Difference between revisions of "RadxBeamBlock"
From Lrose Wiki
(Created page with "RadxBeamBlock estimates the amount of beam blockage due to terrain near a radar. = Prerequesites = The following items are required: * Digital elevation model data * Radar...") |
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To obtain the default parameter file, use the following command: | To obtain the default parameter file, use the following command: | ||
| − | <code lang="bash">lrose | + | <code lang="bash">/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -print_params > param_file_name</code> |
If you already have a parameter file and simply want to check for (and add) updated parameters while retaining current parameters, use the following command: | If you already have a parameter file and simply want to check for (and add) updated parameters while retaining current parameters, use the following command: | ||
| − | <code lang="bash">lrose | + | <code lang="bash">/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -params orig_param_file_name -print_params > new_param_file_name</code> |
=== Important parameters === | === Important parameters === | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
= Running RadxBeamBlock = | = Running RadxBeamBlock = | ||
| − | To check all command line options for | + | To check all command line options for RadxBeamBlock, including debugging options and file paths, type the following command into a terminal. |
| − | <code lang="bash">lrose | + | <code lang="bash">/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -h</code> |
Once your parameter file is complete, use a command similar to the following to run the application: | Once your parameter file is complete, use a command similar to the following to run the application: | ||
| − | <code lang="bash">lrose | + | <code lang="bash">/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -params param_file_name</code> |
Revision as of 20:43, 3 August 2020
RadxBeamBlock estimates the amount of beam blockage due to terrain near a radar.
Contents
Prerequesites
The following items are required:
- Digital elevation model data
- Radar antenna location
- Radar characteristics
- Parameter files for RadxBeamBlock.
Overview
Overall, RadxBeamBlock takes elevation data, the radar location, and radar characteristics to estimate how much blockage occurs due to terrain.
Digital elevation model data
The supported digital elevation models include Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and ESRI grid data (spheroid). SRTM data can be found online here.
Radar location and characteristics
The radar location requires the latitude, longitude, and elevation of the antenna (ground level + radar height). In addition, characteristics including the wavelength, beamwidth, gate spacing, azimuths, and elevation angles are required.
Parameter files
RadxBeamBlock uses one parameter file. Compared to other Radx applications, the RadxBeamBlock parameter file requires just a few edits in order to run. Most of the parameters that need to be changed relate to the radar characteristics.
1) Main parameter file
Ensure file is up to date
To obtain the default parameter file, use the following command:
/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -print_params > param_file_name
If you already have a parameter file and simply want to check for (and add) updated parameters while retaining current parameters, use the following command:
/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -params orig_param_file_name -print_params > new_param_file_name
Important parameters
Input params
- input_dem_parth: directory containing the elevation data
- input_data_format: specifies the format of the elevation data (examples provided in the parameter file)
Radar parameters
- radar_location: latitude, longitude, and elevation (ground elevation
- radar height in km) of the radar antenna
- radar_wavelength_cm: radar wavelength (cm)
- horiz_beam_width_deg: horizontal beamwidth (degrees)
- vert_beam_width_deg: horizontal beamwidth (degrees)
- gates: starting distance, gate spacing (km), and number of gates
- azimuths: starting azimuth, azimuth spacing (degrees), and number of azimuths
- elevations: starting elevation angle, angle spacing (degrees), and number of elevation angles
Output directory and file name
- output_dir: files will be written to this directory
- output_format: select the preferred file type (usually CFRADIAL)
Running RadxBeamBlock
To check all command line options for RadxBeamBlock, including debugging options and file paths, type the following command into a terminal.
/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -h
Once your parameter file is complete, use a command similar to the following to run the application:
/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxBeamBlock -params param_file_name