MADIS Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked MADIS API Questions
Question:
What does API stand for?Answer:
API stands for Application Program Interface. Please visit the MADIS API site to learn more about the MADIS API.Question:
We collected temperature data for a project that ran from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007. Unfortunately, our system was down for a few weeks during that period. So, we are looking for backup data. Looking through your website, it seems that you have archived data we could use. It also seems that our needs may be simpler than most of your users. All we need are temperature readings from a station close to our collection point. Investigating your archives, it appears that data from station C5560 would work. The date/time blocks we are interested in are:2006-12-15 2007-01-01 (inclusive)
2007-07-15 2007-08-31 (inclusive)
What method would you suggest we use to obtain the data?
Answer:
You could use the MADIS web interface, ftp/MADIS API, or the archive script package located on the MADIS API page. My guess is that for one site the web interface called by a script would be the easiest.Do you have an account? If not, please fill out a MADIS account request form.
Question:
I am trying to find some clarification as to what the wind speed units are in the Multi-Agency Provider netCDF files. I am downloading using the "Archive Script Package" from the MADIS API.The "units" attribute says "knots" for the variable "WindSpeed". However, after converting to m/s and checking against the RAOB output dump from the website with "m/s" selected as the units:
https://madis-data.ncep.noaa.gov/cap/profiler.jsp?options=full
the netCDF data does not match the RAOB dump. Can someone just confirm that the "units" attribute in the NetCDF files I am downloading are correct?
Answer:
The MAP API speed units are m/s. The MAP variable list web page list the units for each.The profiler.jsp interface allows you to customize your output units and scaling. See the "Wind Units" and "Wind Scaler" options. The units are listed on the output plots.
Question:
I am trying to compile the Madis API on a 64 bit windows computer in Cygwin. Cygwin has gfortran and the netcdf files are included when I extract the madis3.9.zip file. However, I am still getting an error. Is this the correct account to email about this inquiry?Answer:
The netcdf lib is a 32 byte lib. Does your gfortran have a 32 byte flag? There is a compiler that comes with the MADIS windows software that can use the 32 byte lib. Please utilize the following links for MADIS API questions and windows compile questions.Last updated 16 March 2017