McIDAS-V Support for GOES-R Risk Reduction Projects
Project Leads: Thomas Achtor, Thomas Rink (UW/CIMSS)
Collaborators: Ralph Petersen (UW/CIMSS), Tim Schmit (NOAA/ASPB)
Project Description
We proposed to support selected GOES-R Risk Reduction projects by developing the
capability in McIDAS-V to visualize all data used in these projects and develop analysis
tools to enable quantitative evaluation of the output products. Previously, we have
worked with three groups who were funded on previous GOES-RRR development tasks
to apply McIDAS-V capabilities and tools to advance their project objectives while at the
same time building additional capabilities in McIDAS-V that will be of future use to all
GOES-R data users.
As part of this year’s effort, we proposed to contact all GOES-RRR proposal awardees to
survey and assess their visualization and data analysis needs. This survey will allow us to
plan McIDAS-V project development activities to focus on ways to provide expanded
and improved capabilities for their projects. We seek to expand direct support for
additional GOES-R Risk Reduction projects as time and funds permit.
Summary of Accomplishments
The McIDAS-V development team has supported GOES-R Risk Reduction research by
utilizing the data analysis and advanced interactive visualization capabilities of McIDASV. Given the broad array of functionality that is being developed for McIDAS-V, the
GOES-R Risk Reduction program provides an excellent opportunity to develop and
refine new analysis tools for this open source, freely available software package. For
FY12 we proposed the following milestones:

Support for the GOES-R Nearcasting Project
 Implement bi-quadratic interpolation for validating NearCast trajectory gridded
fields against NCEP/ECMWF re-analysis. Initial efforts are currently being
tested.
 Use McIDAS-V to examine time evolution of NearCast/re-analysis differences
using a default bi-linear scheme.
 Add scalar flux diagnostic via Jython programming interface.

Determining Visualization and Data Analysis need for GOES-R Risk Reduction
projects
 Conduct a survey of all GOES-RRR projects and to create a summary of project
analysis and visualization needs.
 Distribute this information in reports and meetings.
 Contact and establish collaboration(s) with selected GOES-RRR project team(s)
to further develop tools specifically aimed at their project needs.
Task 1: Support for the GOES-R NearCasting Project
We have developed computation and display capability of wind field trajectories: Trilinear interpolation code for trajectory computation has been developed, and is being
tested and implemented into the McIDAS-V framework. Specialized user interface
components will allow users to control various aspects of the trajectory display, e.g.,
density, ribbon length and width, and forward or reverse tracing.
NearCast Isentropic coordinates:
We have developed McIDAS-V Jython formulas to display parameters on isentropic
levels in the 3D display. The figure below shows contoured pressure (colored by value)
on the 310K isentropic surface (colored solid). The data is stored in GRIB2 format.
Task 2: Determining Visualization and Data Analysis Needs for GOES-R
Risk Reduction Projects
We have almost completed the user survey form and are currently putting on the finishing
touches and creating an email list of GOES-R scientists, other NOAA users and other
national and international users. The survey is included as an attachment to the email.
Plans for Year 3
We plan to utilize the remaining 25% funds from this year and next year’s funding to
further the NearCasting work. to distribute the survey, summarize results and take
appropriate actions, and to continue to expand the use of McIDAS-V for GOES-R users.
It should be mentioned that GOES-R AWG Imagery Team funding has allowed us to
significantly expand the functionality of McIDAS-V for the GOES-R program. A major
recent achievement is the development of a scripting capability to automate product
creation (see the monthly AWG Imagery Team reports for details).
Year 3 Budget
Labor and Fringe Benefits
Hours
Rate
Salary
Fringe
Cost
Totals
_____
69.96
48.88
_____
700
9,775
_____
308
4,301
_____
1,008
14,076
_____
a) Task Leader - T. Achtor
b) Task Leader - T. Rink
_____
10
200
_______
Subtotal
10,475
4,609
Travel
a) Trip for Researcher (1) / 3 days / Meeting-Washington DC
$15,084
1,430
_______
1,430
Parts, Materials, Fees and Services
97
Publications:
0
Data Acquisition Support
0
University Indirect Cost at 50.5%
Capital Equipment
TOTAL
Recent Conference and Workshop Presentations on McIDAS-V
(note: majority of the travel funding is from other resources)
AMS Annual Meeting: 2012
AMS Satellite Meteorology Conference: 2012
AGU Fall Meeting: 2011 (abstract submitted for 2012)
NOAA Direct Broadcast: 2011
GOES-R User’s Conference: 2011
EUMETSAT Satellite Conference: 2011, 2012
International TOVS Working Group Meeting: 2012
McIDAS Users Group: Workshops 2011-2012
8,389
0
________
$25,000