Does anyone use the GEMPAK software?

[David Shohami]

I would like to use it for making forecast maps from different models (like I do now with the GrADS software), and I have some questions about it.
Thanks.

[Jeff Snyder]

What specific questions do you have? Numerous Stormtrack members are very familiar with Gempak.

[nickgrillo]

I use GEMPAK - what type of questions do you have? There are plenty of threads on Stormtrack regarding all my problems / questions about it... :lol: :lol:

[mikegeukes]

I also have GEMPAK, currently the computer is in self-storage shed.

GEMPAK Home Page
http://my.unidata.ucar.edu/content/softwar...mpak/index.html (http://my.unidata.ucar.edu/content/software/gempak/index.html)

Purchase GEMPAK:
http://sky.radioweather.us/gempak.html

Some additional GEMPAK links: Add more, when I find them
http://weather.jsums.edu/~coamps/Gempak_html
http://www.openchannelsoftware.org/project.../GEMPAK/&id=ntb (http://www.openchannelsoftware.org/projects/GEMPAK/&id=ntb)
http://www.met.tamu.edu/temp/gempak/GEMPAK1.pdf
http://www.met.tamu.edu/temp/gempak/GEMPAK2.pdf
http://www.met.tamu.edu/temp/gempak/GEMPAK3.pdf
http://www.met.tamu.edu/temp/gempak/GEMPAK4.pdf'
http://www.met.tamu.edu/temp/gempak/GEMPAK5.pdf
http://www.met.tamu.edu/temp/gempak/GEMPAK7.pdf
http://www.met.tamu.edu/documentation/gemreal.html
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/gempa...ial/driver.html (http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/gempak/tutorial/driver.html)
http://it.metr.ou.edu/gempak/

Mike

[David Shohami]

Thank you for the responses.

First I would like to know is there a way of converting .gem files to netcdf or something of the sort that I would be able to open with GrADS and save myself the trouble of installing GEMPAK.

Second, has anyone tried using it on windows using cygwin? Unfortunately I don't have any of the platforms that GEMPAK requires.

Third, I am interested in GEMPAK for one particular reason, which is making forecast maps from models for my region (Europe and the Middle East). If anyone who has the program is willing to find out for me whether two certain models with .gem files I have found on a server are global or just for North America, I would very much appreciate it. If they are not global then I have no need for GEMPAK and can continue using GrADS with GFS from nomad servers.

Thanks!

[Ben Cotton]

David,

Can you give us more info about the model files you've found?

[David Shohami]

I would be glad to email them (2.5mb), but I can't provide a link since they are on a password ftp server (from motherlode.ucar.edu, decoded data archives).

The model files are 2005082100_ecmf1.gem (2.2mb), 2005082100_ecmf2.gem (248k), 2005082100_ecmwf255.gem (28k). Each model run creates three files such as these. The model is ECMWF. Due to the small filesizes I suspect they do not contain global data...

[Ben Cotton]

The model files are 2005082100_ecmf1.gem (2.2mb), 2005082100_ecmf2.gem (248k), 2005082100_ecmwf255.gem (28k). Each model run creates three files such as these. The model is ECMWF. Due to the small filesizes I suspect they do not contain global data...The ECMWF files on Purdue's server are about 2.5M and have the global output, so you might be in shape.


BC

[Dan Cook]

I finally got Fedora installed on my old computer and tried to mess around with Gempak with rdewey. But when I tried to run it after setting it up, I got this error message:

ntl: error while loading shared libraries: libXp.so.6: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

anyone know what that means? Thanks.

[Tyler Allison]

I finally got Fedora installed on my old computer and tried to mess around with Gempak with rdewey. But when I tried to run it after setting it up, I got this error message:

ntl: error while loading shared libraries: libXp.so.6: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

anyone know what that means? Thanks.

Are you running a pre-compiled binary or one that you compiled on the Fedora box? That message means the library 'libXp' was not able to be found on your system. Type the command 'locate libXp.so' and if a file shows up then your /etc/ld.conf file needs to be updated with the path to that library.

[Dan Cook]

of Gempak? I downloaded the binary.

[Tyler Allison]

of Gempak? I downloaded the binary.

Okay...that's the problem.

You need to install the libXp RPM.

xorg-x11-deprecated-libs-devel

source RPM is xorg-x11-6.8.2-1.FC3.13.src.rpm

[Dan Cook]

Where can I get that?

[Tyler Allison]

type:
yum search xorg-x11-deprecated-libs-devel

then type:
yum install xorg-x11-deprecated-libs-devel

welcome to the world of being a Linux admin, you better learn quick ;)

[Dan Cook]

yea..lol.

Do you have AIM? It'd probably be easier to talk on that. :?

[Tyler Allison]

yea..lol.

Do you have AIM? It'd probably be easier to talk on that. :?

Sorry I dont..you're the second person to ask that in less than a week. I guess I better get on the bandwagon.

[V. Gensini]

I'm having trouble running GEMPAK. I have unzipped the tar file and seem to be stuck running the executable files. I have installed the binary version, so I am assuming it shouldn't be that hard. I'm a newbie to linux, so any help would be appreciated...

[rdale]

There is a simple install document that comes with the package - have you followed that step by step? If you still have problems, let me know where you're stuck. If you really can't get it, take a look at some of the places who provide pre-packaged setups, ready to run.

- Rob

[V. Gensini]

I'm not sure which library I am missing....

Making all in /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/garp/xpm/linux
make[3]: Entering directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/garp/xpm/linux'
make[3]: Nothing to be done for `all'.
make[3]: Leaving directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/garp/xpm/linux'
/usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lXm
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make[2]: *** [linux/garp] Error 1
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/garp'
installing in /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/etamap
make[2]: Entering directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/etamap'
install -s etamap /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/os/linux/bin
install etamap.pdf /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/pdf
install etamap.prm /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/parm
install etamap.hlp /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/help/hlp
cp *.hl1 /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/help/hlx
cp *.hl2 /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/help/hlx
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/etamap'
installing in /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/gdpoint
make[2]: Entering directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/gdpoint'
install -s gdpoint /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/os/linux/bin
install gdpoint.pdf /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/pdf
install gdpoint.hlp /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/help/hlp
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/gdpoint'
installing in /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/dcshef_comet
make[2]: Entering directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/dcshef_comet'
install -s dcshef_comet /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/os/linux/bin
install dcshef_comet.hlp /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/help/hlp
install shef_comet.pack /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/tables/pack
install shefunits_comet.tbl /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/tables/stns
install shef_ncdc.tbl /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/tables/stns
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet/dcshef_comet'
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/comet'

[rdale]

Above you said you installed the binary - now you are talking about installing from source code? I'd stick with the binaries - they are already compiled.

[V. Gensini]

If I install the binaries, where can I find this document?

[rdale]

Install guide at http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/gempak/GEMPAK5.11/Install_GEMPAK5.10.html

All ready to run - http://skywatch.org

[V. Gensini]

I've seen the online guide...I wasn't sure if there was a document that was in the folder that was more in depth. Is the garp executable the one you want to run?

[rdale]

'ntl' runs the main menu bar, from there you just click around.

[V. Gensini]

Ok. I got the garp executable to work. Now just to set up the LDM! :(

[rdale]

LDM is part of the IDD service, that's for universities only.

[V. Gensini]

I am a part of a university and can get access to LDMs...

Is there any other way to pull in data besides the LDM?

[rdale]

Yes - you can get the data from university websites and convert it to .gem format using the dc* conversion executable files.

[V. Gensini]

I'm assuming this is done using ftp's and writing scripts rdale? Anyone have more info on this?

[rdale]

You can FTP, wget, lynx, firefox - however you want to get data in. Some data is already in GEMPAK format, some sources need control codes added and run through the dc converters, some can be sent straight to dc.

[V. Gensini]

Interesting rdale. You are certainly a gempak guru :) How much would it cost to get scripts from you. I obviously don't have time or know how to write 500 lines of code...

[rdale]

"Guru" might be too strong - just someone who has used it for a decade and doesn't mind sharing that with others ;)

$60 gets you the scripts, some config files that need to be copied into your GEMPAK directory, and a 'cron' sample to get all the data flowing.

[V. Gensini]

Yahoo! I get to revive the GEMPAK thread:) I am having trouble viewing .gem files for case study purposes. I thought placing the files in the necessary directory (i.e. /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/data) folders, that I would be able to view them in either garp or nmap2. Any suggestions or tips from GEMPAK experts?

[rdale]

That's all you do. If you are using old data, you'll want to change the date/time on the slider bar. Otherwise make sure that the naming convention of the .gem files matches what you have in the $GEMTBL/config/datatype.tbl

[V. Gensini]

Thanks for the quick reply rdale! I think I understand the problem at this point. I see no GEMTBL files in my directory... I thought the gen_pqact.csh found under /home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/ldm/etc was supposed to set up those directories?

[Josh Boustead]

Hey Victor, I have never worked with or used the LDM before, but since the LDM is for finding data and direct it to the right place on your system, the gen_pqact.csh might be more for that. I think what rdale means is that for nmap or garp to see the data in those directories it has to be named according to what your datatype.tbl is looking for. If you echo $GEMTBL you should be able to see where your tables will be located. You can change directories to that location and there should be a config directory where you should see the datatype.tbl file. Go in there and see the data format the gempak is looking for in regards to surface, upper air and model data. Make sure that your case study data is in that format and in the directory that the datatype.tbl file is looking for and then you should be set.

[rdale]

Just type "cd $GEMTBL/config" and that will take you in.

[V. Gensini]

Excellent! Thanks Josh! I found the datatype.tbl file! I will try to figure out how modify it without blowing anything up ;)

[V. Gensini]

Unfortunately, It seems as if the data I have is already in that format. I'm basically just trying to view a file named 20081223_sao.gem that is already placed in the surface folder (/home/gempak/GEMPAK5.11.1/gempak/data/surface). Hmm...

[Josh Boustead]

That is interesting Victor. Does it see other real-time data? Is it just this one day that is missing? If it is seeing real-time data, then it could be that the data is too old in those directories to be listed b/c other data is being listed first. One thing you could try is put the data into another directory and then set your environmental variables to that directory and see if nmap or garp will see the data then. It would only be good for your current log-in session, but at least you would be able to see the data. Something like:

setenv OBS /(where-ever you putt he data here)

You could also use programs within gempak like sfcmap or gdplot to plot the data as well. That way you could set the location of the data within the program, if you have ever done anything like that.

[V. Gensini]

Thanks for the help all. The problem was in my Gemenviron profile :eek: SIlly me.

[Chip Redmond]

I finally got Fedora installed on my old computer and tried to mess around with Gempak with rdewey. But when I tried to run it after setting it up, I got this error message:

ntl: error while loading shared libraries: libXp.so.6: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

anyone know what that means? Thanks.

I have been having a somewhat similar problem when trying to get Gempak to run. However, the only program I can get to run is ntl, the basic launcher for the other programs. I can even exit properly from ntl. I downloaded a binary form of Gempak and when I try to run it in a csh shell I get the error:

"nmap2: error while loading shard libraries: libgfortran.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory"

Obviously, the nmap2 changes with whatever program I am trying to run. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance!


Chip

[Robert Dewey]

I have been having a somewhat similar problem when trying to get Gempak to run. However, the only program I can get to run is ntl, the basic launcher for the other programs. I can even exit properly from ntl. I downloaded a binary form of Gempak and when I try to run it in a csh shell I get the error:

"nmap2: error while loading shard libraries: libgfortran.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory"

Obviously, the nmap2 changes with whatever program I am trying to run. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance!


Chip

I haven't messed around with GEMPAK in quite awhile (since Dan posted the quote above, most likely)... but my guess is that the binary version is trying to use outdated libraries.

You'll probably have to build from source.

[Chip Redmond]

Tried to build from source before and it turned out to be more frustrating I thought. Ended up googling the libgfortran.so.-- and downloaded it. This fixed the problem and everything works great now. Such a simple fix that it never even crossed my mind. Well, now its on to the scripts...

Thanks for the reply Dewey.

Chip