Files used in Global Model parallel scripts

As of November 7, 2000, the global parallels are run on the NCEP IBM SP Phase II computer and that is where its files reside. Many of the parallel files are in GRIB or BUFR formats, the WMO standard for gridded and ungridded meteorological data, respectively. Other parallel files such as restart files are in flat binary format, and are not generally intended to be accessed by the general user.

Unfortunately but predictably, the global parallel follows a different file naming convention than the operational file naming convention. (The global parallel file naming convention started in 1990 and predates the operational file naming convention.)

The global parallel file naming convention is a filetype followed by a period, the run (gdas or gfs), and the 10-digit current date $CDATE in YYYYMMDDHH form. (Eg, pgbf06.gfs.2008060400). Some names may have a suffix, for instance if the file is compressed.

For the sake of users that are accustomed to working with production files or those who want to do comparisons, the equivalent production file name info is included here. Production file naming convention is the run followed by a period, the cycle name, followed by a period, and the filetype. (Eg, gfs.t00z.pgrbf06). In the table below, only the filetype is listed for production names.

The files are divided into the categories restart files, oberservation files, and diagnostic files. Some files may appear in more than one category. Some verification files in the diagnostics table do not include a run qualifier.