This time I would like to use the blog to ask a few questions to the group about how to get started on case studies.
At GSP, we are relatively set for radar data. We archive most everything of significance, and when we learn of something well after-the-fact, we can always download the base data for KGSP from NCDC and then look at it with GR2Analyst. For various other things, I have a collection of links to web sites (most of which were provided by Jonathan Blaes).
I have three questions…
1. If we use the RUC for proximity soundings to get an appreciation for the near storm environment, where and how does one obtain the RUC data and then generate a sounding?
2. Jonathan Blaes has an archive of SPC mesoanalysis graphics for sector 17, but how does one go about obtaining the mesoanalyses for a specific time and date (say, for example, 0000 UTC to 0600 UTC on 28 September 2010).
3. Does every NWS office have a copy of GR2Analyst?
Thanks…
-pat
CIMMSE 
Pat –
I know that we have been archiving Bufkit data for several years now for sites in and around our area but I would have to check to see if the RUC was included with the NAM/GFS that I am sure we were archiving. We use a program called RAOB to pull in that sounding data and perform various analysis. As for the SPC mesoanalysis, I would also like to know how to access the Sector 17 data RAH has archived since it will be a bit higher resolution that the National archive data. We at CAE use GR2Analyst both operationally and for training/Case Study purposes.
Hunter
1. COMET (Bob Rozumalski) has an archive of both grib and bufr (bufkit) data from the NAM and GFS. I’m not sure if they ever added the RUC. I can check with Bob. If not COMET, the NOMADS server at NCDC is a fallback option.
2. You can get the national sector data at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/ma_archive/
3. I can’t confirm 100% of of offices (east of the Rockies) have GR2, but it is probably pretty close. I think all ER offices have at least 1 copy at this point.
Jeff
I’ll just add that we certainly use GR2analyst to view archived as well as live radar.
As fas as #2, I’m sure once we identify our list of cases, JB would be willing to send us the SPC sector 17 archived data for those cases he has it for. Otherwise, the link Jeff sent is good for the CONUS.
As mentioned by Jeff, I recommend SPC’s national sector archive for mesoanalyses:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/ma_archive/
One can get old Gempak data (which should include RUC model output) from Iowa State:
http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/
One must descend the directories: year; month; day; ‘gempak’; ‘model’ and then select the 3 hourly RUC run of interest. One would then use the 00h forecast soundings, perhaps in combination with observed surface data.
Obviously, this is a bit more work intensive, so I recommend using a coarse filter to find cases first, and then only grabbing the RUC data once you have a good working list narrowed down.
All the best,
Matt
Pat,
As Jeff W. said you can go to the NCDC Nomads server at http://nomads.ncdc.noaa.gov/data.php?name=access#hires_weather_datasets.
* Use the RUC 252 data that goes back to 2002 and is on a 20km grid. The RUC 130 only goes back to mid 2008 and is on a 13km grid.
You can use IDV to view the data it can read the data file without converting them. Its nice as it creates the graphic on the fly. Neat program!