1. AERMINUTE Hands-on Course #423 Day 2 Morning
Air Pollution Dispersion Models:
Applications with the AERMOD Modeling System
AERMINUTE Hands-on
Course #423
Day 2 Morning

2. Day 2 Morning: AERMINUTE Hands-On

3. Learning Objectives At the end of this session, you will understand:
The input requirements for AERMINUTE
How to run AERMINUTE

4. AERMINUTE – Obtaining Data
AERMINUTE processes one or more monthly files of 1­ minute ASOS wind data
Data are available, without cost, through the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) website at ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/asos-onemin
Files can be downloaded from the FTP site using Windows Explorer or other FTP client or a web browser (least preferred)
Open the appropriate folder (data type + year)
6405 = wind data, 6406 = temperature data
The file format of the 1-minute files can be found at:
As noted in the slide, the 1-minute data are in one-month files, so to get a year of data, you need to download 12 separate files. Since we will be processing 5 years of data, it would take too long to download all the files. In the interest of time, all but the first 3 months are provided in the AERMINUTE hands-on folder (APTI 423 \Hands- on\AERMINUTE).
These slides provide instructions for obtaining the omitted 3-months of 1-minute data from the NCDC website. We will go through the instructions and download the three files required to complete the hands-on. However, if you find that you get stuck or cannot complete the exercise in the time allotted, data for this hands-on activity are provided in the hands-on package.
Data can be downloaded from the FTP site listed using a file manager that supports ftp (e.g., Windows Explorer), third party FTP client software, or a web browser, though the use of a web browser is the least preferred method if you need to download multiple files such as a year (12 monthly files) or more.

5. This slide is hidden to continue notes from previous slide.
The nomenclature for naming the folders where the files are archived is of the form data type-year. For example, is the folder for the 1-minute ASOS winds for Opening that folder reveals all the 1-minute ASOS file for You will need to know the 4-character station identifier to download data. The station for the hands-on is KABE. Within a folder, the individual monthly 1-minute ASOS files are named using a combination of the data type (64050 for wind data) + 4-character station identifier + 4- digit year + 2-digit month. An example is KABE dat. We have put spaces between the components for easier reading – they are not there in the actual filenames.
Note as well the location where the documentation for the file format can be found.

6. AERMINUTE – Obtaining Data
ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/asos-onemin
Go ahead and enter the FTP link into your file manager, web browser, or third party ftp client and go to the FTP site. Since we are downloading only three months of data, all three methods should work equally well.

7. AERMINUTE – Obtaining Data
Internet Explorer
Windows Explorer
Two views of obtaining data are shown: via Microsoft’s Internet Explorer on the left and Microsoft’s Windows Explorer on the right (Details view).
Using Internet Explorer, you would have to click on each individual monthly file in a year to download the data (lower left).
With a file manager such as Windows Explorer, you can copy/paste or drag and drop groups of files, such as an entire year from one or more stations (lower right), making the download operation much quicker.
With whichever method you prefer, download the following files (each is 4-5 Mb):
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
And put them in the following subfolder: APTI 423\Hands-on\AERMINUTE

8. AERSURFACE – Control File
The 1-minute ASOS wind data files and program executable needed to complete this hands-on activity can be found in the following directory:
APTI423\Hands-on\AERMINUTE\
aerminute_ exe: program executable
aerminute.inp: AERMINUTE control file
14737-yyyy.DAT: NWS hourly observations, standard format
64050KABEyyyymm.dat: 1-minute ASOS wind data files where:
yyyy = year and
mm = month
The files needed to complete the AERMINUTE hands-on activity, including the three files you just downloaded, should be in the subfolder “APTI423\Hands- on\AERMINUTE\.”
There, you will find the AERMINUTE program executable (aerminute_11325.exe), the AERMINUTE control file, NWS hour observations in standard format (Integrated Surface Hourly Data (ISHD) in the DS-3505 full archival format), and the individual monthly 1­ minute ASOS wind data files referenced in the control file.
The files beginning with are optional. They are the NWS hourly observations used to compare the results from AERMINUTE with the one hour data. They are not required but are used in the hands-on.

9. Control File – Quick Review
STARTEND – the start, end month and year to process
IFWGROUP – ice-free wind group
DATAFILE STARTING - list of data files to process is next
DATAFILE FINISHED - list of data files is completed
SURFDATA STARTING (Optional) - list of standard NWS data files
SURFDATA FINISHED - list of standard files is completed
OUTFILES STARTING – list of output files follows
OUTFILES FINISHED - list of output files is completed
Here is a brief refresher on the AERMINUTE control file. Refer back to the previous session on AERMINUTE for details of these keywords.
Remember that AERMINUTE only processes entire months, so there is no day field with the STARTEND keyword.
The SURFDATA files are optional. They are the NWS hourly observations used to compare the results from AERMINUTE with the one hour data. They are not required but are used in the hands-on.

10. AERMINUTE Control File
aerminute.inp
STARTEND
IFWGROUP y
DATAFILE STARTING
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
...
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
64050KABE dat
DATAFILE FINISHED
Since so many files are to be processed and the input control file is fairly straightforward, we will use the control file that comes with the hands-on rather than develop one from a template.
Recall we will be using onsite meteorological data from the Martins Creek evaluation dataset for the period May 1, 2011 through April 30, However, to accommodate hands-on activities in future sessions, we will process five full years of monthly 1-minute ASOS wind data files, 2008 through 2012, downloaded from the NCDC.
This slide shows the top portion of the control file used in this hands-on activity.
STARTEND
Start: January 2008
End: December 2012
IFWGROUP
Part of the ice-free group: “Y” or “y” for Yes, “N” or “n” for No
ASOS commissioning date: month, day, 4-digit year
DATAFILE STARTING, FINISHED
Place the list of 1-minute ASOS files, in chronological order, between these two keywords. Use quotation marks if there are spaces in the path or filename (there are no spaces in the filenames above, so the quotation marks are not necessary).
In the partial control file shown on the slide, due to limited space, we have listed only the first and last files. Refer to the control file (aerminute.inp) in “APTI423\Hands-on\AERMINTUE\” to see the full list of monthly 1-minute ASOS wind data files.

11. AERMINUTE Control File, cont’d
aerminute.inp
SURFDATA STARTING
DAT
DAT
DAT
DAT
DAT
SURFDATA FINISHED
OUTFILES STARTING
HOURFILE KABE_ _1-Min_hour.out
SUMMFILE KABE_ _1-Min_summ.out
COMPFILE KABE_ _1-Min_comp.out
OUTFILES FINISHED
This slide presents the remainder of the control file.
SURFDATA STARTING, FINISHED
Place the list of NWS hourly observation files, in chronological order, between these two keywords. Use quotation marks if there are spaces in the path or filename (there are no spaces in the filenames above, so the quotation marks are not necessary).
OUTFILES STARTING, FINISHED
Place the list output files between these two keywords. Use quotation marks if there are spaces in the path or filename (there are no spaces in the filenames above, so the quotation marks are not necessary).
The HOURFILE has the hourly averaged 1-minute data that will be used by AERMET.
The SUMMFILE is a comma delimited summary file that details the number of minutes used for each hour as well as minimum, maximum, and average wind speed and direction. This keyword is optional.
COMPFILE is a comma delimited file that lists the winds from the 1-minute data and standard observations for all observation times listed in the standard observations file. This keyword must be present if the SURFDATA keywords are used. Cannot be present if there are not SURFADATA files.

12. Running AERMINUTE
A text editor, such as Notepad or your favorite text editor, can be used to generate an input control file
Run AERMINUTE by opening a command prompt, setting the working directory to the directory where the executable is located
To start AERMINUTE, type: aerminute_11325
Enter the path and filename of the control file, when prompted
Note: you can also run AERMINUTE by double clicking on the executable in Windows Explorer
Progress of the data processing is displayed on screen; less than a minute is required to process two years of data
You can execute AERMINUTE by double-clicking on the executable in a Windows Explorer window which will launch a command prompt and initiate AERMINUTE or by opening a command prompt, navigating to the hands-on folder, and typing the path, if needed, and filename of the executable.
When launched, AERMINUTE prompts you to enter the control file name. For this reason, AERMINUTE does not require that the control file be named “aerminute.inp”.

13. Running AERMINUTE
This slide shows AERMINUTE executed from a command prompt by typing “aerminute_11325” and the subsequent prompt to enter path and filename of the AERMINUTE control file. In our activity, the control file is located in the same directory as the AERMINTUE program executable, and is named “aerminute.inp.”
Let’s run AERMINUTE.

14. Output - HOURFILE KABE_2008-2012_1-Min_hour.out
AERMINUTE Version WBAN: Call sign: KABE IFW: Y IFW date: 09/08/2006
...
Now we will take a look at some of the output. The HOURFILE contains the hourly averaged winds output from AERMINUTE and formatted for input into AERMET in Stage 2.
This slide shows a portion of the 1-hour averaged wind data output file (KABE_ _1-Min_hour.out) generated by AERMINUTE. The file contains a single header record followed by the hourly wind data.
Header Record
AERMINUTE version number, station identifiers, and ice-free wind information
Data Records
Each data record consists of:
Date/Time Group: 2-digit year, month, day hour
Hour Average of the 1-minute ASOS Data: Wind speed, wind direction
If you notice there are some very low wind speeds. You will be able to bypass those hours with the AERMET keyword THRESH_1MIN on the METPREP pathway. With it, you can specify a wind speed threshold for winds derived from 1−minute ASOS wind data processed through AERMINUTE.

15. Output -SUMMFILE KABE_2008-2012_1-Min_summ.out
Date,hr,flag,IFW flag,total minutes,total calms,total even,even calms,total odd,total odd calm,odd used,odd calms used,min speed,avg speed,max speed,min dir,avg dir,max dir
,01,M , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,999.00,999.00,999.00,999,999,999
,02,M , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,999.00,999.00,999.00,999,999,999
,03,M , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,999.00,999.00,999.00,999,999,999
,04,M , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,999.00,999.00,999.00,999,999,999
,05,V , 1,44, 0,22, 0,22, 0, 0, 0, 2.04, 3.64, 4.59, 90,100,111
,06,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 2.55, 5.59, 7.14, 94,124,156
,07,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 0.51, 2.07, 3.57,135,180,306
,08,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 1.53, 3.67, 6.63,127,152,191
,09,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 1.53, 4.47, 6.63,141,186,255
,10,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 1.02, 3.13, 4.59,156,207,246
,11,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 3.06, 4.01, 5.10,191,215,234
,12,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 4.08, 5.76, 8.67,220,238,263
,13,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 5.61, 7.94, 9.69,239,252,266
,14,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 4.59, 6.66, 9.18,225,253,292
,15,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 5.10, 6.48, 8.16,254,268,283
,16,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 5.10, 6.94, 9.18,250,265,283
,17,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 3.57, 4.98, 7.14,255,264,277
,18,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 5.10, 7.00, 9.69,254,264,279
,19,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 5.10, 6.66, 8.67,249,257,269
,20,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 4.59, 6.15, 7.65,246,256,266
,21,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 5.10, 6.94, 9.18,247,256,265
,22,V , 1,59, 0,30, 0,29, 0, 0, 0, 6.12, 7.11, 8.16,246,253,263
The SUMMFILE is an optional output file that details the number of minutes used for each hour as well as minimum, maximum, and average wind speed and direction.
This file is structured so it can be imported into any program that recognizes a comma separated value (csv) file.
The first record that identifies the columns is one long record but wrapped in this slide.
The SUMMFILE lists each hour in the data period, including those not in the 1-minute files, with
Counts of minutes for the hour that can be used as a quality assurance check against the hourly averaged winds file
Minimum and maximum 2-minute wind speed and direction used in the hourly calculations
Hourly averaged wind speed and direction that are listed in the HOURFILE.
NOTE: The minimum wind speed and direction are unpaired in time, i.e. they may not represent the same period of time. The same is true for the maximum wind speed and direction.

16. Output - COMPFILE KABE_2000-2012_1-Min_comp.out
date(yyyymmdd),hour,minute,calm flag,1-min dir,1-min dir10,1-min speed,1-min speed_1,obs. dir,obs. speed,dirdiff,speeddiff,wind flag,qc flag
, 1,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 2,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 4,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 5,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 6,49,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 7, 4,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 7,58,0, , , , , , , , ,V,5
, 8,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 9,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,10,42,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,11,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,13,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,14,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,16,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,18,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,19, 0,0, , , , , , , , ,N,1
,21,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,23,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
,24,59,0, , , , , , , , ,9,9
, 1, 0,0, , , , , , , , ,N,1
, 3,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 5,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
, 7,51,0, , , , , , , , ,N,5
The COMPFILE is an optional comma delimited output file that compares the hourly averaged wind data computed from the 1-minute ASOS data to the standard hourly observations for all observation times listed in the standard observations file. This file is only applicable when the SURFDATA keyword is used in the control to identify standard NWS observation files against which to perform a comparison. AERMINUTE is only configured to read Integrated Surface Hourly Data (ISHD) in the DS-3505 full archival format.
The COMPFILE is structured so it can be imported into any program that recognizes a comma- separated value (csv) file.
The first record that identifies the columns is one long record but wrapped in this slide to see all the fields.
COMPFILE compares the standard observations against the 1-minute observations. The file allows the user to review specific observations to determine if the 1-minute data and the standard observations are in reasonable agreement. For minutes where either the standard observation is missing or the 1-minute data is missing, speeds and directions are listed as 999 and differences as -999.

17. Additional Output
aerminute.log: summary of user inputs, data files processed, and summary statistics
good_records.dat: valid records according to strict quality control checks in AERMINUTE and the winds from these files are considered valid
bad_records.dat: records from the 1-minute files that did not meet the strict quality controls in AERMINUTE, and are unlikely to contain usable data
check_records.dat: records that did not meet the strict quality controls in AERMINUTE and are not used in calculating hourly averages, but could possibly be edited to provide useful data
This slide describes some of the additional output files generated by AERMINUTE. The student should look at these on his/her own to see the format and contents.
The log file has some interesting information in it. Portions of it are reproduced here.

18. Additional Output – .LOG File
AERMINUTE VERSION Program start date & time: January 06, :43:36 PM ################################ INPUTS ############################### Control input file: aerminute.inp Summary of dates Start date: End Date: Station is part of IFW group for data period With start date of ####################################################################### ######################## 1-MINUTE DATA FILES CHECK #################### Checking for duplicate filenames No duplicate filenames found All files found... Number of files to process: 60
The actual number of records in the log file is The first 24 are shown here and show some basic information.

19. Additional Output - .LOG File
All files read... RECORD FORMAT QA Total number of records read from files: Number of processed records: Number of records outside data period: 0 Number of records inside data period: Number of non-processed records: Number of records for minute 1: Number of bad records: 1192 Number of check records: 1 Number of bad minute records: 0 NOTE: Number of non-processed records includes records outside data period . STANDARD CALMS Number of standard observation calms: 6834 Number of missing 1-minute winds: 439 Number of 1-minute winds < 3 knots: 6209 Number of 1-minute winds >= 3 knots: 186
This slide is from near the middle of the log file. Here we have information on the number of records processed. As we can see, over 2.4 million records were processed. Of those, only about ¼ percent are a calm wind. This is far better than the 10-20% that might be observed in the hourly data files.
The student should review the remainder of the log file and consult the AERMINUTE user’s guide for information on the content of the file.