Why does f_check denote errors which I cannot see?

  • Please test your station-to-archive files using f_check.c before you transfer the data.
  • It is recommended to produce and check your files in an Unix environment. This will guarantee that the end-of-line character of your files will automatically be correct (just LF).
  • If you use f_check.c in an Unix environment to check files produced in a Windows environment (or vice versa) a wrong end-of-line will be denoted. (Since normally, Windows uses not visible CR+LF at the end of each line).
  • If you prepare your files in a Windows environment, please change the wrong end-of-line character (e.g. using tools like dos2unix).

Why is the file transfer to ftp.bsrn.awi.de not possible?

  • Each station scientist has an individual account for writing files into the ftp-server. Accounts can be obtained from Amelie Driemel.
  • Your individual account leads you into the incoming part of your personal directory named after your station abbreviation where you have write permission.
  • For safety reasons you can use this account only if your computer is known in the domain name system (DNS). If not, please ask your local sys-admin.
  • Files which have been successfully imported into the WRDC are deleted in your incoming directory by WRMC staff.

Do I have to compress my files?

  • Yes. All files – in and out - in the ftp-server are compressed to save space and speed up the data transfer.
  • Since all files in the public-part of the ftp-server are compressed using gzip it is strongly recommended to gzip also the incoming files.
  • Files are named according to the format: stammyy.dat.gz (sta=station, mm=month, yy=year, eg. gvn0108.dat.gz)
  • For Unix you may use the free software: www.gnu.org/software/gzip/
  • For Windows you may use the free software: 7-zip.org.
  • For Windows you may use the free software: filezilla-project.org .
  • Compressed files need to be transferred in binary mode. Make sure that your ftp-tool is using the binary mode and not ASCII mode.

Why "Direct" + "Diffuse" differs "Global"?

The measurements called "Direct radiation" are obtained from normal incidence pyrheliometers which get pointed by solar trackers into the direct sun beam. The measurements called "Diffuse radiation" and "Short-wave downward (GLOBAL) radiation" are taken from pyranometers oriented horizontally with respect to the Earth´s surface. The three measurements are taken independently from each other. Thus, "Direct" + "Diffuse" differs "Global" slightly even if only the horizontal component from "Direct" was used. These differences can be used to quantify the quality of the data (see also Opens internal link in current windowhere).