Rainfall Data Component

hossein_nazari · October 24, 2021, 11:06am

Hi every one.
I got this error when I tried run component.
Could you help me plz?

estebanar1997 · October 26, 2021, 2:43pm

I think that is a problem with the connection between the page where the data is extracted and the component. But I don’t know how to repair it either. @devang Is it going to be repaired?

Alakelele · November 9, 2021, 2:08pm

Same here, the link between the data set online and GH is broken, I will investigate

Runtime error (WebException): The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.

Traceback:
line 91, in main, “”
line 156, in script
We will have to find another way

KHollywood · January 6, 2023, 3:33pm

Hi Chris,

I know this was a long time ago when a solution was found, I am fairly new to Rhino and am struggling with pulling the monthly rainwater data from the EPW as shown in your solution. Has there been an updated solution found yet, or even if you could point me in the right direction to how to resolve this?

I am receiving this message - 1. Solution exception:An exception occurred during a WebClient request.

Please let me know if the solution still works, as I potentially have done something wrong on my end?

cdlea · January 24, 2023, 10:45pm

Is there an updated tutorial somewhere for how to download this as a component into grasshopper for use? I am new to grasshopper and have no idea how to edit the python script or anything…

jgbrear · August 15, 2023, 9:06pm

I have just updated the Python component and attached a GH file with LB 1.6.0 components. Main change:

update line 53 with:

“url = ‘https://tds.gisclimatechange.ucar.edu/ar5/?requestType=plotData&latitude=‘+a+’&longitude=‘+b+’&variable=ppt&plotType=monthlyAverage&rcp=26&year=2016&download=true’”

Rainfall.gh (13.9 KB)

Thanks for the work @RafaelA

@cdlea @KHollywood @Alakelele @estebanar1997 @hossein_nazari

AbrahamYezioro · February 27, 2025, 7:06am

Hi,
For some unusual research purposes, rainfall precipitation becomes a key factor.
Wanted to ask if there are some more updated versions of the component [that allow to plot the monthly averages], plans of implementing a more reliable hourly data [as per this discussion].
Will appreciate your insights [@chris ?].

As for the script here above [thanks @jgbrear ] tried to create a header but no success on that.
Thanks,
-A.

tutu7931 · February 27, 2025, 5:18pm

Also waiting and wondering:) @chris
https://discourse.ladybug.tools/t/precipitation-data-component-with-nasa-power-api/24399?u=tutu7931

Although I’m using my local data now since it’s more assured in some aspects or to someone who picky about, it would certainly be great if the precipitation data (worldwide standpoint) and it’s workflow can be eventually integrated to LB.

josephyang · March 8, 2025, 6:51pm

Hi @AbrahamYezioro and @tutu7931 - for rainfall component, if this is still an issue, would be curious to get your feedback on EPW files that includes the rainfall components from my EPW downloader? The data is generated from ERA5, which is a similar type of reanalysis dataset as MERRA-2 that NASA Power API is based on. You do need to sign up but you can download up to 6 EPW files for free.

We do have a growing number of users downloading EPW files but I haven’t had any feedback on the rainfall component so curious to see how it compares to other options.

AbrahamYezioro · March 9, 2025, 6:53am

Hi @josephyang ,
Thanks for posting this.
I’m going to ask the “ignorant” question: How i get the precipitation information from the EPW. Downloaded one location from your site, but the LBT ImportEPW component doesn’t have this output. Also tried to check the data using Elements but also there i can’t see this data.

Best,
-A.

josephyang · March 9, 2025, 4:46pm

Hi @AbrahamYezioro - the rainfall component is the second last column of the EPW file (“N33” in the Reference).

I don’t know Ladybug tools very well, but it seems like there is a function that import this column?

github.com

ladybug-tools/ladybug/blob/0f353c051d140430375f9e6d680e1d276f352850/ladybug/epw.py#L1278


      
          @property
          def albedo(self):
              """Return annual Albedo values as a Ladybug Data Collection.
          
              The ratio (unitless) of reflected solar irradiance to global horizontal
              irradiance. It is not currently used in EnergyPlus.
              """
              return self._get_data_by_field(32)
          
          @property
          def liquid_precipitation_depth(self):
              """Return annual liquid precipitation depth as a Ladybug Data Collection.
          
              The amount of liquid precipitation (mm) observed at the indicated time for the
              period indicated in the liquid precipitation quantity field. If this value is
              not missing, then it is used and overrides the "precipitation" flag as rainfall.
              Conversely, if the precipitation flag shows rain and this field is missing or
              zero, it is set to 1.5 (mm).
              """
              return self._get_data_by_field(33)

AbrahamYezioro · March 9, 2025, 7:45pm

Excelent @josephyang ,
Good pointer. Works fine:

Attached a script that can plot precipitation, in case someone else will need it in the future.
Precipitation_from_EPW_01.gh (30.7 KB)

As for comparing the EPW from your website with the one that i have I can see differences that I just can’t tell what is more reliable. Like so:

Any thoughts?

Thanks a lot.
-A.

josephyang · March 9, 2025, 8:11pm

Looks like you got the EPW file from Climate One Building website? If so, there is high likelihood that the rain data came from the same source. Dru & Linda downloaded ERA5 data from Oikolab to build the TMYx files, although I don’t know to what extent they’ve used the precipitation parameters.

If this is the case, the difference should be expected for TMY files as the selection of representative months would be slightly different. Note that for Oikolab, we use the last 15 years of data, so it would include data up to Feb/2025, whereas Climate One Building has a number of ranges (i.e. 2004-2018, 2007-2021, etc.) used to build TMYx files.

Hope this answers your question.

Joseph

AbrahamYezioro · March 10, 2025, 4:00am

Makes sense. In effect the source is OneBuilding.
Thanks for the insights.
-A.

josephyang · March 27, 2025, 11:34pm

@AbrahamYezioro - FYI, in terms of quality of ERA5 data for precipitation component, here’s an interesting post from NOAA today using ERA5 as verification data to evaluate their forecast accuracy:

AbrahamYezioro · March 28, 2025, 3:27am

Thanks @josephyang ,
Very interesting. This should reflect on future scenarios EPW files. The question is if they [will] take this into account?
-A.

josephyang · March 31, 2025, 1:57pm

@AbrahamYezioro - do you mean EPWs for the future scenarios like 2050, 2080 etc. or for near future (i.e. next year)? EPW files derived from ERA5 should provide good base for generating future scenarios in general.

With regards to the post, I meant to just point out that using ERA5 dataset for historical rainfall should be considered acceptable in the absence of actual measurement data, given that NOAA has deemed its quality sufficient for their model validation.

AbrahamYezioro · March 31, 2025, 6:48pm

Hi @josephyang ,
I meant, as you wrote, future scenarios [2050, 2080].
Can you point me to the “best” way/source/service to create such scenarios?
I’ve found a few but it is unclear to me the reliability [as much as you can rely on such forecast data]?

Thanks for your support with this one. You are an asset here.
-A.

Byron · April 1, 2025, 10:37am

thanks for the link @josephyang, and kudos on non-toxic ~~twitter~~

niprotogeros · April 2, 2025, 8:05am

Thanks so much for the wonderful discussion and the component!
@AbrahamYezioro, if you’re looking into future weather scenarios, you might find the Future Weather Generator helpful (https://future-weather-generator.adai.pt/). It’s an open-source Java app that uses the latest CMIP6 models to morph any existing EPW file into future weather projections for 2050 and 2080 timeframes.