The behavior of MTD is controlled by the contents of the configuration file passed to it on the command line. The default MTD configuration file may be found in the $MET_BASE/config/MTDConfig_default file. Prior to modifying the configuration file, users are advised to make a copy of the default:
The configuration items for MTD are used to specify how the space-time-object-based verification approach is to be performed. Just as MODE may be used to compare any two fields, the same is true of MTD. When necessary, the items in the configuration file are specified separately for the forecast and observation fields. In most cases though, users will be comparing the same forecast and observation fields. The configurable items include specifications for the following:
- The verification domain.
- The forecast and observation fields and vertical levels or accumulation intervals to be compared.
- The forecast and observation object definition parameters.
- Options to filter out objects that don't meet a minimum volume.
- Matching/merging weights and interest functions.
- Total interest threshold for matching/merging.
- Flags to control output files.
For this tutorial, we'll configure MTD to process the same series of data we ran through the Series-Analysis tool. Just like MODE, MTD compares a single forecast field to a single observation field in each run.
Open up the $MET_TUTORIAL_DATA/config/MTDConfig_tutorial file for editing with the text editor of your choice and edit it as follows:
- Set the fcst dictionary as follows:
fcst = {
field = {
name = "APCP";
level = "A03";
}
conv_radius = 2;
conv_thresh = >=0.4;
} - Set the obs dictionary as follows:
obs = {
field = {
name = "APCP_03";
level = "(*,*)";
}
conv_radius = 2;
conv_thresh = >=0.4;
} - Retain all objects with minimum volume of 500:
min_volume = 500;
Save and close this file.
