[RegCNET] Questions about CHE files with postproc

[R. Chris Owen]

Hello fellow RegCM users,

I have a simulation with SO2, BC, and OC. I have used a version of 
postproc dated Apr 2009 (at the top of postproc.f) to compute monthly 
averages from the CHE files. It appears to run OK (i.e., no errors 
given). In the postproc output files, I have 3 things that seem odd 
and/or incorrect:

1) the units for each tracer are unstated and apparently ~1e9 time 
larger. The original CHE files have each tracer in mass mixing ratio 
(kg/kg), with values of an upper limit in the range of 1 ppb. The 
postproc files have values with an upper limit of 9 parts/part (an 
unachievable number). Could this be a conversion from part/part to ppb? 
Or some other conversion (to concentrations or volume mixing ratios)?

2) in the postproc files, the tracer at each output level, while 
different in the shape of the contours, is roughly equivalent in 
magnitude. Intuitively, species with a surface emission should be 
significantly higher at the surface than at an altitude of 10 km and the 
original CHE files indicate that the surface concentrations are 1e3-1e4 
time larger than those in the top output level.

3) the order of the levels from RegCM to posproc files seems to be 
reversed. The original CHE files have level 1 at the surface, while 
level 1 in the postproc files is apparently the upper most model level 
(though, it's hard to tell from looking at the data, since the data is 
of similar magnitude at each output level). this seems to be the case 
for the other file types as well (ICBC, SURF, ATM, etc.), so maybe this 
is also normal and I just don't know it.

Any thoughts or experience with this? Or maybe know someone there who 
may have looked at the CHE output before and has some insight?

Many thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Chris Owen