METplus Practical Session Guide (Feb 2019) | Session 3: Ensemble and PQPF > Use Case: PQPF

METplus Use Case: QPF Probabilistic

The QPF Probabilistic use case utilizes the MET pcp_combineregrid_data_plane, and grid_stat tools.

Optional: Refer to section 4.1 and 7.3 of the MET Users Guide for a description of the MET tools used in this use case. 
Optional: Refer to section 4.4 (A-Z Config Glossary) of the METplus 2.0.4 Users Guide for a reference to METplus variables used in this use case.

Setup

Edit Custom Configuration File

Define a unique directory under output that you will use for this use case.

Edit ${HOME}/METplus/parm/mycustom.conf

Change OUTPUT_BASE to contain a subdirectory specific to the QPF Ensemble use cases.

[dir] 
... other entries ...
OUTPUT_BASE = {ENV[HOME]}/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob

Using your custom configuration file that you created in the METplus: CUSTOM Configuration File Settings section and the QPF use case configuration files that are distributed with METplus, you should be able to run the use case using the sample input data set without any other changes.

Review Use Case Configuration File: phpt-vs-s4grib.conf

Open the file and look at all of the configuration variables that are defined.

less $HOME/METplus/parm/use_cases/qpf/examples/phpt-vs-s4grib.conf

Note that variables in phpt-vs-s4grib.conf reference other config variables that have been defined in your mycustom.conf configuration file. For example:

OBS_PCP_COMBINE_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/qpf/uswrp/StageIV

This references INPUT_BASE which is set in your custom config file. METplus config variables can reference other config variables even if they are defined in a config file that is read afterwards.

Run METplus

Run the following command:

master_metplus.py -c use_cases/qpf/examples/phpt-vs-s4grib.conf -c mycustom.conf

METplus is finished running when control returns to your terminal console.

Review the Output Files

You should have output files in the following directories:

$HOME/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob/uswrp/met_out/PHPT/201609041200/grid_stat

  • grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_060000L_20160904_180000V_eclv.txt
  • grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_060000L_20160904_180000V_grad.txt
  • grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_060000L_20160904_180000V.stat
  • grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_070000L_20160904_190000V_eclv.txt
  • grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_070000L_20160904_190000V_grad.txt
  • grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_070000L_20160904_190000V.stat

Take a look at some of the files to see what was generated.

less $HOME/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob/uswrp/met_out/PHPT/201609041200/grid_stat/grid_stat_PROB_PHPT_APCP_vs_STAGE4_GRIB_APCP_A06_060000L_20160904_180000V.stat

Review the Log Files

Log files for this run are found in $HOME/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob/logs. The filename contains a timestamp of the current day.

less $HOME/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob/logs/master_metplus.log.`date +%Y%m%d`

NOTE: If you ran METplus on a different day than today, the log file will correspond to the day you ran. Remove the date command and replace it with the date you ran if that is the case.

Review the Final Configuration File

The final configuration file is $HOME/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob/metplus_final.conf. This contains all of the configuration variables used in the run.

less $HOME/metplus_tutorial/output/qpf-prob/metplus_final.conf