Limited-Area Extraction on a Variable-Resolution Mesh: Checking the Static File with convert-mpas and ncview

[aroseman]

I started with the 60–3 km circular mesh and used the Limited-Area tool to extract a subdomain: a circular region with radius 5250 km (also tested up to 6000 km), chosen to fully enclose the refinement area.

Using ncvis on the cut-out static file showed boundary artifacts in the landmask, but this is likely just an ncvis interpolation issue. Converting the static file to a Cartesian grid, and plotting with ncview, with convert-mpas resolved the landmask and other variable problems.

However, I wanted to confirm something:

- Some data appear missing along the southern edge, particularly in bdyMaskCell.
- ncview reports: 710 missing values were eliminated along axis "longitude".
- Is this just an issue of ncview ignoring some values and the grid is really fine?

 

[Ming Chen]

I don't think your plots correctly show the regional model domain. This could be either a plot issue or a data issue.

Can you clarify how you create the regional domain? Thanks.

 

[aroseman]

Hi Ming,

I downloaded 60-3 km grid, MPAS Grid Rotate over my selected region (about at Houston), then MPAS Limited Area to cut out a region somewhat larger than grid refinement region.

Thanks!

 

[aroseman]

1. I just finished running a quick 1 minute simulation to check and after applying convert_mpas, there didn't seem to be any obvious issues with the physics, even with that tail looking thing at the south edge.

==> I believe it is possibly just ncview acting up.

2. Similarily, when using ncvis, there seems to be some weird boxy region (SE corner) on some of the land data, but doesn't appear on ncview. I'm guessing it is just due to the refinement region and issues with ncvis.

 

[Ming Chen]

Hi aroseman,

The latest plot that shows the vegfra looks normal, --- I suppose this is correct and you should be able to move on.

Those wrong plots shown in your September 19 post are possibly due to issues in the software you used to produce the figures.

By the way, your method to create regional mesh looks fine to me.

Please continue to run your case and let me know if you have any issues. Thanks.