- Introduction
- Getting ready
- Compiling NEMO-MEDUSA
- The Running Directory
- Running MEDUSA 1D
- Viewing your Outputs
Introduction
This is the tutorial we will follow for the MEDUSA training.
I'll try to be make it as detailed as possible so that no one get lost.. but obviously, there might be things that are now evident to me, that are not for non-modelers, or non-linux users...
So, let me Know, tell me if something is not clear.
In the following documentation, i'll assume you have access to the NOC-southampton linux system. it should work (with some adaptation) on another system, but we'll see that later.
For now, I'll show you
- How to get
NEMO-MEDUSA, - Explain you some fundamental knowledge to understand how it works, but we won't go in details.
- How to compile the model,
- How to run it in 1D,
- How to see the results.
The idea is that at the end of the training, you should be able to run NEMO-MEDUSA 1D by yourself.
Getting ready
logging in
For this training, we need to log on specific machines.
Usually we run NEMO-MEDUSA on superconputers like ARCHER2 or the NOC's ANEMONE. But not all of you have access to these machines, so we'll do it on more normal linux systems.
First, i want you to log on one of the following machines : poseidon or amphitrite (you can see here the linux machines available).
for this, go on the linux system as you normally do (how you do that will depent if you're on linux, mac or windows, but once that done, we can all follow the same procedure). and run :
ssh -Y poseidon
if you want to go to this one, or
ssh -Y amphitrite
Getting NEMO-MEDUSA
Once you are there, we can get NEMO-MEDUSA
create a directory where you want to work in :
mkdir MEDUSA-training
cd MEDUSA-training
Now you are in your working directory, we can download NEMO-MEDUSA:
git clone --recurse-submodules https://git.noc.ac.uk/acc/medusa_4.2.x.git MEDUSA_git
The NEMO-MEDUSA code is downloaded into the directory i've called MEDUSA_git, but you can call it as you want.
let's have a look inside :
cd MEDUSA_git
-
MEDUSA_resourcesincludes :
![image]()
with-
src: where all thefortrancode files are; -
cfgs: where ready-to-compile configuration are stored -
arch: files used to compile -
sette: some automatic stability tests (used for development purpose) -
README.md: theMEDUSA githome page documentation -
add_msa_to_nemo: script to put MEDUSA at the right place
-
-
nemois the NEMO code :
![image]()
We find the same architecture than inMEDUSA_resources(becauseMEDUSAis made to fit in NEMO by replicating it's structure, ...) plus :-
makenemo: The compilation script -- compilation is used to create an executable we'll be able to run, from all ourfortrancode (if you do some changes in afortranfile, it will only be taken into account at run time if you recompile the code).
-
Here, NEMO and MEDUSA have both been downloaded, but MEDUSA is outside of NEMO. We need to put the different parts are the right place.
That's what add_msa_to_nemo is for. So let's run it:
./add_msa_to_nemo
Now MEDUSA is at the right place :
Here, all is in place, we can now compile the code.
Compiling NEMO-MEDUSA
Preparing the environement
- You need to upload the libraries :
module load netCDF-Fortran/4.6.1-gompi-2023a
- Then you need to grab a file that tells NEMO the all it needs to know about the environment it will compile and run in. This one i have prepared for you. You just need to copy it into you
archdirectory. Assuming you are still in MEDUSA_git
cp /noc/users/jpp1m13/WORKING/MEDUSA2/MEDUSA_git/nemo/arch/arch-auto.fcm nemo/arch/
## or because of permission problem, it's also here :
cp /noc/users/jpp1m13/arch-auto.fcm nemo/arch/
You are now ready to compile!
There are 2 ways to compile MEDUSA 1D:
- An "easy way" where everything is already in place to be compiled in 1 go,
- A more complicated one, where you have to to it in 2 steps and move things around.
We'll do both, because doing it the "old Way" you should better understand how things work. But let's start with the easy one.
Compiling MEDUSA 1D "the easy way"
To make things easier, and reduce the risks of error, i've added a MEDUSA 1D reference configuration : C1D_MED_PAPA. That means that you just need to compile it to get MEDUSA running in 1D.
cd nemo
nemo is your NEMO4.2 base directory (i might refer to it as ${NEMO} later on, it is the directory with makenemo inside.
- Now you can compile your MEDUSA 1D configuration -- valid whatever the machine -- type :
It should compile successfully the dynamic and the passive tracer all at once. Here our 1D config is called./makenemo -m auto -r C1D_MED_PAPA -n C1D_MED -j 16C1D_MED. Compiling this way, All the files are at the right place already, so - still, double check - you should be able to happily skip the file management part of the next section.
Once compiled, You have a new directory: C1D_MED in nemo's cfgs directory :
Let's have a look:

with :
-
BLD: where the code is compiled for this config. -
MY_SRC: specific fortran code used instead of those in thesrcdirectory -
WORK: All fortran files used in the compilation process. -
cpp_C1D_MED.fcm: list of compilation keys used for this config. -
EXP00: a minimalist,ready to use, running directory
Compiling MEDUSA 1D "the old way"
I call it "the old way", as you'll have to compile in few different steps, manually. You can use this way of doing to learn and understand how the config works. If you just want to compile and get something running, jump to the next section : Compiling MEDUSA 1D "the easy way"
Compile the 1D config
First thing is to compile a first time a new config based on C1D_PAPA :
from your NEMO4.2 base directory (should be something like ${NEMO} defined just above, but of course, adapt to your own medusa path).
- Now you can compile a first time -- valid whatever the machine -- type :
It should compile successfully the dynamic side only, but will create the right files at the right place. Here our 1D config is called./makenemo -m auto -r C1D_PAPA -n C1D_MED -j 16C1D_MED
Compile MEDUSA 1D
Modify our new config component and cpp keys. At the moment they are based on C1D_PAPA which is dynamics only.
- update
cfgs/work_cfgs.txtchange our config line to be (just add the TOP component) :C1D_MED OCE TOP - Then
cfgs/C1D_MED/cpp_C1D_MED.fcmadd thekey_top, it should be like (not necessarily exactly the same, just addkey_top) :bld::tool::fppkeys key_xios key_linssh key_vco_1d3d key_top
- To compile properly, MEDUSA still needs few things :
the MEDUSA's adapted version of NEMO and NEMO-TOP subroutines.
Just copy them from the
ORCA2_MEDUSAconfig, with :cp -d cfgs/ORCA2_MEDUSA/MY_SRC/* cfgs/C1D_MED/MY_SRC/ - Now everything is ready to compile.
You can do so with :
./makenemo -m auto -r C1D_MED -j 16
The Running Directory
we can see :
- some
xmlfiles. These are from theXIOSsoftware. it's been developed to manage the outputs of the model. The files we (users) have to know about are:-
context_nemo.xml: tells which field-def and file-def files are used at run time. -
field-def*.xml: define ALL possible outputs/diagnostics the model needs to know about. All those we could possibly ask for, they are defined here. -
file-def*xml: where we tell what outputs we want, and the frequency!XIOS, as you'll see, is very flexible!
-
-
namelists: Namelists are where give information to the model.NEMO-MEDUSAwill read the namelists at run time, to know parameter values, initial files name and location, forcing files name and location, etc. There are 2 kinds of namelist for each model component:refandcfg.-
refare the default values. you should not modify them. - For good practice and clarity, the
cfgnamelist should only contain the modified parameters. This helps to "easily" know what a run is doing.
-
-
nemo: Our executable.
We still miss few things to be able to run the model. Of which, initial conditions and forcing fields. Let's do a first run with a "ready to use" set-up.
Running MEDUSA 1D
Running The PAPA "ready to use" set-up.
From here, NEMO-Executable is ready, but we might still need to adapt/include some namelists and other files to be able to run.
- go into
cfgs/C1D_MED/EXP00.cd cfgs/C1D_MED/EXP00 - copy and link the files :
cp -rd ../../ORCA2_MEDUSA/EXPREF .. cp ../EXPREF/xco2.atm . - And add these only if compiled the old way:
ln -s ../../SHARED_MEDUSA/namelist_medusa_ref . cp ../EXPREF/namelist_medusa_cfg . cp -d ../EXPREF/namelist_top_* . cp -d ../EXPREF/*medusa*xml .
-
All MEDUSA files are here. We need to adapt some.
- Update
context_nemo.xml: add references tofield*medusa*xmlandfile*medusa*xmlfiles. It should look like this afterward:<!-- ============================================================================================== NEMO context ============================================================================================== --> <context id="nemo"> <!-- $id$ --> <!-- Fields definition --> <field_definition src="./field_def_nemo-oce.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <field_definition src="./field_def_nemo-medusa.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <!-- Files definition --> <file_definition src="./file_def_nemo-oce.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <file_definition src="./file_def_nemo-medusa.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <!-- Axis definition --> <axis_definition src="./axis_def_nemo.xml"/> <!-- Domain definition --> <domain_definition src="./domain_def_nemo.xml"/> <!-- Grids definition --> <grid_definition src="./grid_def_nemo.xml"/> </context> - Update
namelist_top_cfg: change ln_rsttr to .false. (we don't start MEDUSA from a restart file, you can if you want, but not at first, for that you'd need to extract the right vertical profile from arestart_trcfile) - Update
namelist_medusa_cfg: ln_read_dust to .false. (I'd recommend to change that totruewhen you get MEDUSA 1D to run. you would need to extract the right location from forcing fields). - Update
file_def_nemo-medusa.xml: get the right output frequency. it is1dinfile_def_nemo-oce.xml. you can keep the same or update to what you prefer.
- Update
-
Now we only miss the initial conditions and forcing. Fortunately these already exits for the
PAPAlocation. you can get them by running in your configEXP00directory (which is the running directory in our test) :wget https://zenodo.org/record/3386310/files/INPUTS_C1D_PAPA_v4.0.tar?download=1 tar xvf 'INPUTS_C1D_PAPA_v4.0.tar?download=1'If `wget is not available on your system (it wasn't when i did my tests) you can grap it from my directory :
cp /noc/users/jpp1m13/WORKING/MEDUSA2/MEDUSA_git/nemo/cfgs/TEST_MED1D/EXP00/INPUTS_C1D_PAPA_v4.0.tar\?download=1 . tar xvf 'INPUTS_C1D_PAPA_v4.0.tar?download=1'The namelist are already adapted for these forcing and initial fields.
-
In our test MEDUSA starts from constant values. you can change that by extracting the right profile from a trc restart file.
Now you can run with ./nemo &
Running from 3D-extracted conditions.
Prepare your running directory :
You might want to run in different locations...
For this we'll use 3D initial conditions and forcings from UKESM1.1.
Let's make a new running directory :
- go to
cfgs/C1D_MED/ - then :
# make a new running directory :
mkdir EXP_1D
cd EXP_1D
- Copy and run the appropriate
COPY_MEbash script that will prepare you running directory for the 1D runs forced with UKESM1 :
cp /noc/users/jpp1m13/SCRATCH/SETTING_RUNNING_DIR/1D_NOC_LINUX/COPY_ME__NEMOMED-4.2_1D_UKESM1.sh .
./COPY_ME__NEMOMED-4.2_1D_UKESM1.sh
Extract the initial conditions and forcings
To run this 1D run, you want to extract the initial conditions and the forcings from a specific location. you need the coordinates (latitude and longitude) and well as the corresponding grid indices (i and j).
If you look in your namelist_cfg file, you'll find within namc1d an example of famous site coordinates to use :
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
&namc1d ! 1D configuration options (ln_c1d =T default: PAPA station)
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
!! Localion name | real coords(lat-lon) | grid idices(j-i) | grid coords | bathy depth
!!OWS India (59.00N, -19.00E) (273, 269) (59.02N, -18.46E) 1516
!!PAP site (49.00N, -16.50E) (258, 272) (49.11N, -16.07E) 4888
!!BATS (31.67N, -64.17E) (236, 224) (32.07N, -64.52E) 4093
!!ESTOC (29.07N, -15.25E) (232, 273) (28.72N, -15.50E) 3513
!!OWS Papa (50.00N, -145.00E) (262, 142) (50.13N, -145.37E) 4290
!!HOTS (22.75N, -158.00E) (225, 130) (22.41N, -158.50E) 4688
!!Kerfix (-50.67N, 68.42E) (113, 357) (-50.70N, 68.50E) 1796
!! -- don't forget to run: ./subset_init_forcing.sh ${i} ${j} to get the local files.
!--------------------------------------------------------------------------
rn_lat1d = 50.0 ! Column latitude
rn_lon1d = -145.0 ! Column longitude
/
- You need to update the
rn_lat1dandrn_lon1din this namelist. Here we use the coordinates ofPAPA. - You also need to update the bathymetry depth in the
namusr_defnamelist innamelist_cfg. To make things easier, each site bathy depth is given with the coordinates. Here we adapt for the PAPA site:!----------------------------------------------------------------------- &namusr_def ! C1D user defined namelist !----------------------------------------------------------------------- rn_bathy = 4290. ! depth in meters / - Then, you need to extract forcings and initial conditions. in your running dir you'll find subset_init_forcing.sh
Run this script by specifying the
iandjindices to extract :./subset_init_forcing.sh ${i} ${j} ## for example, to extract what we need for the PAPA site, type : ./subset_init_forcing.sh 142 262
There, all should be ready. Then make sure
-
context.xmluse the correct xml files; - The output frequency in the file*xml files match what you want,
- one last look at the namelists. Here, all is ready to run 10y, with 5days frequency outputs.
Finally, to run :
./nemo &
Once your model is running, you can see what it's doing with:
tail -f ocean.output
If your model fails with XIOS error, maybe somthing went wrong while copying the xml files. in that case, copy the xml files in the C1D_MED_PAPA configuration.
from your running directory :
cp ../../C1D_MED_PAPA/EXPREF/*xml .
and run again :)
Extract your own location.
If you want to run in a location which is not listed in the namelist_cfg, you'll need to find the coordinate by yourself, in a "DIY" way. for that you need the mesh_mask.nc file, which gather all kind of information from the grid. it can be found there : /noc/users/jpp1m13/WORKING/UKESM/MESH/eORCA1/NEMO42/mesh_mask.nc
Open it with ferret (see the last section). see the map, and decide the (i,j) location you want to run on. once (i,j) known, you can get the latitude and longitude with ferret :
list NAV_LAT[i=$i, j=$j]
list NAV_LON[i=$i, j=$j]
where $i and $j are the values you've chosen.
Then to get the sea-floor depth at that location you can get the max vertical level with MBATHY[i=$i, j=$j] ; and get the depth in metre with
list NAV_LEV[k=$MBATHY]
where $MBATHY is the vertical level.
Then fill the namelist_cfg with those number, and extract the forcings and initial conditions accordingly.
Running in high latitudes.
The C1D configuration runs without the sea-ice model in. For some reason, maybe because the test case doesn't need it. But because of this, trying to run NEMO 1D in high latitudes will end with abnormally low temperature.
Here are the additional steps needed if you need to run with the ice model ON.
- Add the sea-ice component.
for this : update
cfgs/work_cfgs.txtchange our config line to be (add theICEcomponent) :C1D_MED OCE TOP ICE - Add the sea-ice cpp key
If you remember, this is done in
cfgs/C1D_MED/cpp_C1D_MED.fcmadd thekey_si3key, it should be like :bld::tool::fppkeys key_xios key_linssh key_top key_si3 - Compile with the sea ice in:
Just compile the model again as previously done :
- from your
nemodirectory, run :./makenemo -m X86_ARCHER2-Gnu_4.2 -r C1D_MED -j 16
- from your
- Add the ice namelists
They should already be here, but if not you should be able to find both
namelist_ice_refandnamelist_ice_cfgincfgs/ORCA2_ICE_PISCES/EXPREFdirectory. - Activate the SI3 model at run time
Change
nn_iceinnamelist_cfgto 2. Ifnn_iceis not in yournamelist_cfgcopy it fromnamelist_refand add it in (make sure to add it in the correct namelist/section). - Include the ice xml files.
if they are not in your running directory yet, copy the
file_def_nemo-ice.xmlandfield_def_nemo-ice.xmlfrom thecfgs/ORCA2_ICE_PISCES/EXPREFdirectory, and include them in thecontext.xmlfile. it should look like this :<!-- Fields definition --> <field_definition src="./field_def_nemo-oce.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <field_definition src="./field_def_nemo-ice.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <field_definition src="./field_def_nemo-medusa.xml"/> <!-- NEMO-MEDUSA ocean biology --> <!-- Files definition --> <file_definition src="./file_def_nemo-oce.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <file_definition src="./file_def_nemo-ice.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean dynamics --> <file_definition src="./file_def_nemo-medusa.xml"/> <!-- NEMO ocean biology -->
From there you should be ready to run 1D with the ice model activated.
Viewing your Outputs
Your run successfully finished!
you now have some netcdf outputs :

- the
gridfiles areNEMOoutputs, -
ptrc-Tare MEDUSA main tracers -
diad-Tare MEDUSA diagnostics (there are a lot...!)
to see them easily, you can use ferret:
module load ferret
ferret
if ferret is not available, you can log on another linux-machine like theia (open another linux session, log on theia: ssh -Y theia and go to your running directory, where your outputs are) . To use ferret, just :
use $file_name
show data ## to see the data
shade var[k=1,l=1]
Here i plot the surface of a 3D variable (k=1) and if there are several time record, l=1 ask to plot the first i'll show you more on the training, but if you're used to matlab or python, do not hesitate to use your own thing ;)
If you want to compare 2 outputs with ferret:
load both files, and check the data with show data. you now have 2 data sets. you can specify to which dataset you refer to with [d=...] like we just did for the vertical layer or time. here is an example :
use $file1
use $file2
show data ## to see the data
shade din[k=1,l=1, d=1] !! File1's DIN
set w 2 !! open a new window
shade din[k=1,l=1, d=2] !! File2's DIN
set w 3 !! 3rd window
shade/lev=(-inf)(-10,10,0.5)(inf)/pal=white_centered din[k=1,l=1, d=2]-din[k=1,l=1, d=1]
!!just plot the diff, with a diff colorbar, and setting the colorbar limits





