Proposed changes to v3 Radial files

In preparation for the re-processing of the entire MST radar observation archive, a few small changes have been made to upgrade the current version 3.2 signal processing scheme to a version 3.3 scheme:

• A correction has been made to the (time-continuity) reliability flagging scheme, which used to cause problems when the radar cycle format was changed (i.e. infrequently).
  
  
• The assumed value for the speed of light, which is used to calculate the range and altitude of radar range gates, has been changed from 3.0e8 to 299,792,458.0 m/s. This will be relatively insignificant for the ST-mode observations, leading to a maximum difference in the calculated ranges and altitudes of 15 m. However, it leads to differences of up to 65 m, i.e. almost half a range gate, in the M-mode.
  
  
• A change will be made to the bit-encoding of the reliability details variables in order to remove a redundant piece of information. However, there will still be an additional binary flag which simply indicates whether or not a parameter value is judged to be reliable.
  
  
• The Variable and Global Variable names in the netCDF files will be changed slightly in order to reduce ambiguities and to better reflect the relationships between parameters. This logic is most apparent when the new names are viewed as a group. Tables are also provided which interlace the current and new names. The new names may be changed slightly compared to those proposed here. Final details will be included in a separate page once the reprocessing begins.

Tables are available for the following:

• Version 3.2 Variable names
• Version 3.3 Variable names
• Interlaced version 3.2 and version 3.3 Variable names
  
  
• Version 3.2 Global Variable names
• Version 3.3 Global Variable names
• Interlaced version 3.2 and version 3.3 Global Variable names

Current (version 3.2) Variable names
1. time
2. range
3. latitude
4. longitude
5. signal_component_number
   
   
6. beam_pointing_direction_number
7. beam_pointing_azimuth_angle
8. beam_pointing_zenith_angle
9. length_of_transmitter_pulse
10. sub_length_of_transmitter_pulse
11. inter_pulse_period
12. number_of_coherent_integrations
13. number_of_complex_samples_in_discrete_fourier_transform
14. data_weighting_window_index
15. number_of_incoherent_integrations
16. spectral_velocity_bin_spacing
17. dwell_number
18. time_index_of_first_dwell_in_cycle
19. alternative_profile_details
    
    
20. noise_power
    
    
21. signal_component_is_reliable
22. signal_component_reliability_details
23. signal_power
24. radial_velocity
25. spectral_width
26. first_velocity_bin_number
27. final_velocity_bin_number
28. peak_smooth_psd_to_noise

Proposed new (version 3.3) Variable names
1. time
2. range
3. latitude
4. longitude
5. signal_component_index
   
   
6. dwell_beam_pointing_direction_number
7. dwell_beam_pointing_direction_azimuth_angle
8. dwell_beam_pointing_direction_zenith_angle
9. dwell_length_of_transmitter_pulse
10. dwell_sub_length_of_transmitter_pulse
11. dwell_inter_pulse_period
12. dwell_number_of_coherent_integrations
13. dwell_number_of_complex_samples_in_discrete_fourier_transform
14. dwell_data_weighting_window_index
15. dwell_number_of_incoherent_integrations
16. dwell_velocity_bin_spacing
17. dwell_index_within_cycle
18. dwell_time_of_first_dwell_within_cycle
19. dwell_alternative_profile_details
    
    
20. spectrum_noise_power
    
    
21. signal_component_reliability_flag
22. signal_component_reliability_details
23. signal_component_power
24. signal_component_radial_velocity
25. signal_component_spectral_width
26. signal_component_first_velocity_bin_number
27. signal_component_final_velocity_bin_number
28. signal_component_peak_smoothed_psd_to_spectrum_noise_psd

Interlaced current (version 3.2) and proposed new (version 3.3) Variable names
1. time
   time
2. range
   range
3. latitude
   latitude
4. longitude
   longitude
5. signal_component_number
   signal_component_index
   
   
6. beam_pointing_direction_number
   dwell_beam_pointing_direction_number
7. beam_pointing_azimuth_angle
   dwell_beam_pointing_direction_azimuth_angle
8. beam_pointing_zenith_angle
   dwell_beam_pointing_direction_zenith_angle
9. length_of_transmitter_pulse
   dwell_length_of_transmitter_pulse
10. sub_length_of_transmitter_pulse
    dwell_sub_length_of_transmitter_pulse
11. inter_pulse_period
    dwell_inter_pulse_period
12. number_of_coherent_integrations
    dwell_number_of_coherent_integrations
13. number_of_complex_samples_in_discrete_fourier_transform
    dwell_number_of_complex_samples_in_discrete_fourier_transform
14. data_weighting_window_index
    dwell_data_weighting_window_index
15. number_of_incoherent_integrations
    dwell_number_of_incoherent_integrations
16. spectral_velocity_bin_spacing
    dwell_velocity_bin_spacing
17. dwell_number
    dwell_index_within_cycle
18. time_index_of_first_dwell_in_cycle
    dwell_time_of_first_dwell_within_cycle
19. alternative_profile_details
    dwell_alternative_profile_details
    
    
20. noise_power
    spectrum_noise_power
    
    
21. signal_component_is_reliable
    signal_component_reliability_flag
22. signal_component_reliability_details
    signal_component_reliability_details
23. signal_power
    signal_component_power
24. radial_velocity
    signal_component_radial_velocity
25. spectral_width
    signal_component_spectral_width
26. first_velocity_bin_number
    signal_component_first_velocity_bin_number
27. final_velocity_bin_number
    signal_component_final_velocity_bin_number
28. peak_smooth_psd_to_noise
    signal_component_peak_smoothed_psd_to_spectrum_noise_psd

Current (version 3.2)Global Variable names
1. Conventions
2. title
3. institution
4. source
5. history
6. references
7. comment
   
   
8. data_year
9. data_month
10. data_day
11. data_altitude_mode
12. data_range_resolution_m
13. data_range_resolution_number
14. data_bottom_range_gate_number
15. data_top_range_gate_number
    
    
16. radar_location_name
17. radar_british_national_grid_reference
18. radar_latitude_degrees_north
19. radar_longitude_degrees_east
20. radar_altitude_above_mean_sea_level_m
    
    
21. radar_frequency_MHz
22. radar_wavelength_m
23. radar_transmitters
24. radar_peak_transmitted_power_kW
25. radar_antenna_type
26. radar_antenna_side_length_m
27. radar_beam_one_way_half_power_half_width_degrees
    
    
28. signal_processing_version_number
29. signal_processing_sub_version_number
    
    
30. sig_lims_nr_vel_bins_smoothing
31. sig_lims_min_norm_psd
32. sig_lims_max_norm_psd_at_local_min
33. sig_lims_min_peak_smooth_psd_to_noise_dB_to_flag
    
    
34. radial_cont_checks_have_been_applied
35. radial_cont_min_sig_width_ratio
36. radial_cont_max_sig_width_ratio
37. radial_cont_min_sig_overlap_ratio
38. radial_cont_link_std_dev_radial_vel_mps
39. radial_cont_link_std_dev_range_m
40. radial_cont_min_unambiguous_link_weight
41. radial_cont_min_ratio_of_max_link_weight_for_search
42. radial_cont_max_std_dev_sig_power_dB_for_intf
43. radial_cont_min_fraction_of_range_gates_for_alternative_path
44. radial_cont_apply_lower_path_correction
45. radial_cont_max_altitude_amsl_m_for_lower_path_correction
46. radial_cont_max_link_radial_vel_sep_mps
47. radial_cont_chain_fill_max_radial_vel_sep_mps
    
    
48. time_cont_uni_dirn_time_radius_mins
49. time_cont_bi_dirn_time_radius_mins
50. time_cont_max_vert_vel_comp_diff_mps
51. time_cont_max_horiz_vel_comp_diff_mps
52. time_cont_min_nr_buddies_fixed_coeff
53. time_cont_min_nr_buddies_scale_coeff
54. time_cont_min_nr_dwells_to_apply

Proposed new (version 3.3) Global Variable names
1. Conventions
2. title
3. institution
4. source
5. history
6. references
7. comment
   
   
8. data_year
9. data_month
10. data_day
11. data_altitude_mode
12. data_range_resolution_m
13. data_range_resolution_number
14. data_bottom_range_gate_number
15. data_top_range_gate_number
    
    
16. instrument_location_name
17. instrument_location_british_national_grid_reference
18. instrument_location_latitude_degrees_north
19. instrument_location_longitude_degrees_east
20. instrument_location_altitude_above_mean_sea_level_m
    
    
21. no corresponding Global Variable
22. no corresponding Global Variable
23. no corresponding Global Variable
24. no corresponding Global Variable
25. no corresponding Global Variable
26. no corresponding Global Variable
27. no corresponding Global Variable
    
    
28. signal_processing_version_number
29. signal_processing_sub_version_number
    
    
30. signal_component_limits_number_of_velocity_bins_smoothing
31. signal_component_limits_minimum_self_normalised_smoothed_psd
32. signal_component_limits_maximum_self_normalised_smoothed_psd_for_local_minumum
33. no corresponding Global Variable
    
    
34. radial_continuity_chain_checks_have_been_applied
35. radial_continuity_chain_minimum_signal_component_width_ratio
36. radial_continuity_chain_maximum_signal_component_width_ratio
37. radial_continuity_chain_minimum_signal_component_width_overlap_ratio
38. radial_continuity_chain_link_radial_velocity_standard_deviation_mps
39. radial_continuity_chain_link_range_standard_deviation_m
40. radial_continuity_chain_link_minimum_unambiguous_weight
41. radial_continuity_chain_link_minimum_weight_ratio_for_alternative_search
42. radial_continuity_interference_maximum_signal_power_standard_deviation_dB
43. radial_continuity_interference_minimum_pc_of_range_gates_for_alternative_profile
44. radial_continuity_alternative_profile_lower_correction_applied
45. radial_continuity_alternative_profile_lower_correction_maximum_altitude_m
46. radial_continuity_chain_link_maximum_radial_velocity_difference_mps
47. radial_continuity_inter_chain_maximum_radial_velocity_difference_mps
    
    
48. time_continuity_maximum_uni_directional_time_difference_minutes
49. time_continuity_maximum_bi_directional_time_difference_minutes
50. time_continuity_maximum_vertical_beam_radial_velocity_difference_mps
51. time_continuity_maximum_off_vertical_beam_horizontal_velocity_difference_mps
52. time_continuity_minimum_number_of_buddies_fixed_coefficient
53. time_continuity_minimum_number_of_buddies_scale_coefficient
54. time_continuity_minimum_number_of_dwells_in_order_to_apply

Interlaced current (version 3.2) and proposed new (version 3.3) Global variable names
1. Conventions
   Conventions
2. title
   title
3. institution
   institution
4. source
   source
5. history
   history
6. references
   references
7. comment
   comment
   
   
8. data_year
   data_year
9. data_month
   data_month
10. data_day
    data_day
11. data_altitude_mode
    data_altitude_mode
12. data_range_resolution_m
    data_range_resolution_m
13. data_range_resolution_number
    data_range_resolution_number
14. data_bottom_range_gate_number
    data_bottom_range_gate_number
15. data_top_range_gate_number
    data_top_range_gate_number
    
    
16. radar_location_name
    instrument_location_name
17. radar_british_national_grid_reference
    instrument_british_national_grid_reference
18. radar_latitude_degrees_north
    instrument_latitude_degrees_north
19. radar_longitude_degrees_east
    instrument_longitude_degrees_east
20. radar_altitude_above_mean_sea_level_m
    instrument_altitude_above_mean_sea_level_m
    
    
21. radar_frequency_MHz
    no corresponding Global variable
22. radar_wavelength_m
    no corresponding Global variable
23. radar_transmitters
    no corresponding Global variable
24. radar_peak_transmitted_power_kW
    no corresponding Global variable
25. radar_antenna_type
    no corresponding Global variable
26. radar_antenna_side_length_m
    no corresponding Global variable
27. radar_beam_one_way_half_power_half_width_degrees
    no corresponding Global variable
    
    
28. signal_processing_version_number
    signal_processing_version_number
29. signal_processing_sub_version_number
    signal_processing_sub_version_number
    
    
30. sig_lims_nr_vel_bins_smoothing
    signal_component_limits_number_of_velocity_bins_smoothing
31. sig_lims_min_norm_psd
    signal_component_limits_minimum_self_normalised_smoothed_psd
32. sig_lims_max_norm_psd_at_local_min
    signal_component_limits_maximum_self_normalised_smoothed_psd_for_local_minumum
33. sig_lims_min_peak_smooth_psd_to_noise_dB_to_flag
    no corresponding Global Variable
    
    
34. radial_cont_checks_have_been_applied
    radial_continuity_chain_checks_have_been_applied
35. radial_cont_min_sig_width_ratio
    radial_continuity_chain_minimum_signal_component_width_ratio
36. radial_cont_max_sig_width_ratio
    radial_continuity_chain_maximum_signal_component_width_ratio
37. radial_cont_min_sig_overlap_ratio
    radial_continuity_chain_minimum_signal_component_width_overlap_ratio
38. radial_cont_link_std_dev_radial_vel_mps
    radial_continuity_chain_link_radial_velocity_standard_deviation_mps
39. radial_cont_link_std_dev_range_m
    radial_continuity_chain_link_range_standard_deviation_m
40. radial_cont_min_unambiguous_link_weight
    radial_continuity_chain_link_minimum_unambiguous_weight
41. radial_cont_min_ratio_of_max_link_weight_for_search
    radial_continuity_chain_link_minimum_weight_ratio_for_alternative_search
42. radial_cont_max_std_dev_sig_power_dB_for_intf
    radial_continuity_interference_maximum_signal_power_standard_deviation_dB
43. radial_cont_min_fraction_of_range_gates_for_alternative_path
    radial_continuity_interference_minimum_pc_of_range_gates_for_alternative_profile
44. radial_cont_apply_lower_path_correction
    radial_continuity_alternative_profile_lower_correction_applied
45. radial_cont_max_altitude_amsl_m_for_lower_path_correction
    radial_continuity_alternative_profile_lower_correction_maximum_altitude_m
46. radial_cont_max_link_radial_vel_sep_mps
    radial_continuity_chain_link_maximum_radial_velocity_difference_mps
47. radial_cont_chain_fill_max_radial_vel_sep_mps
    radial_continuity_inter_chain_maximum_radial_velocity_difference_mps
    
    
48. time_cont_uni_dirn_time_radius_mins
    time_continuity_maximum_uni_directional_time_difference_minutes
49. time_cont_bi_dirn_time_radius_mins
    time_continuity_maximum_bi_directional_time_difference_minutes
50. time_cont_max_vert_vel_comp_diff_mps
    time_continuity_maximum_vertical_beam_radial_velocity_difference_mps
51. time_cont_max_horiz_vel_comp_diff_mps
    time_continuity_maximum_off_vertical_beam_horizontal_velocity_difference_mps
52. time_cont_min_nr_buddies_fixed_coeff
    time_continuity_minimum_number_of_buddies_fixed_coefficient
53. time_cont_min_nr_buddies_scale_coeff
    time_continuity_minimum_number_of_buddies_scale_coefficient
54. time_cont_min_nr_dwells_to_apply
    time_continuity_minimum_number_of_dwells_in_order_to_apply

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File format for v3.2 radial data files

Proposed parameter names for v3.3 Cartesian data files