1. Description

Program tracks2bufr is based on Cyclops software. It can be used exclusively on ATOS to produce Tropical Cyclone tracks forecasts BUFR files. The program performs the following steps:

1. Takes start date and end date as an input from a user;
2. Copies tar archives from ECFS for the requested period of time;
3. Extracts basins text files, converts tracker text to per-member FM files;
4. Assembles FeatureList FM files for every detected storm;
5. Converts FeatureList FM files to BUFR files;
6. Merges all individual storm BUFR files to a single BUFR.

2. Installations

2.0 Cyclops installation [Optional]

The program uses a Python virtual environment installed on my account. All ECMWF group members have permission to execute this environment. If you wish to use your own environment, please follow these steps.

Note: If you wish to use conda, tykky, or similar tools instead of Python venv, please feel free to do so. However, I cannot guarantee everything will work smoothly in this case, as using e.g. conda resets all the modules.

To install Cyclops, you should be a part of the ECMWF organisation on GitHub:

1. Go to the directory where you store git repos, e.g.:

cd $PERM/git/.

2. Clone the repo:

git clone git@github.com:ecmwf/cyclops.git

3. We need Python ≥3.11, so first install a newer Python:

module avail python
module load python3/new #as of Jun 2026 it installs python3.13

5. Create a virtual environment:

python3 -m venv cyclops_env
source ./cyclops_env/bin/activate

6. Go to the cloned git repo and install it as a module:

cd $PERM/git/cyclops
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -e .

7. Check if it works:

cyclops-tracks-to-fm --help

2.1 tracks2bufr installation

Complete the following steps:

1. Go to your $HOME on Atos:

cd $HOME

2. Clone this repo:

git clone git@github.com:alinalernervilu/tracks2bufr.git

4. Check if the wrapper works:

./tracks2bufr --help

The output should be:

Usage: sbatch tracks2bufr STREAM STARTDATE ENDDATE
  STREAM must be either ifs or aifs
  STARTDATE and ENDDATE in format YYYYMMDDHH
  Example: sbatch tracks2bufr 2025041500 2025042918

3. Running the program

1. Open the wrapper tracks2bufr:

vi tracks2bufr

and edit the following paths if needed:

###====== CHANGE THESE DIRECTORIES IF NEEDED ======###

PYENV=/perm/ecm4841/my_envs/cyclops_env/bin/activate

# CDIR is the directory where tracks2bufr is launched from.
CDIR="$PWD"
SDIR="${CDIR}/scripts"

# DDIR/ODIR are derived automatically from stream selection:
# ifs  -> ${SCRATCH}/cyclops/data/ifs and ${SCRATCH}/cyclops/output/ifs
# aifs -> ${SCRATCH}/cyclops/data/aifs and ${SCRATCH}/cyclops/output/aifs

###================================================###

2. Run the program for the dates you chose. I recommend using sbatch, especially if you want to run it for a longer period. Also, check and edit #SBATCH headers before running to make sure everything is set up as you prefer.

Example:

sbatch tracks2bufr ifs 2025041500 2025042918

Generating 1 month's worth of BUFR files will take approximately 5 hours.

4. Output

You will find the output under $SCRATCH/cyclops/output/ifs/bufr or $SCRATCH/cyclops/output/aifs/bufr depending on selected stream. Or in another directory that you specified in the script as $ODIR.