total cloud on Pressure surface

[alainF]

Hello,
Is it possible to get the output with the total cloud fraction on pressure surfaces, as a 3D field ?

Thank you

 

[hertneky]

Hi,

I am not sure I understand what you mean as a 3D field. Cloud fraction is available and can be output on pressure levels.

CLD FRAC ON P SFCS in the wrf_cntrl.parm

For example, here is example UPP output using ncl_filedump (requires NCL to dump the file this way) of TCDC on isobaric levels TCDC(press,lat,lon).

float TCDC_P0_L100_GGA0 ( lv_ISBL7, lat_0, lon_0 )
center : US National Weather Service - NCEP (WMC)
production_status : Operational products
long_name : Total cloud cover
units : %
_FillValue : 1e+20
grid_type : Gaussian latitude/longitude
parameter_discipline_and_category : Meteorological products, Cloud
parameter_template_discipline_category_number : ( 0, 0, 6, 1 )
level_type : Isobaric surface (Pa)
forecast_time : 0
forecast_time_units : hours
initial_time : 10/03/2016 (00:00)

 

[alainF]

Thank you for your answer,
In the attached wrf_cntrl.parm file, I don't see the field called CLD FRAC ON P SFCS. Or maybe I don't look at the right place.
How can I change the file so that I can use it ?

Thank you for your help.

 

[hertneky]

You can add a new variable by adding 2 new lines to the parm file. The parm file is a fixed format so just be sure it is aligned the same as the other parameters in the file. Just turn on any pressure levels you desire.

(CLD FRAC ON P SFCS ) SCAL=( 3.0)
L=(00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000 00000)

For future knowledge, there is a table for Grib1 available fields - although not all can be output for the WRF model.
https://dtcenter.org/sites/default/files/community-code/upp-grib1-table_2.pdf

Note: this link will not work soon as we are doing some major website modifications in the near future, so I would be sure to just download it.

 

[alainF]

Thank you, it is working.
Documentation downloaded !