SMOKEv3.5 LAYPOINT error with MCIPv5.1 and WRFv4.3

[bbaek]

Please check out this previous ticket:

SMOKE Laypoint fails on MCIP 5.1 with VGTYP = -9999 ;

This relates to failures in our modeling system caused by WRF updating to use hybrid vertical coordinates. Our new WRF runs are from WRF ARW V4.1.3. We updated to MCIP5.1, which gives VGTYP as a value of -9999 in METCRO3D, and then SMOKEv3.5.1 Laypoint fails with message: NOTE: file “MET_CRO_3D” was used to initialize meteorology file header checks. NOTE: Grid settings initialized using MET_CRO_3D in gridded file. *** ERROR ABORT in subroutine LAYPOINT Cannot process vertical coord…