GribGrab: Download GFS model data from the NOMADS server.

Description

This function interfaces with the programming API at http://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/ to download GFS model data. The data arrives in grib (gridded binary) format that can be read with ReadGrib.

Usage

GribGrab(levels, variables, local.dir = ".", file.name = "fcst.grb", 
    model.date = Sys.time(), fcst.date = Sys.time(), 
    model.domain = NULL, tidy = FALSE, verbose = TRUE)

Arguments

levels

A list of model levels to download.

variables

A list of model variables to download.

local.dir

Where to save the grib file, defaults to the current directory.

file.name

What to name the grib file, defaults to "fcst.grb".

model.date

The date and time of the requested model run, in GMT and POSIXlt format, defaults to current system time

fcst.date

The requested forecast date, defaults to current system time

model.domain

A vector of latitudes and longitudes that specify the area to return a forecast for. This is a rectangle with elements: west longitude, east longitude, north latitude, south latitude.

tidy

If TRUE, remove all files with the suffix ".grb" from local.dir prior to downloading a new grib file.

verbose

If TRUE, give information on connection status. Default TRUE

Value

file.name is the name of the grib file that was downloaded.

Details

This function requires an Internet connection to work. Also, the NOMADS web site can go down occasionally, causing GribGrab to fail. In this case, wait an hour or two and try again.

References

http://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/

Examples

Run this code

#Get the latest model date
model.date <- Sys.time()

#Get the forecast 6 hours from now - addition is defined in seconds
fcst.date <- model.date + 6 * 3600

#What region of the atmosphere to get data for
levels <- c("2 m above ground", "800 mb") 

#What data to return
variables <- c("TMP", "RH") #Temperature and relative humidity

#What region of the world to get data for - omit this and you get the whole planet!
model.domain <- c(-84, -74, 37, 32) #Get the area around North Carolina, USA

#Get the data
file.name <- GribGrab(levels, variables, model.date = model.date,
    fcst.date = fcst.date, model.domain = model.domain)

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