A selection file contains parameters to define which data you want to download from ESGF archive, how to download it and how to store the data.
The user defines one or many selection files. Each of them have a list of facets (variables, frequencies, experiments, ensemble, model..). Using them, the program explore the ESGF archive and download all the corresponding available files. The program may be run regularly to download the possible new files. Typically each file is associated with an analysis (cfmip, downscaling and so on). Create as many selection files as you want in the 'selection' folder.
Those selection files are stored in $HOME/sdt/selection folder (source installation) or /etc/synda/sdt/selection (system package installation).
Example of a selection file
project=CMIP5
model=CNRM-CM5 CSIRO-Mk3-6-0
experiment=historical amip
ensemble=r1i1p1
variable[atmos]=tasmin tas psl
variable[cfDay]=albisccp cltisccp pctisccp rlut rlutcs rsut rsutcs
variable[ocean fx]=areacello sftof
variable[land mon]=mrsos,nppRoot,nep
variable[seaIce mon]=sic evap
variable[ocnBgchem mon]=dissic fbddtalk
variable[Lmon]=mrro mrso
Notes:
- many selection file examples can be found here
- selection files are sometimes called 'template' or 'selection form'
Next parts of this document are organized in 3 main sections
- Selection file format
- Selection file parameter
- Selection file management
A selection file accepts the four following line formats
Definition
variable[<realm>][<frequency>]=<variable1> <variable2> ...
Example
variable[atmos][mon]=tas psl tasmin
Note
- space is used as variable delimiter
Definition
variable[<facet1> <facet2> <facet3> ...]=<variable1> <variable2> ...
Example
variable[rcp26 atmos mon]=tasmin tasmax
Note
- space is used as facets and variables delimiter
Definition
<name>=<value>
Example
experiment=rcp26
Definition
<value>
Example
rcp26
- Blank line are ignored.
- Selection files may include comments, prefixed by specific characters (#).
- Trailing comments are not supported.
See selection file parameter reference
Create a new selection file in the 'selection' folder and set the filters.
Then run command below to start the discovery
synda install -s <selection-file>
Edit the file and change filters accordingly.
Then run command below
synda install -s <selection-file>
Run command below to remove files matching the selection file
synda remove -s <selection-file>
Then manually remove the selection file from the 'selection' folder.