Last updated: May 2015
The grib_api has been implemented into INT2LM and the COSMO-Model following the DWD strategy by using the concept of short names. A short name is a computed key (shortName), which consists of several other coded or computed keys, and is used to define meteorological products. For example, the pressure p has the shortName P and consists of the coded keys discipline = 0, parameterCategory = 3 and parameterNumber = 0.
By setting the computed key shortName, all corresponding coded keys are set implicitely by grib_api. In order to do so, several definition files are necessary, which have to be defined by each center as a local concept. DWD provides some means to enable other centers to use the same local concepts.
The usage of grib_api, the local concepts and the corresponding definition files is coordinated between DWD and the COSMO consortium by the Common COSMO GRIB2 Policy.