###################
General information
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.. role:: bash(code)
   :language: bash

CHIMERE is coded in Fortran90.
CHIMERE's sources for use by the CIF
(see how they differ from standard distributions :doc:`here<diff>`) are made available in directory
:bash:`/model_sources/chimereGES/` which contains various subdirectories with actual :bash:`.F90` sources and relevant :bash:`Makefile`, a compilation script and a header for all Makefile (makfile.hdr).

CHIMERE reads and writes netcdf and text files. 
The required inputs for the executable are:

  - text file chimere.nml: contains the parameters chosen by the user or deduced from these choices. Generated by pre-processor :bash:`params.py` included in the model's plugin.
  - text file for the coordinates of the grid: :doc:`COORDcorner<coordfiles>`
  - netcdf files for the initial and boundary conditions: :doc:`INI_CONC.0.nc<inicond>` and :doc:`BOUN_CONCS.nc<bouncond>`
  - netcdf files for the :doc:`emissions<emissions>`, AEMISSIONS and, if switched on, BEMISSIONS
  - netcdf files :doc:`METEO<meteo>` for the meteorological variables
  - 12 text files for the :doc:`chemical scheme<chemistry>` (some may be empty but they must exist)
  - text file :doc:`LANDUSE<coordfiles>` if deposition is switched on

In case the model is run for comparison to observation data, a text file which contains the locations and times at which to extract simulated data is also read.