# Re-running a UKESM postproc\_atmos task using pp files **URL:** \ **Category:** Unified Model\ **Created:** [28 August 2026 09:20 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/re-running-a-ukesm-postproc-atmos-task-using-pp-files/2160 "2026-08-28T09:20:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanHodson](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/danhodson/32/121_2.png) [@DanHodson](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/DanHodson)\ **Post date:** [28 August 2026 09:20 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/re-running-a-ukesm-postproc-atmos-task-using-pp-files/2160/1 "2026-08-28T09:20:04Z")
Hi All! We have a UKESM `postproc_atmos` task that is a bit stuck (`/home/n02/n02/bsenapati/cylc-run/u-eb029/run1/log/job/19040401T0000Z/postproc_atmos`). What seems to have happened is that the task ran out of disk space when calculating the MAM seasonal mean from monthly means, but managed to write a zero length monthly mean file. On the next attempt, the monthly mean file existed, and so the task succeeded. The monthly means were converted to pp files and archived to ET via the JDMA. When `postproc_atmos` got to the end of the year it tried to calculate the annual mean from the seasonal means, but failed because MAM was of zero length. To fix this, I have tried to retried the monthly means pp files from ET and transferred them to the `/home/n02/n02/bsenapati/cylc-run/u-eb029/run1/share/data/History_Data` directory - but `postproc_atmos` still fails when triggered. Is `postproc_atmos` looking for a fields file, rather than a pp file? Or should it cope with pp-files for the missing months? If the former, is it possible to convert pp-files to fields files? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DanHodson](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/danhodson/32/121_2.png) [@DanHodson](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/DanHodson)\ **Post date:** [7 September 2026 08:53 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/re-running-a-ukesm-postproc-atmos-task-using-pp-files/2160/2 "2026-09-07T08:53:49Z")
We have now solved this (using python and MULE)! ---
**Author:** ![jonnyhtw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/jonnyhtw/32/548_2.png) [@jonnyhtw](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/jonnyhtw)\ **Post date:** [7 September 2026 11:02 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/re-running-a-ukesm-postproc-atmos-task-using-pp-files/2160/3 "2026-09-07T11:02:51Z")
Hi Dan. Thanks for letting us know about this. The log file link that you included in your original post has now been removed, presumably by `housekeeping` tasks or similar. > Is `postproc_atmos` looking for a fields file, rather than a pp file? Or should it cope with pp-files for the missing months? I think it’s most likely expecting PP files for the seasonal means because these will be created after the offending monthlies have already been converted. That said this will depend on the workflow’s resubmission period. I can’t give a definitive answer about whether it could deal with a mixture of fields and PP files but I think this is unlikely. > … is it possible to convert pp-files to fields files? Theoretically yes (others with more experience in dealing with fields files may well correct me here!). That said, using Python and Mule is a much more modern and reliable way of doing it so great news you found a solution! Feel free to post you solution here if you wish for future reference. 😃 Cheers Jonny ---
**Author:** ![system](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/cms_support/original/1X/1fd2411499ffcbc299fe756cd5cdf26e44956558.png) [@system](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/system)\ **Post date:** [7 October 2026 11:03 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/re-running-a-ukesm-postproc-atmos-task-using-pp-files/2160/4 "2026-10-07T11:03:33Z")
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