AERMOD View – 5-Minute ASOS Data in AERMINUTE
December 2015
AERMINUTE is the pre-processor program which reads wind data from Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) stations in the United States and prepares hourly-averaged wind speed and direction values. Up to now, AERMINUTE only read 1-minute data records in a specific format (TD-6405).
The US EPA recently updated the AERMINUTE executable (dated 15272). This update now allows modelers to supplement the record with 5-minute ASOS wind data to fill in gaps in the 1-minute data records. Lakes Environmental has added this AERMINUTE update to the latest release of AERMET View (Version 9.1).
To incorporate 5-minute data into an existing AERMET View project, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open your AERMET View project by double-clicking the .amf file
Step 2: Select the ASOS 1-Minute tab from the Surface display. Select the AERMINUTE button to open the AERMINUTE Utility.
The US EPA recently updated the AERMINUTE executable (dated 15272). This update now allows modelers to supplement the record with 5-minute ASOS wind data to fill in gaps in the 1-minute data records. Lakes Environmental has added this AERMINUTE update to the latest release of AERMET View (Version 9.1).
To incorporate 5-minute data into an existing AERMET View project, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open your AERMET View project by double-clicking the .amf file
Step 2: Select the ASOS 1-Minute tab from the Surface display. Select the AERMINUTE button to open the AERMINUTE Utility.
Step 3: In the Utility, select the Specify 5-Minute ASOS Wind Data (TD-6401 / DSI-6401) tab. AERMINUTE is now capable of reading 5-minute ASOS wind data in TD-6401 format from the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI, formerly NCDC). AERMET View includes a link to NCDC’s data archive to retrieve the necessary files. Press the Download Files button to open the link to NCDC’s FTP site.
Step 4: Select Load 5-Minute ASOS Files to begin downloading the files needed for your project. Files are named by station callsign, 4-digit year, and 2-digit month. This example uses data from Reno, NV (KRNO) for the full year 2010 (201001 – 201012).
Step 5: AERMINUTE will prepare comparison files for the 1-minute & 5-minute data. These files are enabled by default in the AERMINUTE Utility. Once complete, you can click the Preview icon to view these files and see where the 5-minute data is incorporated.
Step 6: You’re ready to run! Click Process to run AERMINUTE. Once you’re done reviewing the output, click OK to exit the Utility. The file will now indicate that 5-minute data was used.
AERMINUTE produces an hourly data file which is automatically incorporated to your AERMET View project. You can also view a summary file of the hourly averages calculated in the program.
