Number range CHAPTERRelease Notes for RFC-Only Software in AWIPS Release
OB7.2

01/12/2007

This document contains release information for AWIPS Release OB7.2.

Information about program enhancements and bug fixes is included. Each
bug fix is designated by an HSD Bug number that indicates which release
had the problem and the number of the bug for that release (e.g. r23-2).
More information about each bug can be found on the Web page for the
HSEB bug list that is maintained by the HSD RFC Field Support Group.

NOTE: The fix to HSD Bug 25-9 (DR 17039) changed the defining point for
grid cells to be consistent with MPE. This will mean that the station
definition for many stations will change. Therefore, all stations will
need to be redefined within ppinit.

NOTE: In this release, the determination of whether Daylight Saving Time
is in effect has been changed. Prior to this release, the calculation
was performed internally using a custom algorithm. In OB7.2, the
determination is now made via a system call to the operating system.
This change will impact all executables which deal with local time.

**1. DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGIC MODELING (DHM) RELEASE NOTES**

**Distributed Hydrologic Modeling in OB7.2\
**

> DHM is the set of features integrated into NWSRFS for distributed
> hydrologic modeling.  The primary component is DHM-OP, an NWSRFS
> operation (#64), which executes in batch mode through OFS-FCST and in
> GUI mode through IFP.  The existing dependencies for executing
> operations in OFS-FCST and IFP (e.g. tokens, scripts and executables)
> still apply.  New dependencies for the DHM-OP include Java archives
> and shared libraries.
>
> DHM-OP uses the FS5files database to read and write timeseries data
> and XMRG formatted files for gridded input and output.  OFS-FCST can
> also write netCdf grids for display in D2D. For further details
> regarding use of D-2D to display DHM grids refer to the OB7.2 AWIPS
> User\'s Manual.

**New Apps Defaults Token**

1\. dhm_data_dir: \$(ofs_files)/\$(ofs_level)/dhmdata   - root directory
location for DHM input/output xmrg files

*\*Before running DHM for the first time, this directory and its
subdirectories need to be created using the create_files_group script*

**create_files_group** group_name (group name should be equal to
\$ofs_level)

2\. ifp_griddb_dir: /data/dhm/\$(LOGNAME)/precip - root directory for
IFP's local copy of the precip xmrgs

3\. dhm_d2d_notify_bin_dir: /awips/fxa/bin - directory location for D2D
executable used to ping notification server on creation of DHM grids

4\. dhm_d2d_data_dir: /data/fxa/Grid/LOCAL/netCDF/DHM - directory used
by DHM to write grid output file that will be displayed by D2D program.

**New NWSRFS documentation**

I.2-UNIX-DHM PROGRAM EXECUTION INFORMATION FOR DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGIC
MODELING (DHM) ON UNIX SYSTEMS - overall description of DHM describing
how it interfaces to NWSRFS and how to use it

Number range CHAPTERV.3.3-DHM-OP DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGIC MODELING
OPERATION - User Level documentation describing the DHM-OP segment
definition

VIII.3.3-DHM-OP DISTRIBUTED HYDROLOGIC MODELING OPERATION - System level
documentation describing internal code structure

**New NWSRFS Output**

In addition to user requested DHM grid output available during carryover
save runs (see I.2-UNIX-DHM), whenever a DHM-OP is run through IFP or
OFS-FCST the following information summarizing the execution will appear
in the background. For example:

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*DHM
Operation\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\
\* Start of run period: 7/1/2002 12Z\
\* Start of forecast period : 7/6/2002 12Z\
\* End of run period: 7/6/2002 12Z\
\* Basin ID : DHMBAS1

\* Upstream Basin ID:\
\* precipitation data directory : /data/dhm/\$LOGNAME/precip\
\* DHM Model data directory : \$PWD/test_run_files

\* D2D data directory : N/A

\* DHM Notify data directory : N/A

\* number of hour(s) of future precipitation: 0

\* Carryover will not be saved\
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\**

**Known Problems related to DHM**

Problem 1: In NWSRFS OB7.2 the Java dependencies added by DHM mean that
fatal error reporting for OFS-FCST and IFP has now changed. Core dumps
will contain the following information, ***whether or not*** DHM is the
cause of the fatal error. The error messages will be improved in OB8.1
to contain more meaningful information.

The following information is displayed when a core dump occurs:

\#

\# An unexpected error has been detected by HotSpot Virtual Machine:

\#

\# SIGSEGV (0xb) at pc=0x0804b1bb, pid=21205, tid=3086870208

\#

\# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (1.5.0_04-b05 mixed mode)

\# Problematic frame:

\# C \[fcst+0x31bb\]

\#

\# An error report file with more information is saved as
hs_err_pid21205.log

\#

\# If you would like to submit a bug report, please visit:

\# http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport/crash.jsp

\#

Abort (core dumped)

Problem 2: Java log files (\*.log) will be generated in the directory
from which DHM is executed when OFS or IFP aborts abnormally. These
files are uniquely time-stamped but are not purged, so they could build
up in the directory. They are not expected to cause disk space or inode
problems. The workaround is to remove the hs_err_pidxxx.log when the OFS
or IFP program is aborted abnormally. The problem will be addressed in
OB8.1.

**2. CALB RELEASE NOTES**

HSD Bug Fixes:

**MCP3**

> 1\. The logic for setting the areal extent adjustment (internal
> variable AEADJ) to zero was changed. 2. Previously AEADJ was set to
> zero whenever the water equivalent exceeded the value of AEADJ. This
> is not correct for the case when AEADJ is less than the normal AI
> value. 3. Parameter values for compaction and destructive metamorphism
> calculations were changed for the computation of snow depth. \[HSD Bug
> [r27-38]{.underline}\] \[AWIPS_DR_17774\]

**3.** **IDMA RELEASE NOTES**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Corrected a problem processing the calb_output token in the
> .Apps_defaults file \[r26-49\] \[DR 17070\]
>
> Corrected a problem when the \@R card was set to something other than
> 0 (used to group stations for analysis) \[HSD Bug r27-12\] \[DR
> 17070\]

**4.** **OFS RELEASE NOTES**

**Ifp/fcst**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> If startrun == mod start date, mod will be ignored. In
> \.../options/ModSettings/ModDefinitions, change WEADD
> ModStartDateOffset to 1. This change will make weadd hour default to
> one time step after 12Z. \[HSD Bug r26-13\]\[DR 17007\]
>
> Frost index (FGIX) column added to fcst printout and to the SAC
> display. \[HSD Bug r26-28\]\[DR 17011\]

**fcst**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> When running RES-SNGL the mass balance truncates the observed data for
> the entire day if there is not a whole day of observed data
> (i.e.LSTCMPDY 18Z). \[HSD Bug [r27-39]{.underline}\]
> \[AWIPS_DR_17805\] \[[[Index]{.underline}](#INDEX)\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which the XMRG files were not being processed
> properly, resulting in messages stating \"NO GRIDDED DATA FOUND\...\"
> for a specific date, even though data is definitely available. \[HSD
> Bug
> [[r27-2]{.underline}](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/hseb_buglist.shtml#r25-52)\]
> \[Maintenance Request 1963\] \[[[Index]{.underline}](#INDEX)\]
>
> Fixed core dumps when running with a Res-J forecast group. \[HSD Bug
> r24-33\]
>
> Corrected a problem with the Daylight Saving Time (DST) definition.
> While the problem originally only occurred in years with five Sundays
> in October, the fix will also address the changes to the DST
> definition in 2007 and any further redefinitions. \[HSD Bug r25-61\]
>
> Corrected a number of days in June. \[HSD Bug r26-20\] \[DR 17079\]
>
> Corrected some odd behavior associated with the UHGCDATE mod. \[HSD
> Bug r26-41\] \[DR 17008\]
>
> Corrected the behavior of \@SETTODAY, which started on the wrong day
> when relative values were entered like \*-5 \[HSD Bug r27-5\] \[DR
> 17010\]
>
> Corrected the processing of monthly evaporation values (RAINEVAP) in
> Res-Sngl \[HSD Bug r27-24\]

**filesize**

HSD Bug Fixes:

Corrected an overflow error in the punch file when the input deck
contains a large number of basins, areas or segments. \[HSD Bug r25-12\]
\[DR 17081\]

**ppdutil**

HSD Bug Fixes:

Corrected a problem with the output from the DUMPOBS command, when the
STATE ID option is used. \[HSD Bug r23-50\]

**ppinit**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> In previous versions of OFS, the location of the lower left hand
> corner of a grid cell was used to determine whether a grid cell was
> within a basin.  In order to be compatible with MPE, the center of the
> grid cell is now used to make that determination. To facilitate this
> change, all stations will need to be redefined within ppinit..\[HSD
> Bug [r25-9]{.underline}\] \[[[Index]{.underline}](#INDEX)\]

**shefpars**

HSD Bug Fixes:

Corrected processing of the L or LS TZ codes in Alaska \[HSD Bug
r27-17\] \[DR 17068\]

Corrected processing of an invalid .B statement -- previously when a
valid \".B\" statement with a closing \".END\" is followed by an invalid
\".B\" statement the data values in the invalid \".B\" statement are
read in as though the original \".END\" statement was not read. \[HSD
Bug r27-20\] \[DR 17068\]

**shefpost**

HSD Bug Fixes:

Increased the size of the work buffer to handle up to 1,000 time series
values. \[HSD Bug r26-42\] \[DR 17042\]

**5.** **IFP RELEASE NOTES**

**parse_mods_by_segment**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Parse forecast group mod with negative value corrected. \[HSD Bug
> r26-33\]

**IFP_Map**

HSD Bug Fixes:

Corrected the PLOT-TS and PLOT-TUL operations which were displaying SRSO
in cubic feet instead of CFSD \[HSD Bug r27-13\] \[DR 17007\]

**ifp_nwsrfs**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Corrected some odd behavior associated with the UHGCDATE mod. \[HSD
> Bug r26-41\] \[DR 17008\]

**6.** **X PROGRAM RELEASE NOTES**

**xnav**

HSD Bug Fixes:

Corrected a problem with the date display when viewing hydrographs.
\[HSD Bug r26-1\]

Corrected the problem that xnav interpreted the missing indicator (-999)
as an actual value. \[HSD Bug r26-36\] \[DR 17009\]

**xsets**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Fixed core dump caused by Postgresql. \[HSD Bug r27-1\]

**7.** **FFG RELEASE NOTES**

**ffguid**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Corrected a problem with defining lat/lon. \[HSD Bug r26-23\] \[DR
> 17040\]

**8.** **GRIB RELEASE NOTES**

None

**9.** **UTIL RELEASE NOTES**

None

**10.** **ENSEMBLE PROGRAM RELEASE NOTES**

**espadp**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Corrected a problem with the display of exceedance quantiles when bias
> adjust is on. \[HSD Bug r25-4\] \[DR 17006\]
>
> Changed the process which searches for flood flow values for the Flood
> Exceedance Probability plot to be consistent with the rest of espadp
> -- The IHFS Database will be searched first, followed by the fs5files.
> \[HSD Bug r26-50\] \[DR 17006\]
>
> Corrected a display problem which resulted in several lines of the
> legend being lost when using historical water years 1948-2004 \[HSD
> Bug r27-15\] \[DR 17006\]

**bbuilder**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Add the option \"Period\" to the list of valid analysis intervals in
> the ESPADP Batch Builder. \[HSD Bug
> [[r24-71]{.underline}](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/hseb_buglist.shtml#r25-8)\]

**etsgen**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Corrected a problem with SaveCODate in leap years. \[HSD Bug r26-26\]
> \[DR 17041\]

**11.** **VERIFY RELEASE NOTES**

> Enhancements:
>
> The Interactive Verification Program GUI (run using the script ivp)
> has been completely rewritten in order to provide it with direct
> access to pairs data within the archive database and provide the user
> with a much greater level of flexibility in (1) choosing the data to
> view, (2) defining statistics plots, and (3) manipulating the graphic
> generated. The user's manual for the new IVP can be found at:

<http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hrl/verification/verification_doc_ob7.php>

**ivpbatch**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Fixed a problem in which observed data with a SHEF qualifier code of
> 'B', 'R', and 'E' were being used in building pairs. Data with these
> three qualifier codes should never get used. \[DR# 18419\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which pairing was running into problems due to
> issues with communication between Java and Informix. \[HSD Bugs
> [r26-39]{.underline} and [r26-47]{.underline}\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which pairing was running out of memory due to
> storing too many pairs. Now, it will generate 1000 at a time, and
> after each 1000 pairs, they will be inserted into the vfypairs table
> of the archive database. \[HSD Bug
> [[r27-3]{.underline}](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/hseb_buglist.shtml#r25-8)\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which forecasts with negative values were not being
> used in pairing. \[HSD Bug
> [[r27-](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/hseb_buglist.shtml#r25-8)6]{.underline}\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which NATLSTATS = \"ALL\" was not being properly
> processed for computing national statistics. \[HSD Bug
> [[r27-22]{.underline}](http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/hseb_buglist.shtml#r25-8)\]
> \[[[Index]{.underline}](#INDEX)\]

**12. ARCHIVE SHEF DECODERS**

**shef_decode_raw**

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Made it so that the adjustfactor table was being employed before
> storing data in the archive database. This applies to the raw SHEF
> decoder when processing non-forecast data. \[HSD Bug
> [r26-22]{.underline}\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which data was not being posted to the pecrsep and
> pemrsep tables due to the SHEF qualifier code being checked
> incorrectly prior to posted data to the archive database. \[HSD Bug
> [r26-29]{.underline}\]

**shef_decode_raw, shef_decode_pro**

> For OB7.2 these programs have been converted to run against the new
> RAX Postgres database.

HSD Bug Fixes:

> Fixed a problem in which values with a date prior to 1970 were being
> posted with dates in 1970. \[HSD Bug [r26-43]{.underline}\]
>
> Fixed a problem in which the datalimits and locdatalimits tables were
> not being properly used to set the SHEF qualifier character code.
> \[HSD Bug [r26-25]{.underline}\]

13. **HISTORICAL DATA BROWSER**

> Prior to OB7.2 this application was released and supported outside of
> the AWIPS baseline. There were two versions: one which ran on a local
> non-AWIPS PC; and one which ran on the DS inside the AWIPS firewall.
> In OB7.2 the HDB has been completely re-written so that it will run on
> the DX (Linux RHEL4, PostgreSQL) - this replaces the version which ran
> on the decommissioned DS. The PC/Web-based version will no longer be
> maintained by OHD. There are no enhancements or new features
> implemented in OB7.2, just a conversion. A User\'s Guide is available
> at:
>
> <http://www.weather.gov/om/water/RFC_support/>

14. **RFC ARCHIVE DATABASE (RAX)**

> The archive database (adb_ob72xxx) is converted from Informix to
> PostgreSQL during the OB7.2 upgrade. The conversion is automated via
> the use of scripts. All data in the OB7.1 Informix database is
> extracted and preserved offline while the operating system is upgraded
> to RHEL 4 and PostgreSQL installed. Once the new PostgreSQL engine has
> been loaded, scripts take care of populating the new database using
> the saved and converted data. Because the upgrade also involves a disk
> repartition, the flat-file archive database is preserved offline and
> restored when the upgrade is complete. Applications which use the
> archive database (shef decoders, RAXUM applications) have been
> converted to use the new database. For further details, visit:
>
> <http://www.weather.gov/oh/rfcdev/projects/rfcADEMT_build_info.htm>
>
> and select \"OB7.2 Release\".

15. **OFSDE RELEASE NOTES**

> HSD Bug Fixes:
>
> Changed to allow the use of a window to account for PC observations
> which are received after 12Z. \[HSD Bug r26-35\]
>
> Corrected a problem with the MAPE calculation when greater than 20
> values are processed \[HSD Bug r26-51\]
>
> Corrected a problem in which the latest forecasted reservoir releases
> (as determined by basistime) were not being transferred from the IHFS
> database to NWSRFS \[HSD Bug r27-40\] \[DR 17811\]

16. **SYS_FILES RELEASE NOTES**

The file ofs.files_dir.list was updated to add dhmdata to the list of
standard ofs directories

17. **SCRIPT RELEASE NOTES**

The OFS script was updated to add java archives (jars) and shared
libraries used by DHM to the \$CLASSPATH and \$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
environment variables.

A new script start_ifp_nwsrfs was added to the suite of ifp scripts to
add java archives (jars) and shared libraries used by DHM to the
\$CLASSPATH and \$LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variables. This is script
is used internally by IFP and does not require any action by the user.

The get_ofs_data IFP script was updated to copy all hourly observed
precipitation xmrgs and hourly qpf xmrgs to the directory pointed to by
\$ifp_griddb_dir. DHM uses this local directory to read precipitation
data.

18. **CONTACT INFORMATION**

Contact the [[HSD RFC Support
Team]{.underline}](mailto:rfc.support@noaa.gov) if there are any
questions.