[develop] Deprecate the CYCL_HRS configuration setting. (#411)

* Deprecating CYCL_HRS Changes were made to all config files and scripts to use FIRST and LAST cycle definitions to accept the cycle HH, and frequency will start from those for all relevant computation. * Updating docs to remove ref to CYCL_HRS * Remove CYCL_HRS from workflow. * Add option to run all tests. * Fixes needed to run WE2E tests. * Fix the failed test. * Make specification of groups of test more flexible. * Addressing Mike's review comments. * Addressing Gerard's comments.
ufs-community · Oct 14, 2022 · 325baf1 · 325baf1
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diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/BuildRunSRW.rst b/docs/UsersGuide/source/BuildRunSRW.rst
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ settings. There is usually no need for a user to modify the default configuratio
    |                      | EXTRN_MDL_ICS_VAR_DEFNS_FN, EXTRN_MDL_LBCS_VAR_DEFNS_FN,     |
    |                      | WFLOW_LAUNCH_SCRIPT_FN, WFLOW_LAUNCH_LOG_FN                  |
    +----------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
-   | Forecast             | DATE_FIRST_CYCL, DATE_LAST_CYCL, CYCL_HRS, INCR_CYCL_FREQ,   |
+   | Forecast             | DATE_FIRST_CYCL, DATE_LAST_CYCL, INCR_CYCL_FREQ,             |
    |                      | FCST_LEN_HRS                                                 |
    +----------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
    | IC/LBC               | EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS, EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS,                     |
@@ -724,11 +724,9 @@ The user must specify certain basic information about the experiment in a ``conf
    +--------------------------------+-------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | LBC_SPEC_INTVL_HRS             | "6"               | "6"                                                                              |
    +--------------------------------+-------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-   | DATE_FIRST_CYCL                | "YYYYMMDD"        | "20190615"                                                                       |
+   | DATE_FIRST_CYCL                | "YYYYMMDDHH"      | "2019061518"                                                                     |
    +--------------------------------+-------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-   | DATE_LAST_CYCL                 | "YYYYMMDD"        | "20190615"                                                                       |
-   +--------------------------------+-------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-   | CYCL_HRS                       | ("HH1" "HH2")     | "18"                                                                             |
+   | DATE_LAST_CYCL                 | "YYYYMMDDHH"      | "2019061518"                                                                     |
    +--------------------------------+-------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS             | "FV3GFS"          | "FV3GFS"                                                                         |
    +--------------------------------+-------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/ConfigWorkflow.rst b/docs/UsersGuide/source/ConfigWorkflow.rst
@@ -248,14 +248,11 @@ File Name Parameters
 
 Forecast Parameters
 ===================
-``DATE_FIRST_CYCL``: (Default: "YYYYMMDD")
-   Starting date of the first forecast in the set of forecasts to run. Format is "YYYYMMDD". Note that this does not include the hour of the day.
+``DATE_FIRST_CYCL``: (Default: "YYYYMMDDHH")
+   Starting date of the first forecast in the set of forecasts to run. Format is "YYYYMMDDHH".
 
-``DATE_LAST_CYCL``: (Default: "YYYYMMDD")
-   Starting date of the last forecast in the set of forecasts to run. Format is "YYYYMMDD". Note that this does not include the hour of the day.
-
-``CYCL_HRS``: (Default: ( "HH1" "HH2" ))
-   An array containing the hours of the day at which to launch forecasts. Forecasts are launched at these hours on each day from ``DATE_FIRST_CYCL`` to ``DATE_LAST_CYCL``, inclusive. Each element of this array must be a two-digit string representing an integer that is less than or equal to 23 (e.g., "00", "03", "12", "23").
+``DATE_LAST_CYCL``: (Default: "YYYYMMDDHH")
+   Starting date of the last forecast in the set of forecasts to run. Format is "YYYYMMDDHH".
 
 ``INCR_CYCL_FREQ``: (Default: "24")
    Increment in hours for cycle frequency (cycl_freq). The default is "24", which means cycl_freq=24:00:00.

diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/Graphics.rst b/docs/UsersGuide/source/Graphics.rst
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ in the batch scripts:
 
 .. code-block:: console
 
-   export CDATE=${DATE_FIRST_CYCL}${CYCL_HRS}
+   export CDATE=${DATE_FIRST_CYCL}
 
 This sets ``CDATE`` to the first cycle in the set of cycles that the experiment has run. If the
 experiment contains multiple cycles and the user wants to plot output from a cycle other than 

diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/InputOutputFiles.rst b/docs/UsersGuide/source/InputOutputFiles.rst
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ from 20190615 at 18 UTC. FV3GFS GRIB2 files are the default model and file forma
 
 Running the App for Different Dates
 -----------------------------------
-If users want to run the SRW Application for dates other than June 15-16, 2019, they will need to modify the ``config.sh`` settings, including the ``DATE_FIRST_CYCL``, ``DATE_LAST_CYCL``, and ``CYCL_HRS`` variables. The forecast length can be modified by changing the ``FCST_LEN_HRS``. In addition, the lateral boundary interval can be specified using the ``LBC_SPEC_INTVL_HRS`` variable.
+If users want to run the SRW Application for dates other than June 15-16, 2019, they will need to modify the ``config.sh`` settings, including the ``DATE_FIRST_CYCL`` and ``DATE_LAST_CYCL`` variables. The forecast length can be modified by changing the ``FCST_LEN_HRS``. In addition, the lateral boundary interval can be specified using the ``LBC_SPEC_INTVL_HRS`` variable.
 
 Users will need to ensure that the initial and lateral boundary condition files are available
 in the specified path for their new date, cycle, and forecast length.

diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/Introduction.rst b/docs/UsersGuide/source/Introduction.rst
@@ -378,9 +378,8 @@ Once the Rocoto workflow is launched, several files and directories are generate
    |                           | simultaneously for each cycle in the experiment. Cycle directories |
    |                           | are created to contain cycle-specific files for each cycle that    |
    |                           | the experiment runs. If ``DATE_FIRST_CYCL`` and ``DATE_LAST_CYCL`` |
-   |                           | are different, and/or if ``CYCL_HRS`` contains more than one       |
-   |                           | element in the ``config.sh`` file, more than one cycle directory   |
-   |                           | will be created under the experiment directory.                    |
+   |                           | are different in the ``config.sh`` file, more than one cycle       |
+   |                           | directory will be created under the experiment directory.          |
    +---------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | grid                      | Directory generated by the ``make_grid`` task to store grid files  |
    |                           | for the experiment                                                 |

diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/WE2Etests.rst b/docs/UsersGuide/source/WE2Etests.rst
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ The rows of the file/sheet represent the full set of available tests (not just t
   |  ``EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS``
   |  ``DATE_FIRST_CYCL``
   |  ``DATE_LAST_CYCL``
-  |  ``CYCL_HRS``
   |  ``INCR_CYCL_FREQ``
   |  ``FCST_LEN_HRS``
   |  ``DT_ATMOS``

diff --git a/docs/UsersGuide/source/tables/Tests.csv b/docs/UsersGuide/source/tables/Tests.csv
@@ -1,30 +1,30 @@
-Test Name,PREDEF_GRID_NAME,CCPP_PHYS_SUITE,EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS,EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS,DATES (UTC),CYCL_HRS (UTC),FCST_LEN_HRS (hrs),DT_ATMOS (s)
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,RRFS_CONUS_25km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_13km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,RRFS_CONUS_13km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,45
-grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190615,18,6,40
-grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,20200801,0,6,40
-grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,20200810,0,6,40
-grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_WoFS_v0,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,WoFS,HRRR,RAP,20200801,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,RRFS_CONUS_3km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,36
-grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_25km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUScompact_25km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,20200810,0,3,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_13km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUScompact_13km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,20200801,0,6,45
-grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUScompact_3km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,20200801,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_25km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUScompact_25km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,20200810,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_13km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUScompact_13km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,20200810,0,6,45
-grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUScompact_3km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,20200810,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUS_25km,RRFS_v1beta,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUS_25km,HRRR,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,40
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_13km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUS_13km,RRFS_v1beta,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,45
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_13km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUS_13km,HRRR,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,45
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUS_3km,RRFS_v1beta,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,36
-grid_RRFS_CONUS_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUS_3km,HRRR,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,36
-community_ensemble_008mems,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,"20190701, 20190702","00,12",6,40
-community_ensemble_2mems,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,"20190701, 20190702","00,12",6,40
-deactivate_tasks,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,40
-inline_post,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,40
-MET_ensemble_verification,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190615,0,6,40
-MET_verification,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190615,0,6,40
-custom_ESGgrid,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp_regional,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,40
-custom_GFDLgrid,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,100
-custom_GFDLgrid__GFDLgrid_USE_GFDLgrid_RES_IN_FILENAMES_eq_FALSE,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,100
-custom_GFDLgrid__GFDLgrid_USE_GFDLgrid_RES_IN_FILENAMES_eq_TRUE,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,20190701,0,6,100
+Test Name,PREDEF_GRID_NAME,CCPP_PHYS_SUITE,EXTRN_MDL_NAME_ICS,EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS,DATES (UTC),FCST_LEN_HRS (hrs),DT_ATMOS (s)
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,RRFS_CONUS_25km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_13km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,RRFS_CONUS_13km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,45
+grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019061518,6,40
+grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,2020080100,6,40
+grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,2020081000,6,40
+grid_SUBCONUS_Ind_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_WoFS_v0,SUBCONUS_Ind_3km,WoFS,HRRR,RAP,2020080100,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_GFS_v16,RRFS_CONUS_3km,GFS_v16,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,36
+grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_25km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUScompact_25km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,2020081000,3,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_13km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUScompact_13km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,2020080100,6,45
+grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUScompact_3km,RRFS_v1beta,HRRR,RAP,2020080100,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_25km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUScompact_25km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,2020081000,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_13km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUScompact_13km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,2020081000,6,45
+grid_RRFS_CONUScompact_3km_ics_HRRR_lbcs_RAP_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUScompact_3km,HRRR,HRRR,RAP,2020081000,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUS_25km,RRFS_v1beta,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_25km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUS_25km,HRRR,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,40
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_13km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUS_13km,RRFS_v1beta,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,45
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_13km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUS_13km,HRRR,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,45
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_RRFS_v1beta,RRFS_CONUS_3km,RRFS_v1beta,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,36
+grid_RRFS_CONUS_3km_ics_FV3GFS_lbcs_FV3GFS_suite_HRRR,RRFS_CONUS_3km,HRRR,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,36
+community_ensemble_008mems,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,"2019070100, 2019070112, 2019070200, 2019070212",6,40
+community_ensemble_2mems,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,"2019070100, 2019070112, 2019070200, 2019070212",6,40
+deactivate_tasks,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,40
+inline_post,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,40
+MET_ensemble_verification,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019061500,6,40
+MET_verification,RRFS_CONUS_25km,FV3_GFS_v15p2,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019061500,6,40
+custom_ESGgrid,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp_regional,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,40
+custom_GFDLgrid,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,100
+custom_GFDLgrid__GFDLgrid_USE_GFDLgrid_RES_IN_FILENAMES_eq_FALSE,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,100
+custom_GFDLgrid__GFDLgrid_USE_GFDLgrid_RES_IN_FILENAMES_eq_TRUE,N/A,FV3_GFS_2017_gfdlmp,FV3GFS,FV3GFS,2019070100,6,100
diff --git a/parm/FV3LAM_wflow.xml b/parm/FV3LAM_wflow.xml
@@ -148,13 +148,9 @@ tasks; and the "FCST" type is used for the RUN_FCST_TN task.
 <workflow realtime="F" scheduler="&SCHED;" cyclethrottle="20">
 {# Double quotes are required inside the strftime! Expect an error from reading the template if using single quotes. #}
   <cycledef group="at_start">{{ cdate_first_cycl.strftime("%M %H %d %m %Y *") }}</cycledef>
-{% for c in cycl_hrs %}
   <cycledef group="forecast">
-  {%- set cdate_first=date_first_cycl ~ c ~ "00" -%}
-  {%- set cdate_last=date_last_cycl ~ c ~ "00" -%}
-  {{- cdate_first ~ " " ~ cdate_last ~ " " ~ cycl_freq -}}
+    {{- date_first_cycl ~ " " ~ date_last_cycl ~ " " ~ cycl_freq -}}
   </cycledef>
-{%- endfor %}
 
   <log>
   {%- if run_envir == "nco"  %}

diff --git a/scripts/exregional_make_ics.sh b/scripts/exregional_make_ics.sh
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ if [ "${USE_FVCOM}" = "TRUE" ]; then
 #Format for fvcom_time: YYYY-MM-DDTHH:00:00.000000
   fvcom_exec_fn="fvcom_to_FV3"
   fvcom_exec_fp="$EXECdir/${fvcom_exec_fn}"
-  fvcom_time="${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:0:4}-${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:4:2}-${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:6:2}T${CYCL_HRS[0]}:00:00.000000"
+  fvcom_time="${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:0:4}-${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:4:2}-${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:6:2}T${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:8:2}:00:00.000000"
   if [ ! -f "${fvcom_exec_fp}" ]; then
     print_err_msg_exit "\
 The executable (fvcom_exec_fp) for processing FVCOM data onto FV3-LAM

diff --git a/tests/WE2E/get_WE2Etest_names_subdirs_descs.sh b/tests/WE2E/get_WE2Etest_names_subdirs_descs.sh
@@ -929,7 +929,6 @@ they correspond to unique test names and rerun."
                       "EXTRN_MDL_NAME_LBCS" \
                       "DATE_FIRST_CYCL" \
                       "DATE_LAST_CYCL" \
-                      "CYCL_HRS" \
                       "INCR_CYCL_FREQ" \
                       "FCST_LEN_HRS" \
                       "LBC_SPEC_INTVL_HRS" \
@@ -1051,17 +1050,17 @@ configuration files of the primary WE2E tests...
 #    to cover those cases.
 #
 # 2) The double quotes (which need to be escaped here, i.e. \") are needed
-#    so that for any experiment variables that are arrays, all the elements 
-#    of the array are combined together and treated as a single element.  
-#    If the experiment variable is CYCL_HRS (cycle hours) and is set to
-#    the array ("00" "12"), we want the value saved in the local array
-#    here to be a single element consisting of "00 12".  Otherwise, "00" 
-#    and "12" will be treated as separate elements, and more than one 
-#    element would be added to the array (which would be incorrect here).
+#    so that for any experiment variables that are arrays, all the elements of
+#    the array are combined together and treated as a single element.  For
+#    example, if a variable CYCL_HRS is set to the array ("00" "12"), we want
+#    the value saved in the local array here to be a single element consisting
+#    of "00 12".  Otherwise, "00" and "12" will be treated as separate
+#    elements, and more than one element would be added to the array (which
+#    would be incorrect here).
 #
 # 3) The single quote (which needs to be escaped here, i.e. \') is needed
-#    so that any numbers (e.g. a set of cycle hours such as "00 12") are 
-#    treated as strings when the CSV file is opened in Google Sheets.  
+#    so that any numbers (e.g. a set of cycle hours such as "00 12") are
+#    treated as strings when the CSV file is opened in Google Sheets.
 #    If this is not done, Google Sheets will remove leading zeros.
 #
           var_name_at="${var_name}[@]"
@@ -1074,12 +1073,14 @@ configuration files of the primary WE2E tests...
 # Calculate the number of forecasts that will be launched by the current
 # test.  The "10#" forces bash to treat the following number as a decimal
 # (not hexadecimal, etc).  Note that INCR_CYCL_FREQ is in units of hours,
-# so the factor of 24 is needed to convert the number of days to hours.
-#
-      num_cycles_per_day=${#CYCL_HRS[@]}
-      num_days=$(( (${DATE_LAST_CYCL} - ${DATE_FIRST_CYCL} + 1)*24/10#${INCR_CYCL_FREQ} ))
-      num_cdates=$(( ${num_cycles_per_day}*${num_days} ))
-      nf=$(( ${num_cdates}*10#${NUM_ENS_MEMBERS} ))
+# so the factor of 3600 is needed to convert the number of seconds to hours.
+#
+      # Convert cycles to seconds
+      first=$(date --utc --date "${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:0:8} ${DATE_FIRST_CYCL:8:2}" +"%s")
+      last=$(date --utc --date "${DATE_LAST_CYCL:0:8} ${DATE_LAST_CYCL:8:2}" +"%s")
+      # Diff and convert seconds to number of cycles where freq is in
+      # hours
+      nf=$(( ($last - $first) / 3600 / 10#${INCR_CYCL_FREQ} ))
 #
 # Save the number of forecasts launched by the current test in an 
 # appropriately named array.  In the following, the single quote at the