Status May 10

We are still rebuilding the system with the latest patches and output diagnostic code. Part of this is also building on the Discover systems. It is taking time. The next round of systems tests should be the last before validation experiments. The 80's SSMI Impact tests will be run with the latest build, as well. For a timeline, Th May 3, decisions on the configuration of the system were made. The system build was completed Tue May 8. Computer systems were down May 9 for scheduled maintenance. They system is built and the jobs may start by the end of the week (May 11).

We met again today (May 9) with the GES DISC personnel working on the MERRA data distribution system. It is called MDISC, where M is for modeling (not MERRA specific). There will be several portals to the data for access and visualization. FTP will likely be the most general route people take, but there is also a subsetting routine with the FTP with a graphical interface that looks very good so far. I'll do some testing on that in the next couple days.

The working schedule for getting MERRA production going is not earlier than July 1. There are a lot of small items on the checklist for production, as well as a couple major gateways. The major gateways are: first we need a systems test that holds up in some short (one month) experiments, second take that system to run validation experiments, then analyze the results of validation and present those to both HQ and our User review group. The results of the review should indicate that we can go forward with productions. All told, it feels pretty ambitious at this point. Regardless, we are checking off the items needed to begin production.