the begin time to the end time
# set to 6 hours = 21600 seconds
INIT_INCREMENT = 21600

#
# Run MET tc_pairs by indicating the top-level directories for the A-deck and B-deck files. Set to 'yes' to
# run using top-level directories, 'no' if you want to run tc_pairs on files paired by the wrapper.
TC_PAIRS_READ_ALL_FILES = no


#
# MET TC-Pairs
#
# List of models to be used (white space or comma separated) eg: DSHP, LGEM, HWRF
# If no models are listed, then process all models in the input file(s).
MODEL = OFCL, HWRF

# List of storm ids of interest (space or comma separated) e.g.: AL112012, AL122012
# If no storm ids are listed, then process all storm ids in the input file(s).
#TC_PAIRS_STORM_ID = AL092021, AL102021

# Basins (of origin/region).  Indicate with space or comma-separated list of regions, eg. AL: for North Atlantic,
# WP: Western North Pacific, CP: Central North Pacific, SH: Southern Hemisphere, IO: North Indian Ocean, LS: Southern
# Hemisphere
TC_PAIRS_BASIN = AL

# Cyclone, a space or comma-separated list of cyclone numbers. If left empty, all cyclones will be used.
TC_PAIRS_CYCLONE = 09, 10

# DLAND file, the full path of the file that contains the gridded representation of the
# minimum distance from land.
TC_PAIRS_DLAND_FILE = MET_BASE/tc_data/dland_global_tenth_degree.nc

# setting this so that when verifying against analysis track, the union of points are written
TC_PAIRS_MET_CONFIG_OVERRIDES = match_points = TRUE;

#
# MET TC-Stat 
#
#The line_type field stratifies by the line_type column.
TC_STAT_LINE_TYPE = TCMPR

#The column_str_name and column_str_val fields stratify by performing string matching on non-numeric data columns.
TC_STAT_COLUMN_STRING_NAME = LEVEL
TC_STAT_COLUMN_STRING_VAL = HU,SD,SS,TS,TD

#The water_only flag stratifies by only using points where both the amodel and bmodel tracks are over water.
TC_STAT_WATER_ONLY = FALSE

#
#  DIRECTORIES
#
# Location of input track data directory
# for ADECK and BDECK data

TC_PAIRS_ADECK_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/model_applications/tc_and_extra_tc/TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample
TC_PAIRS_BDECK_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/model_applications/tc_and_extra_tc/TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample

TC_PAIRS_ADECK_TEMPLATE = a{basin}{cyclone}{init?fmt=%Y}.dat
TC_PAIRS_BDECK_TEMPLATE = b{basin}{cyclone}{init?fmt=%Y}.dat

TC_PAIRS_OUTPUT_DIR = {OUTPUT_BASE}/tc_pairs

TC_PAIRS_OUTPUT_TEMPLATE = tc_pairs.{basin}{cyclone}{init?fmt=%Y}

TC_STAT_LOOKIN_DIR = {TC_PAIRS_OUTPUT_DIR}
TC_STAT_OUTPUT_DIR = {OUTPUT_BASE}/tc_stat

TC_STAT_JOB_ARGS = -job filter -dump_row {TC_STAT_OUTPUT_DIR}/tc_stat_summary.tcst

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

Note

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

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// Default TCPairs configuration file
//
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// ATCF file format reference:
//   http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/atcf_web/docs/database/new/abrdeck.html
//

//
// Models
//
${METPLUS_MODEL}

//
// Description
//
${METPLUS_DESC}

//
// Storm identifiers
//
${METPLUS_STORM_ID}

//
// Basins
//
${METPLUS_BASIN}

//
// Cyclone numbers
//
${METPLUS_CYCLONE}

//
// Storm names
//
${METPLUS_STORM_NAME}

//
// Model initialization time windows to include or exclude
//
${METPLUS_INIT_BEG}
${METPLUS_INIT_END}
// init_inc =
${METPLUS_INIT_INC}
// init_exc =
${METPLUS_INIT_EXC}

// valid_inc =
${METPLUS_VALID_INC}
// valid_exc =
${METPLUS_VALID_EXC}

// write_valid =
${METPLUS_WRITE_VALID}

//
// Valid model time window
//
${METPLUS_VALID_BEG}
${METPLUS_VALID_END}

//
// Model initialization hours
//
init_hour = [];

//
// Required lead time in hours
//
lead_req = [];

//
// lat/lon polylines defining masking regions
//
init_mask  = "";
valid_mask = "";

//
// Specify if the code should check for duplicate ATCF lines
//
//check_dup =
${METPLUS_CHECK_DUP}


//
// Specify special processing to be performed for interpolated models.
// Set to NONE, FILL, or REPLACE.
//
//interp12 =
${METPLUS_INTERP12}

//
// Specify how consensus forecasts should be defined
//
//consensus =
${METPLUS_CONSENSUS_LIST}


//
// Forecast lag times
//
lag_time = [];

//
// CLIPER/SHIFOR baseline forecasts to be derived from the BEST
// and operational (CARQ) tracks.
//
best_technique = [ "BEST" ];
best_baseline  = [];
oper_technique = [ "CARQ" ];
oper_baseline  = [];

//
// Specify the datasets to be searched for analysis tracks (NONE, ADECK, BDECK,
// or BOTH).
//
anly_track = BDECK;

//
// Specify if only those track points common to both the ADECK and BDECK
// tracks be written out.
//
match_points = TRUE;

//
// Specify the NetCDF output of the gen_dland tool containing a gridded
// representation of the minimum distance to land.
//
${METPLUS_DLAND_FILE}

//
// Specify watch/warning information:
//   - Input watch/warning filename
//   - Watch/warning time offset in seconds
//
watch_warn = {
   file_name   = "MET_BASE/tc_data/wwpts_us.txt";
   time_offset = -14400;
}

//
// Indicate a version number for the contents of this configuration file.
// The value should generally not be modified.
//
//version = "V9.0";

tmp_dir = "${MET_TMP_DIR}";

${METPLUS_MET_CONFIG_OVERRIDES}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// Default TCStat configuration file
//
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//
// The parameters listed below are used to filter the TC-STAT data down to the
// desired subset of lines over which statistics are to be computed.  Only
// those lines which meet ALL of the criteria specified will be retained.
//
// The settings that are common to all jobs may be specified once at the top
// level.  If no selection is listed for a parameter, that parameter will not
// be used for filtering.  If multiple selections are listed for a parameter,
// the analyses will be performed on their union.
//

//
// Stratify by the AMODEL or BMODEL columns.
//
${METPLUS_AMODEL}
${METPLUS_BMODEL}

//
// Stratify by the DESC column.
//
${METPLUS_DESC}

//
// Stratify by the STORM_ID column.
//
${METPLUS_STORM_ID}

//
// Stratify by the BASIN column.
// May add using the "-basin" job command option.
//
${METPLUS_BASIN}

//
// Stratify by the CYCLONE column.
// May add using the "-cyclone" job command option.
//
${METPLUS_CYCLONE}

//
// Stratify by the STORM_NAME column.
// May add using the "-storm_name" job command option.
//
${METPLUS_STORM_NAME}

//
// Stratify by the INIT times.
// Model initialization time windows to include or exclude
// May modify using the "-init_beg", "-init_end", "-init_inc",
// and "-init_exc" job command options.
//
${METPLUS_INIT_BEG}
${METPLUS_INIT_END}
${METPLUS_INIT_INCLUDE}
${METPLUS_INIT_EXCLUDE}

//
// Stratify by the VALID times.
//
${METPLUS_VALID_BEG}
${METPLUS_VALID_END}
${METPLUS_VALID_INCLUDE}
${METPLUS_VALID_EXCLUDE}

//
// Stratify by the initialization and valid hours and lead time.
//
${METPLUS_INIT_HOUR}
${METPLUS_VALID_HOUR}
${METPLUS_LEAD}

//
// Select tracks which contain all required lead times.
//
${METPLUS_LEAD_REQ}

//
// Stratify by the INIT_MASK and VALID_MASK columns.
//
${METPLUS_INIT_MASK}
${METPLUS_VALID_MASK}

//
// Stratify by checking the watch/warning status for each track point
// common to both the ADECK and BDECK tracks.  If the watch/warning status
// of any of the track points appears in the list, retain the entire track.
//
${METPLUS_TRACK_WATCH_WARN}

//
// Stratify by applying thresholds to numeric data columns.
//
${METPLUS_COLUMN_THRESH_NAME}
${METPLUS_COLUMN_THRESH_VAL}

//
// Stratify by performing string matching on non-numeric data columns.
//
${METPLUS_COLUMN_STR_NAME}
${METPLUS_COLUMN_STR_VAL}

//
// Stratify by excluding strings in non-numeric data columns.
//
//column_str_exc_name =
${METPLUS_COLUMN_STR_EXC_NAME}

//column_str_exc_val =
${METPLUS_COLUMN_STR_EXC_VAL}

//
// Similar to the column_thresh options above
//
${METPLUS_INIT_THRESH_NAME}
${METPLUS_INIT_THRESH_VAL}

//
// Similar to the column_str options above
//
${METPLUS_INIT_STR_NAME}
${METPLUS_INIT_STR_VAL}

//
// Similar to the column_str_exc options above
//
//init_str_exc_name =
${METPLUS_INIT_STR_EXC_NAME}

//init_str_exc_val =
${METPLUS_INIT_STR_EXC_VAL}

//
// Stratify by the ADECK and BDECK distances to land.
//
${METPLUS_WATER_ONLY}

//
// Specify whether only those track points occurring near landfall should be
// retained, and define the landfall retention window in HH[MMSS] format
// around the landfall time.
//
${METPLUS_LANDFALL}
${METPLUS_LANDFALL_BEG}
${METPLUS_LANDFALL_END}

//
// Specify whether only those track points common to both the ADECK and BDECK
// tracks should be retained.  May modify using the "-match_points" job command
// option.
//
${METPLUS_MATCH_POINTS}

//
// Array of TCStat analysis jobs to be performed on the filtered data
//
${METPLUS_JOBS}

tmp_dir = "${MET_TMP_DIR}";

${METPLUS_MET_CONFIG_OVERRIDES}

Running METplus

It is recommended to run this use case by:

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

run_metplus.py -c /path/to/TCPairs_TCStat_fcstADECK_obsBDECK_ATCF_BasicExample.conf -c /path/to/user_system.conf

The following METplus configuration variables must be set correctly to run this example.:

• INPUT_BASE - Path to directory where Adeck and Bdeck ATCF format files are read (See Datasets section to obtain tarballs).

• 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 tc_pairs/ tc_stat/ (relative to OUTPUT_BASE) and will contain the following files:

• tc_pairs/tc_pairs.al092021.tcst

• tc_pairs/tc_pairs.al102021.tcst

• tc_stat/tc_stat_summary.tcst

Keywords

Note

• TCPairsToolUseCase

• TCStatToolUseCase

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