How to get_land_mask() without having to download full dataset? Throws an error now.

[telenskyt]

The function get_land_mask() for Barreto2023 dataset throws an error, when I downloaded just one selected variable:

library(pastclim)

set_data_path("d:/somedirectory/")

download_dataset("Barreto2023", "temperature_07")

lm <- get_land_mask(time_bp = -5000000, dataset = "Barreto2023")

This is a large dataset, it might take a while...
Error in check_var_downloaded(bio_variables, dataset) :
variable (bio01) not yet downloaded, use download_dataset()

This error doesn't make sense to me. I intentionally didn't download the whole dataset, because it is huge. I guess that's why you allow to download just one variable - which is very reasonable and which is what I did - downloaded just "temperature_07". Then why isn't landmask available just for that one variable? I guess it should be somehow, if you allow to download only part of the dataset?

I didn't find function to download the landmask itself.

I guess I am missing some knowledge here, a knowledge that could ideally be present within that error message or documentation (of get_land_mask function, probably).

[dramanica]

@telenskyt The issue is that, currently, we do use bio1 to generate the landmask. You are perfectly right that we have failed to document that (and I am not sure we need to in any case). So, for the moment, you can fix the error by simply downloading bio01, and when I have a minute, I'll look into fixing that. Thanks for reporting the issue!

[telenskyt]

@dramanica thanks! I think a slight change in that error message would make things 100% clear! How about this:

Error in check_var_downloaded(bio_variables, dataset) :
land mask not yet downloaded - to download land mask, download variable bio01 using download_dataset()

With the current message, I wasn't sure why is he checking for bio01, and I thought he is suggesting me to download the whole dataset, which is a problem on my metered connection.

[dramanica]

Yes, absolutely, or even better automatically download bio01 when downloading any other variable.

[telenskyt]

I think that just changing error message is better, I feel like I have more control over what I am downloading when I am on slow/metered connection. (I was trying to figure out how big the layers are, that also wasn't straightforward :-)).

The ideal solution would of course be to put the landmask (and maybe ice mask, too, but it is probably not available for this dataset) in a small, separate nc file :-) (or some phony variable, which would contain just the mask).

[dramanica]

Yes, good point, I can try to create a landmask when I have a minute (probably not for a week or two). Thanks for the feedback, it's very helpful to hear when things don't work!

[telenskyt]

Welcome, thanks for swift reply! :-)