Overview

Type of inputs for SCHISM

Most SCHISM inputs can be visualized with ACE/xmgredit5 or xmgr5 tools; see src/Utility/ACE for instructions on how to install these tools. Other useful tools will be mentioned in the later chapters.

SCHISM input files can be broadly categorized into following 7 groups:

1. *.gr3, hgrid.ll: node centered spatial data and mesh connectivity. These file can be created/visualized using ACE/xmgredit5;
2. *.th: time history files in ASCII format. The ASCII files can be visualized using ACE/xmgr5;
3. *.ic: initial condition files. Some of these files use .gr3 format, while others have simple ASCII format;
4. *.prop: element-centered spatial data and properties; can be created/visualized using ACE/xmgredit5;
5. *.nc: netcdf4 inputs, including time history (*.th.nc), hotstart (hotstart.nc), and nudging inputs (*_nu.nc). These inputs may be created by PYSCHISM tool;
6. *.nml: main parameter input (param.nml);
7. *.in: role-specific input files with individual formats. ASCII inputs include vertical grid (vgrid.in), B.C. input (bctides.in), and hydraulics.in (for hydraulics module) etc;
8. sflux/: atmospheric and heat flux files in netcdf format (CF convention v1.0). These files can be visualized using standard tools like ncview, ferret etc;
9. Inputs from modules: .nml, .inp etc.

Mandatory inputs

These inputs are required for all SCHISM simulations:

1. Horizontal grid (hgrid.gr3)
2. Vertical grid (vgrid.in)
3. Parameter input (param.nml)
4. B.C. input (bctides.in)
5. Bottom friction input (drag.gr3, or rough.gr3 or manning.gr3, depending on parameter choice in param.nml)

We’ll explain these inputs in detail below. Comments/explanations are usually preceded by '!'.