[Met_help] Possible variations from NCEP's operational point_stat (VSDB) files

[Andrew F. Loughe]

Hello MET!

In providing assistance to a user of the VSDB GUI, we found two
issues that appear to be at variance with the way NCEP has structured
their operational VSDB files:

(1)  From point_stat, there is an observation type called ADPSFC.
How does this compare with NCEP's use of ONLYSF or ANYSFC?

Are ONLYSF and ANYSFC available in MET, to be compatible with NCEP's
operational VSDB files?

(2)  NCEP has vertical layers like:  P850-700, P700-550, whereas
the MET appears to produce layers that are oppositely named, like
P700-1000.  NCEP's approach is lower level "dash" higher level.

Is this a possible bug, or the way it is meant to be?


Here are the unique observation types and vertical levels (layers)
from the operational NAM:

 > cat *vsdb | awk '{print $5}' | sort | uniq
ADPUPA
ANYAIR
ANYSFC
ONLYSF
PROFLR
VADWND


 > cat *vsdb | awk '{print $9}' | sort | uniq
P100
P1000
P1000-850
P150
P150-50
P200
P200-150
P250
P250-200
P300
P300-250
P400
P400-300
P50
P500
P550-400
P700
P700-550
P850
P850-700
SFC


Thank you,

-Andy

-- 
Andrew Loughe =======================================================
NOAA/OAR/ESRL/GSD/AB R/GSD5 | email: Andrew.Loughe at noaa.gov
325 Broadway                | wwweb: www-ad.fsl.noaa.gov/users/loughe
Boulder, CO  80305-3328     | phone: 303-497-6211   fax: 303-497-6301