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To be able to read/write RPN files in Python, follow the instruction on the following site:   RPN Python

GEM / CRCM

At the ESCER Centre we a using a slightly modified version of ECCC's (Environnement Canada et Climat Canada) weather forecast model GEM (Global Environmental Multiscale), officially called "Developmental version of CRCM/GEM
". For more information click o the following link: CRCM/GEM

GEM model output

Instead of being in NetCDF or GRIB format, the GEM model out- and input is the RPN standard format. This format comes with it's own set of tools to look at / modify the data.

On the internal servers of the ESCER Centre you can find some practice data under:

    ~data/Example_data

You can find some general information about our GEM model output here:   GEM model output

Having a first glance at the GEM model output

To list the names (and if lucky units) of the variables inside a file try the command:
     

And there are some more variable lists here:
    https://wikienseignement.uqam.ca/display/EDDSDLTEL/Variable + dictionaries

To have a closer look at the fields and see date/time, levels, etc. try 'voir':
    voir -iment rpn_file  |  less
For more information about 'voir' check here:
    https://wikienseignement.uqam.ca/display/EDDSDLTEL/Looking+at+RPN+files

To visualize the fields you can use 'xrec':
    xrec -imflds rpn_file
but you need to have connected with 'ssh -YC ...' to open windows.
For more information about 'xrec' check here as well:
    https://wikienseignement.uqam.ca/display/EDDSDLTEL/Looking+at+RPN+files

To extract fields you can use either 'r.diag select ...' or 'editfst'. You can find information about both here:
    https://wikienseignement.uqam.ca/display/EDDSDLTEL/Looking+at+RPN+files#LookingatRPNfiles-ManipulatingRPNfiles
But both these tools can be a little tricky to use. So don't hesitate to contact me when you get there!

Convert RPN to NetCDF
Have a look at the following file on the UQAM servers:
    ~winger/Scripts/NetCDF_converter/README.txt