wrfout_to_cf.ncl - Release Notes

• In using NCL v6.6.2, a totype warning occurs whenever one of the outPressure variables is created.
• It appears that this warning is related to a new function: wrf_user_interp_level which among other things replaces wrf_user_intrp3d. It appears that as a part of the deprecation of wrf_user_intrp3d, the error/bug involving totype was introduced.
• Because of the dichotomy with wrf_user_intrp3d having a warning issue in v6.6.2, and wrf_user_interp_level only available v6.6.0 and later, the fix is a bit of a hack in that it needs to be applied only to v6.6.0 and later using the get_ncl_version function.

• Added the precipitation variables: precip_sh, snow_g, and graupel_g.
• Added the variable z0 for roughness length.
• Added the variable PW to go along with IWP and LWP.
• Added variables for low, middle, and high IWP, LWP, and PW. Note: This requires setting the new variables cld_low, cld_mid, and cld_high to define the low, middle, and high levels.
• Added an additional method to claculate slp (slp_c).
• Added the setting var_type, which is used to set the variable types whenever creating a new variable or calculation. Note: This var_type should match the variable type in wrfout.
• Fixed a bug where variables used in calculations were written to the output file when not selected to be included.
• Fixed a bug with OutDateTime.

• A minor update to fix some bugs in working with NetCDF4
• Changed the reading of WRF variables from stripping the attributes when reading to reading the variable as a whole and then using delete_VarAtts
• Also added an option to setfileoption to NetCDF4Classic

The 2.0.0 release marked a significant new release.  Many of the changes and additions led by Matt Higgins were incorporated in a new and revamped method for consistency with the overall code.  Beyond the changes and additions from Matt's work, the entire script was extensively reorganized to provide a simpler construction to the code allowing users to more easily follow what is being done within the script.  Some new variables were added and some variables were updated from the work completed by Matt.  An additional significant change is that several variables were renamed.  The renaming was done as the number of included variables resulted in some variable name conflicts.  To avoid the conflicts, several variables were renamed to follow more general community standards.

• Re-naming mixing ratios:  all mixing ratio variables were renamed from q to r_

• The variable q is now assigned to specific humidity at all levels (q_2m, q_e, q_p).
• All measures of moisture (Td, RH, r_v, q) are available at 2m, eta, and pressure levels.
• Added winds rotated to true earth coordinates at 2m, eta, and pressure levels.
• Added wind direction (earth) and wind speed at 2m, eta, and pressure levels.
• Added potential vorticity and absolute vorticity on eta and pressure levels.
• Changed several variable names to more simple forms (e.g. SHFlx and LHFlx to SH and LH)
• Added a CLWRF section of a selection of CLWRF variables (see variables page).

• added output for density at the lowest model level
• added output for SR, the fraction of non-convective frozen precipitation

• more CORDEX updates
• added the support for accumulated radiation fluxes at the surface (only applicable with some radiation schemes)
• this script does not de-cumulate, as a delta time is not assumed (not sure what this means)

• a rather substantial update was completed to help support CORDEX
• additional support was provided from Dave Porter and Melissa Nigro
• added rotated winds to earth coordinates (10m, pressure, eta levels)
• added specific humidity (2m, pressure, eta levels)
• added wind speed (10m)
• added variables:  PBL height, dry air mass, surface evaporation, surface runoff, subsurface runoff

• added shortwave and longwave up from the surface

• fixed big with UTC date variable type conversion
• added the field XICE as a secondary wrfout variable for seaice
• added the calculation of gird and cumulus precip in 6-hour intervals - never fully implemented
• TODO - needs to be finalized

• added more comment to identify the different fields and sections of the script
• added a new method to calculate slp, referred to as slp_b

• fixed a mistake by adding the general parameters (e.g. outEtat) to additional flags in determining the output

• change the input to use the (/.../) designation to strip all attributes/coordinates from the input variables
• added sub-procedure to add basic attributes
• re-ordered the attributes for each variable
• added the output category variables (e.g. out2dMet, outPressure, etc.) to handle a number of variables at once
• add the ability for a user to select the variables that they want processed/outputted
• add if-then-endif for all output variables

• several minor changes including the handling of lat/lon to make the output CF compliant