METplus Practical Session Guide (Version 5.0) | Session 2: Grid-to-Obs > METplus Use Case: PointStat

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are returning to the tutorial, you must source the tutorial setup script before running the following instructions. If you are unsure if you have done this step, please navigate to the Verify Environment is Set Correctly page.

METplus Use Case: PointStat

This use case utilizes the MET Point-Stat tool. 

Optional: Refer to the MET Users Guide for a description of the MET tools used in this use case.
Optional: Refer to the METplus Config Glossary section of the METplus Users Guide for a reference to METplus variables used in this use case.

  1. View Configuration File
Change to the ${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR} directory:
cd ${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}
Define a unique directory under output that you will use for this use case. In the example below, we'll  override OUTPUT_BASE to that directory on the command line.
vi ${METPLUS_BUILD_BASE}/parm/use_cases/met_tool_wrapper/PointStat/PointStat.conf

The forecast and observations directories are specified in relation to INPUT_BASE (${METPLUS_DATA}), while the output directory is given in relation to {OUTPUT_BASE} (${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/output).

FCST_POINT_STAT_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/met_test/data/sample_fcst
OBS_POINT_STAT_INPUT_DIR = {INPUT_BASE}/met_test/out/pb2nc
...
POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_DIR = {OUTPUT_BASE}/point_stat

Using the PointStat configuration file, you should be able to run the use case using the sample input data set without any other changes.

  1. Run the PointStat use case:
run_metplus.py \
${METPLUS_BUILD_BASE}/parm/use_cases/met_tool_wrapper/PointStat/PointStat.conf \
${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/tutorial.conf \
config.OUTPUT_BASE=${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/output/PointStat
  1. Review the output file:
ls ${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/output/PointStat/point_stat

The following is the statistical output and file are generated from the command:

  • point_stat_360000L_20070331_120000V.stat
  1. Update configuration file and re-run
Copy the configuration file to the user_config directory and open for editing:
cp ${METPLUS_BUILD_BASE}/parm/use_cases/met_tool_wrapper/PointStat/PointStat.conf ${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/user_config/PointStat_tutorial.conf
vi ${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/user_config/PointStat_tutorial.conf
Update the POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_PREFIX and consolidate the FCST_VAR and OBS_VAR settings into BOTH_VAR being they are identical.
POINT_STAT_OUTPUT_PREFIX = run2

BOTH_VAR1_NAME = TMP
BOTH_VAR1_LEVELS = P750-900
BOTH_VAR1_THRESH = <=273, >273
 
BOTH_VAR2_NAME = UGRD
BOTH_VAR2_LEVELS = Z10
BOTH_VAR2_THRESH = >=5
 
BOTH_VAR3_NAME = VGRD
BOTH_VAR3_LEVELS = Z10
BOTH_VAR3_THRESH = >=5

  1. Rerun the use-case and compare the output
run_metplus.py \
${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/user_config/PointStat_tutorial.conf \
${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/tutorial.conf \
config.OUTPUT_BASE=${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/output/PointStat
Diff the original output file with run2. They should be identical.
diff \
${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/output/PointStat/point_stat/point_stat_360000L_20070331_120000V.stat \
${METPLUS_TUTORIAL_DIR}/output/PointStat/point_stat/point_stat_run2_360000L_20070331_120000V.stat