GDEX apps clients

This repository contains the Geoscience Data Exchange (GDEX) API client for python.

At this stage, the (GDEX) REST API clients are available for Python (2.x and 3.x), see src/python for more details.

GDEX External Application API Description

Table of Contents

• General Information
• Install
• Curl Syntax
• Wget Syntax
• HTTPS GET Commands and Responses
  • Dataset Summary
  • Dataset Parameter Summary
  • Dataset Metadata
  • Request Status
  • Request Filelist
  • Control File Template
• HTTPS POST Commands and Responses
  • Submit Subset/Format Conversion Request
• HTTPS DELETE Commands and Responses
  • Purge Request

---

General Info

• We have written a python client to abstract the request and authentication details.
  • The client can be used as a command-line tool or as an imported python module to work with python objects directly.
  • In most cases, the client will print the JSON response after a command is entered.
  • A Jupyter Notebook was created to show the basic functionality of gdex_client.py.
    • The Jupyter Notebook can be found here
  • gdex_client.py can be found here
• All HTTPS requests to to the GDEX API must include a bearer token to access the API.
  • Token information can be found on you user profile
• Responses are JSON formatted.
  • Typically, error responses will give an explaination of what went wrong in the value of the messages key.
  • If status is ok, then all relevant data will be in the value of the result key.
• Feel free to contact the GDEX with questions: datahelp or Riley Conroy

---

Install

While the python client can simply be downloaded from github and used provided you have requests installed, we also have a package that can be installed using pip:

pip install gdex-api-client

This gives you command line access to the command gdex_client that is a essentially an alias to gdex_client.py. Additionally, you can programatically use the module via

from gdex_api_client import gdex_client

---

Authentication

POST, DELETE, and some user-specific 'GET' HTTP requests require that you include a bearer token in your URL. To do this you would need to first find your token in you user profile.

Next, you would append this token to the end of any url using `?token=[bearer token]. For example,

https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/status/?token=dkjf93f93jf8n9vdfh

This step is abstracted if using the python client, gdex_client.py

---

Curl

The list below is how to perform HTTPS GET, POST, and DELETE commands using curl respectively.

curl -X GET [URL]

curl -X POST -d @json_control_file -H 'Content-Type:application/json'[URL]

curl -X DELETE [URL]

URL in these examples could be for example https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/summary/ds083.2 or https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/status or https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/get_req_files/123456

---

WGET

The list below is how to perform HTTPS GET, POST, and DELETE commands using wget respectively.

wget [URL]

wget --header='Content-Type:application/json' --post-file [JsonControlFile] [URL]

wget --method=delete [URL]

URL in these case could be for example https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/summary/ds083.2 or https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/request or https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/request/123456

---

HTTPS GET

Summary

Description

Returns a summary of datasets and dataset groups that have subsetting available.

URL

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/summary/[dsnnn.n]

Example Response

{
   "request_duration": "0.049611 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": {
      "subsetting_available": true,
      "data": [
         {
            "request_type": "T",
            "group_index": 0
         },
         {
            "request_type": "T",
            "group_index": 1,
            "title": "GRIB1 6 HOURLY FILES 1999.07.30 to 2007.12.06"
         },
         {
            "request_type": "T",
            "group_index": 2,
            "title": "GRIB2 6 HOURLY FILES 2007.12.06 to current"
         }
      ]
   },
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T10:23:45.197258",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T10:23:45.147647"
}

---

Param Summary

Description

Returns a summary of only the Parameters in a dataset for subsetting.

URL

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/paramsummary/[dsnnn.n]

Example Response

{
   "request_duration": "0.173482 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": {
      "dsid": "083.2",
      "subsetting_available": true,
      "data": [
         {
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB2",
            "param": "VIS",
            "GCMD_uuid": "9337898d-68dc-43d7-93a9-6afdb4ab1784",
            "units": "m",
            "param_description": "Visibility"
         },
         {
            "param_description": "Categorical snow (yes=1; no=0)",
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB2",
            "param": "CSNOW"
         },
         {
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB2",
            "param": "PEVPR",
            "standard_name": "potential_water_evaporation_flux",
            "GCMD_uuid": "b68ab978-6db6-49ee-84e2-5f37b461a998",
            "units": "W m^-2",
            "param_description": "Potential evaporation rate"
         },
         {
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB2",
            "param": "T CDC",
            "GCMD_uuid": "acb52274-6c0d-4241-a979-3fa3efca6702",
            "units": "%",
            "param_description": "Total cloud cover"
         },

         ...

         {
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB1",
            "param": "ABSV",
            "standard_name": "atmosphere_absolute_vorticity",
            "ISO_TopicCategoryCode": "climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere",
            "units": "s^-1",
            "GCMD_uuid": "858a80ff-5aa4-4590-b2e2-e88a802a6ee4",
            "param_description": "Absolute vorticity"
         },
         {
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB1",
            "param": "VVEL",
            "standard_name": "lagrangian_tendency_of_air_pressure",
            "ISO_TopicCategoryCode": "climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere",
            "units": "Pa s^-1",
            "GCMD_uuid": "841a7ac7-5981-4e93-895f-1b57c3d892a0",
            "param_description": "Vertical velocity (pressure)"
         }
      ]
   },
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T10:52:38.637789",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T10:52:38.464307"
}

---

Metadata

Description

Returns full metadata of a dataset available for subsetting.

URL

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/metadata/[dsnnn.n]

Example Response

{
   "request_duration": "0.173482 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": {
      "dsid": "083.2",
      "subsetting_available": true,
      "data": [
         {
            "product": "Analysis",
            "param_description": "Convective inhibition",
            "end_date": 200712060600,
            "level": null,
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB1",
            "gridproj": "latLon",
            "griddef": "360:181:90N:0E:90S:359E:1:1",
            "param": "CIN",
            "levels": [
               {
                  "level_description": "Ground or water surface",
                  "level": "SFC",
                  "level_value": "0"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "0,180",
                  "level_description": "Layer between two levels at specified pressure differences from ground to level",
                  "level": "SPDY",
                  "units": "mbar"
               }
            ],
            "GCMD_uuid": "ebce0874-7635-4094-8ef4-968851873771",
            "units": "J kg^-1",
            "ISO_TopicCategoryCode": "climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere",
            "start_date": 199907301800
         },

        ...

         {
            "product": "Analysis",
            "param_description": "Vertical velocity (pressure)",
            "end_date": 200712060600,
            "level": null,
            "native_format": "WMO_GRIB1",
            "gridproj": "latLon",
            "griddef": "360:181:90N:0E:90S:359E:1:1",
            "param": "VVEL",
            "standard_name": "lagrangian_tendency_of_air_pressure",
            "levels": [
               {
                  "level_value": "1000",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "975",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "950",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "925",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "900",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "850",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "800",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "750",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "700",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "650",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "600",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "550",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "500",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "450",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "400",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "350",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "300",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "250",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "200",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "150",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_value": "100",
                  "level_description": "Isobaric surface",
                  "level": "ISBL",
                  "units": "mbar"
               },
               {
                  "level_description": "Sigma level",
                  "level": "SIGL",
                  "level_value": "0.995"
               }
            ],
            "GCMD_uuid": "841a7ac7-5981-4e93-895f-1b57c3d892a0",
            "units": "Pa s^-1",
            "ISO_TopicCategoryCode": "climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere",
            "start_date": 199907301800
         }
      ]
   },
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:32:33.317202",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:32:32.453649"

---

Status

Description

Returns that status of a given request index. A request index is a six digit integer.

An authentication token is needed for this for this request. See Authentication Section for more details.

Or

Returns the status of all requests for user.

URL

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/status/[RequestIndex]

Or,

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/status/

Example Response

If [RequestIndex] is given

   {
   "request_duration": "0.046309 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": 
   {
         "status": "Completed",
         "date_ready": "2020-03-01",
         "request_index": 410935,
         "NCAR_contact": "rpconroy@ucar.edu",
         "rqstid": "LASTNAME410935",
         "request_id": "LASTNAME410935",
         "date_purge": "2020-03-06",
         "date_rqst": "2020-03-01",
         "subset_info": {
            "note": "- Start date: 2018-01-15 00:00\n- End date: 2020-03-16 12:00\n- Parameter(s):\n    Pressure\n- Vertical level(s):\n    Specified height above ground: 80 m\n- Product(s):\n    Analysis\n- Spatial subsetting (single gridpoint):\n    Latitude: -29.5\n    Longitude: 17\n"
         }
      }
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:35:43.433348",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:35:43.387039"
   }

Or if [RequestIndex] is not specified, get all requests

   {
   "request_duration": "0.046309 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": [
   {
         "status": "Completed",
         "date_ready": "2020-03-01",
         "request_index": 410935,
         "NCAR_contact": "rpconroy@ucar.edu",
         "rqstid": "LASTNAME410935",
         "request_id": "LASTNAME410935",
         "date_purge": "2020-03-06",
         "date_rqst": "2020-03-01",
         "subset_info": {
            "note": "- Start date: 2018-01-15 00:00\n- End date: 2020-03-16 12:00\n- Parameter(s):\n    Pressure\n- Vertical level(s):\n    Specified height above ground: 80 m\n- Product(s):\n    Analysis\n- Spatial subsetting (single gridpoint):\n    Latitude: -29.5\n    Longitude: 17\n"
         }
      },
      {
         "status": "Completed",
         "date_ready": "2020-03-01",
         "request_index": 410936,
         "NCAR_contact": "rpconroy@ucar.edu",
         "rqstid": "LASTNAME410936",
         "request_id": "LASTNAME410936",
         "date_purge": "2020-03-06",
         "date_rqst": "2020-03-01",
         "subset_info": {
            "note": "- Output format: csv\n- Start date: 2019-09-15 00:00\n- End date: 2020-03-16 12:00\n- Parameter(s):\n    u-component of wind\n- Vertical level(s):\n    Specified height above ground: 100 m\n- Product(s):\n    Analysis\n- Spatial subsetting (single gridpoint):\n    Latitude: -43.75\n    Longitude: -64.5\n"
         }
      }
   ],
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:35:43.433348",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:35:43.387039"
   }

---

Filelist

Description

Returns the available files generated from a request.

An authentication token is needed for this for this request. See Authentication Section for more details.

URL

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/get_req_files/[RequestIndex]

Example Response

{
    "request_duration": "0.01604 seconds",
    "https_response": 200,
    "messages": [],
    "result": {
        "total_size": 156,
        "web_files": [
            {
                "web_path": "https://gdex.ucar.edu/dsrqst/LASTNAME411039/Filename.extension",
                "wfile": "Filename.extension",
                "size": 156
            }
        ]
    },
    "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:42:43.230800",
    "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:42:43.214760"
}

---

Template

Description

Returns an example control file for a give dataset.

URL

GET https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/control_file_template/[dsxxx.x]

Example Response

{
   "request_duration": "0.007501 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": {
      "template": "dataset=ds083.2\ndate=201103020000/to/201103151200\nparam=TMP/R H/ABS V\nlevel=ISBL:850/700/500\noformat=netCDF\nnlat=30\nslat=-25\nwlon=-150\nelon=-30\n#groupindex=2\ntargetdir=/glade/scratch\n"
   },
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:44:21.842582",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:44:21.835081"
}

---

HTTPS POST

Submit

Description

Submits a request, where the POST data is json formatted control file.

An authentication token is needed for this for this request. See Authentication Section for more details.

URL

POST https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/submit

Example Response

{
   "request_duration": "1.171259 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": {
      "request_id": "411298"
   },
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:45:16.513226",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:45:15.341967"
}

---

HTTPS DELETE

Purge

Description

Deletes a given RequestIndex. This may be necessary as Users may only have up to 8 requests open at a given time. By default an open request will be available for 7 days. Contact the specialist for the dataset to extend the amount of time it is available.

An authentication token is needed for this for this request. See Authentication Section for more details.

URL

DELETE https://gdex.ucar.edu/api/purge/[RequestIndex]

Example Response

{
   "request_duration": "0.243377 seconds",
   "https_response": 200,
   "messages": [],
   "result": {
      "purge_successful": "true"
   },
   "request_end": "2020-03-03T11:46:17.021646",
   "request_start": "2020-03-03T11:46:16.778269"
}