RefractCompute

RefractCompute calculates refractivity from raw polar radar data.

Overview

RefractCompute calculates refractivity from raw polar radar data.

Prerequesites

The following items are required:

• MDV radar files
• Night and day reference files

Parameter file

RefractCompute uses one parameter file that includes the input/output directories and refractivity algorithm parameters.

Ensure file is up to date

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

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

Important parameters

Process Triggering parameters

• trigger_mode: determines if the program waits for new files (LATEST_DATA) or moves through start and end times specified on the command line (TIME_LIST)

Process I/O parameters

• input_url: path of the input data
• raw_iq_in_input: indicate whether the raw I and Q values are included in the input files; if FALSE, the raw fields will be calculated from the NIQ/AIQ values, which must be included in the input files
• raw_i_field_name: name of the raw I field in the input files
• raw_q_field_name: name of the raw Q field in the input files
• niq_field_name: name of the NIQ field in the input files; only used if raw_iq_in_input = FALSE
• aiq_field_name: name of the AIQ field in the input files; only used if raw_iq_in_input = FALSE
• snr_in_input: indicate whether the SNR field is in the input files; SNR is only needed if raw I/Q values are not included
• snr_field_name: name of SNR field in the input files
• power_field_name: name of the power field in the input files
• quality_source: indicate the field to be used in calculating the quality value, including spectrum width (QUALITY_FROM_WIDTH) and a CPA field (QUALITY_FROM_CPA)
• quality_field_name: name of the field to be used in the quality calcaulations, consistent with quality_source
• output_url: path where the output files are written to

Algorithm parameters

• ref_file_name_day: path and file name of daytime calibration file
• ref_file_name_night: path and file name of nighttime calibration file
• hms_night: hour, minute, and second for the beginning of nighttime
• hms_day: hour, minute, and second for the beginning of daytime

Running RefractCompute

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

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

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

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

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

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