Add SMOS preprocessing python scripts

[gmao-qliu]

Summary

Adds a new standalone pipeline that preprocesses SMOS L1C brightness temperature (Tb) data for near-real-time ingestion into MERRA21C-land:

EE .zip --(smos-ee-to-nc.sh)--> NetCDF --(preprocess_nc)--> EASEv2 M36 "REG" binaries --(SCLF1C_reg2fit)--> Tb40 "FIT" binaries

Normal operation is a daily cron job processing the previous day's data; the driver also supports on-demand backfill of a single day or an inclusive date range.

Requirements / external dependencies

• Runs on Discover/NCCS under module load python/GEOSpyD (numpy, scipy, netCDF4, PyYAML).
• Depends on an external, out-of-repo converter script (smos-ee-to-nc.sh, path set in config.yaml).
• Depends on static, pre-generated regridding weights (data/GEOSIT_to_EASEv2_M36.mat) and an AUX Gal SM file — not committed to the repo; linked from production Discover paths.

Usage

module load python/GEOSpyD
python SMOSproc_main.py # NRT: process yesterday's data
python SMOSproc_main.py --date 20260801 # Backfill a single day
python SMOSproc_main.py --start 20260801 --end 20260803 # Backfill a date range

Notes for reviewers

• This is a Python port (2021, Q. Liu) of prior MATLAB SCLF1C preprocessing code (G. De Lannoy); the science logic mirrors the original.
• No automated tests are included; validation has been manual, comparing REG/FIT binary outputs against the legacy MATLAB pipeline.

Testing done

• Ran end-to-end on Discover for sample backfill days and confirmed REG and FIT binaries are produced with expected file naming/paths for both ascending and descending passes.

[gmao-rreichle]

@gmao-qliu : Sorry this slipped through the cracks a bit. I added a few commits in an effort to make the scripts more suitable for the repo.
I don't expect the scripts to run after my mods. (I didn't even try.)
See comments below.
Please let me know if you have any questions, thanks!

[gmao-rreichle]

Hi @gmao-qliu, thanks for fixing up the code after my previous changes. I cleaned up a bit more. Please test the revised code one more time to make sure everything works as before, and let me know. Thanks!

[gmao-qliu]

Tested and works fine.