.. _Section_FileType_sam2d:


SAM 2-D Output Files
====================

| **DOI:** https://doi.org/10.5439/2572641
| **File type abbreviation:** ``sam2d``

The SAM model outputs variables in distinct categories, specifically 2-D, 3-D, 3-D microphysics, and statistics. The 2-D output files are in netCDF format and contain 2-D variables, which are typically column-integrated values like liquid water path or slabs like the net shortwave radiation reaching the surface. The 2-D files contain instantaneous output every 5 minutes.

While not as small as the ``samstat`` files, the 2-D varaiables are still sufficiently small that they are also combined into one file for the entire simulation. The ``sam2d`` filesize is about 960 MB for the 25.6 km-wide domain. A sample netCDF file header for a ``sam2d`` file is at :download:`enalasso_sam2d_20180701era5d25x100_sbmwrm-aer3-flxsstC1.m1.20180701.000000.hdr.txt`