>To: sootalk, soo_strc
Subject: Announcement: Modsnd 2002 Unleashed!



Earthquake in the Northeast?  I don't think so.

What the USGS failed to mention was that the tremors were not cause by 
tectonic plates smashing against each other, but rather, by the excitement
building in anticipation of the Modsnd 2002 package release. That's correct, 
this release is an earth-moving experience!

   http://www.comet.ucar.edu/strc/software/modsnd

Yes, everything you've heard about Modsnd 2002 (labrador release) is true. 
Combining Modsnd 2002 with the new BUFKIT 4 is the greatest thing since
the early 70's when that dude tripped and stuck his chocolate bar into
a conspicuously place jar of peanut butter.  It has taken 30 years but
that culinary monolith has finally been surpassed; except you can't eat
this one.  

Included in this version is support for the 20km ruc, AVN, archived eta, 
and WS Eta BUFR files. There is also a support web page, plus a whole lot 
more!


What, you were not aware that a new BUFKIT exists?  See:

   http://www.wdtb.noaa.gov/resources/projects/BUFKIT

Ed says that you will be "vectored" to the correct location. Ouch!


Modsnd 2002 is available on the soostrc ftp server in the nawips/modsnd
directory. I suggest that you first go to the strc modsnd web page for
information on setting up and running modsnd.  If you are not familiar
with BUFKIT and/or modsnd, you should be. Call me.


A Change Summary for Modsnd 2002:

     a. The get_bufr script now uses the new OOS, NCEP, and STRC ftp servers
        (weather.noaa.gov, ftpprd.ncep.noaa.gov, and soostrc.comet.ucar.edu
         respectively) for data acquisition. If data are available on all 
         servers then the OOS is used for the primary source and the other
         servers as fail-over sites. The get_bufr script will automatically
         fail-over if data are not available from the primary server.


     b. Support for the following datasets has been included:

         eta  : operational Eta model BUFR files
         etax : parallel runs of the Eta
         etan : Operational Eta threats (nested) runs
         etaa : Archived eta BUFR data located on the soostrc ftp server
         etaw : Workstation Eta BUFR data (soon)

         ruc2 : Old 40km Operational RUC runs (Deprecated)
         ruc  : New 20km Operational RUC runs (Use this one)

         ngm  : Same as it ever was  

         avn  : operational AVN model runs

      

     c. BUFKIT file naming convention had changed to:

              <model>_<stn>.buf

              or

              <YYMMDDHH>.<model>_<stn>.buf If the APPEND_DATE option is used

     For example: eta_atl.buf or 02023012.eta_atl.buf


     d. It is no longer necessary to manually create any directories for 
        use with get_bufr; everything is done for you. It's in there!

     e. Lots of error checking has been added. More dynamic verbs too. 
   
   
Contact me if you have any questions. You know where I live. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Robert A. Rozumalski     NWS National SOO Science and	
                         Training Resource Coordinator

COMET/UCAR PO Box 3000   Phone:  (303) 497-8356
Boulder, CO 80307-3000   FAX:    (303) 497-8491

SOO/STRC Home Page: 
http://www.comet.ucar.edu/strc
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++