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met_check_dt

met_check_dt checks model time-step constraints for a meteorological data file. It reports height-dependent estimates for horizontal and vertical advection and diffusion time steps using the current MPTRAC control parameters.

./met_check_dt <ctl> <dt_file> <met> [KEY VALUE ...]

Required arguments:

  • ctl: control parameter file.
  • dt_file: output file for the time-step diagnostics.
  • met: meteorological input file.

Optional trailing arguments can be used to override control parameters on the command line as KEY VALUE pairs.

Relevant control parameters:

parameter purpose default
TURB_DX_PBL PBL horizontal diffusivity [m2/s] used for column $4 50
TURB_DX_TROP free-tropospheric horizontal diffusivity [m2/s] used for column $4 50
TURB_DX_STRAT stratospheric horizontal diffusivity [m2/s] used for column $4 0
TURB_DZ_PBL PBL vertical diffusivity [m2/s] used for column $5 0
TURB_DZ_TROP free-tropospheric vertical diffusivity [m2/s] used for column $5 0
TURB_DZ_STRAT stratospheric vertical diffusivity [m2/s] used for column $5 0.1
TURB_PBL_TRANS fractional depth of the PBL transition layer used for column $6 0
DX horizontal grid spacing [km] required
CMAX maximum Courant number for advection 0.5
NMAX maximum stability factor for diffusion 0.3

The output columns are:

  • $1: height [km]
  • $2: time step for horizontal advection [s]
  • $3: time step for vertical advection [s]
  • $4: time step for horizontal diffusion [s] using layer-aware TURB_DX_*
  • $5: time step for vertical diffusion [s] using layer-aware TURB_DZ_*
  • $6: time step for resolving diffusion across the PBL transition layer [s]
  • $7: time step for PBL diffusion on the full PBL-depth scale [s]

Columns $4 and $5 follow the same PBL/troposphere/stratosphere weighting used by the fixed-K diffusion module. Column $6 is the stricter transition-layer criterion and is only finite within the configured PBL transition layer. Column $7 is a less conservative PBL-scale criterion and is only finite within the PBL itself.

Example:

./met_check_dt trac.ctl dt_2011_06_05.tab ei_2011_06_05_00.nc DX 50 TURB_DZ_PBL 1.0 TURB_DZ_TROP 0.1 TURB_DZ_STRAT 0.1 TURB_PBL_TRANS 0.1