RadxFilter

RadxFilter reads data from Radx-supported format files, runs a filter on specified fields, and writes out the results.

Overview

RadxFilter reads data from Radx-supported format files, runs a filter on specified fields, and writes out the results.

Prerequesites

The following items are required:

• Radar data (any Radx supported format, e.g., cfradial)

Parameter file

RadxFilter uses one parameter file that includes the basic parameters related to data location and field names, which is similar to the parameter files for the other Radx applications.

Ensure file is up to date

To obtain the default parameter file, use the following command:

/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxFilter -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/RadxFilter -params orig_param_file_name -print_params > new_param_file_name

Important parameters

Data input

• input_dir: directory containing radar data (if not specified on the command line and if mode = REALTIME)
• mode: determines if the program waits for new files (REALTIME), moves through start and end times specified on the command line (ARCHIVE), or moves through list of files specified on the command line (FILELIST)

Specifying the fields to be read in

• select_fields: option to select fields for interpolation, otherwise all fields will be processed
• selected_fields: specify fields to process
• rename_fields: option to rename some or all fields
• renamed_fields: specify fields to be renamed and new field names

Filter details

• field_filters: list of field names, filter type (e.g., median, triangular, least squares, none), and filter length (odd number)

Output format

• output_format: select the preferred file type (usually CFRADIAL)

Output directory and filename

• output_dir: files will be written to this directory

Running RadxFilter

To check all command line options for RadxFilter, including debugging options and file paths, type the following command into a terminal.

/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxFilter -h

Once your parameter file is complete, use a command similar to the following to run the application:

/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxFilter -params param_file_name

The user can also specify the location of cfradial files in the following manner:

/path/to/lrose/install/bin/RadxFilter -f /path/to/cfradial/files/ -params param_file_name