From 24-25 September 2014, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at Reading, UK, hosted a workshop entitled "Closing the GRIB/NetCDF gap".
Description
The form in which data are made available to different user communities can sometimes be a barrier to maximising data use and reuse. Data presented in GRIB (GRIdded Binary) may not be used by groups who work primarily with NetCDF (Network Common Data Form), and vice versa. The quantity and quality of the metadata provided can also be variable, and restrict interoperability.
Workshop aims
The aim of this workshop was to bring together experts from various domains, including the CF Metadata conventions, WMO experts in Table Driven Code Forms (GRIB) and NetCDF. Issues discussed included how mappings between GRIB and the CF Metadata convention can be established and maintained, and the governance models of the two communities.
An outcome from the workshop will be to establish a roadmap on how these governance models could work together. This will also allow us to ensure that CF-NetCDF data are fully supported within the Meteorological Archival and Retrieval System (MARS), and that the data are used to their maximum potential.
Workshop format
The workshop itself was divided into two parts. The first part 'set the scene' and consisted of presentations from various domain experts. The remainder of the workshop was taken up by breakout group discussions, leading to a clear plan for the way forward.
Programme
Presentations
Wednesday 24 September
| GRIB and Net CDF: Setting the scene Baudouin Raoult, ECMWF |
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| Parameter naming in GRIB and CF Alison Pamment, STFC |
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| Applications of the CF data model David Hassell, University of Reading |
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| The role of WMO inter-programme expert team on data representation, maintenance and monitoring Simon Elliott, EUMETSAT |
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| Observations and measurements as a basis for semantic reconciliation between GRIB and NetCDF Jeremy Tandy, Met Office |
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| Don't solve problems, copy success: Leveraging standards and convections to improve interoperability Kevin O'Brien, NOAA |
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| Lesson from incompatible units of time-integrated GRIB parameters Eizi Toyoda, JMA |
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| NetCDF metadata standards for climate model intercomparisons Martin Juckes, STFC |
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| GRIB and NetCDF in a world of competing standards Matthew Peroutka, NOAA |
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| GRIB to NetCDF/CF as part of Unidata's THREDDS project John Caron, UCAR |
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| The challenges of using NetCDF and GRIB for managing forecast data at the Met Office Bruce Wright, Met Office |
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| Software for managing and sharing metadata translation information Mark Hedley, Met Office |
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| ECMWF data decoding tools for users and operations Enrico Fucile, ECMWF |
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| Climate Data Operators (CDO) Luis Kornblueh, MPI |
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| The CF checker tool Rosalyn Hatcher, University of Reading |
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thursday 25 September
| Data reference syntax - governing standards within climate research data archived in the earth system grid federation Michael Kolax, SMHI |
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| SPECS NetCDF convention: Dealing with climate predictions on the ESGF Pierre-Antoine Bretonnière and Francisco Doblas-Reyes, IC3 |
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| A short history of GRIB Chris Little, Met office |
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| On-the-fly GRIB to netCDF conversion within the MARS-ESGF integration Sebastien Villaume, SMHI |
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| Data Standardization at DKRZ Jörg Wegner, DKRZ |
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| Gridded data from many sources - a data-user's perspective Heiko Klein, NMI |
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| Management of GRIB by WMO Atushi Shimazaki, WMO |
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| GRIB/NetCDF file compression John Caron, UCAR/UNIDATA |
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Proceedings
The workshop proceedings are now available.
Contact
If you have any queries concerning the workshop, please do not hesitate to contact Manuel Fuentes.