update to top level readme file

Author: Joe Hamman

README.md

@@ -1,15 +1,43 @@
 VICpy
 =====
 
-A pre/post processing toolbox for the VIC model (https://github.com/UW-Hydro/VIC)
+A pre/post processing toolbox for the [VIC model](https://github.com/UW-Hydro/VIC)
 
 Truely a work in progress...
 
-This is a library of python scripts to go along with the pre/post 
+This is a library of python scripts to go along with the pre/post
 processing of VIC model forcings/parameters/outputs.
 
-Right now this is just a collection of a few scripts but as the toolbox grows, 
-a more formal structure may be put together.  
+Right now this is just a collection of a few scripts but as the toolbox grows,
+a more formal structure may be put together.
 
-Questions? Sure, Joe Hamman - [email protected]
+Most of the tools contained here are run from the command line and use a combination of command line arguments and configuration files.  For tool specific usage try raising the help flag, -h (e.g. vic2netcdf.py -h).
+
+-----
+
+### vic2netcdf.py
+This tool converts binary or ASCII VIC output to a netCDF format.  Options and settings are input via configuration file (e.g. VIC2nc_example.cfg).
+
+Usage: `vic2netcdf.py some_config_file.cfg`
+
+-----
+
+### netcdf2vic.py
+This tool converts netCDF meteorological forcings to VIC binary or ASCII format.  Options and settings are input via configuration file (e.g. example_netcdf2vic.cfg).
+
+Usage: `netcdf2vic.py some_config_file.cfg`
+
+-----
+
+### grid_params.py
+This tool grids VIC soil, snow, and vegetation parameter files and stores them in a single netCDF file.  This allows for easy viewing of parameters using tools like [ncview](http://meteora.ucsd.edu/~pierce/ncview_home_page.html).  This tool take a list of command line arguments:
+
+Usage:
+For soil only: `grid_params.py --soil_file=global_soil_param_new -o outfile.nc`
+
+For soil and veg: `grid_params.py -s global_soil_param_new -o outfile.nc -v global_lai_0.25deg.txt`
+
+-----
+
+Questions? Sure, Joe Hamman - jhamman at hydro.washington.edu