The ANU Translator: Facilitating Computer Visualization and Data Analysis of Climate Model Outputs
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Emirom~lemal Y,q/iware, Vol. I I. Nos I 3, pp. 65 72, 1996 Copyright ~) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in Great Brflain. All rights reserved 0266 9838/96/S15.00 + 0.0(I PII: S0266-9838(96)00020-2 ELSEVIER The ANU translator: facilitating computer visualization and data analysis of climate model outputs D. E. Hyman, a D. R. Whitehouse, b J. A. Taylor? J. W. Larson? D. P. Hansen, a J. A. Lindesay ~ ;'Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia hANU Supercomputer Facility, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia ~Department of Geography, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Abstract Computer visualization and data analysis tools are an essential component in the study and evaluation of climate model output. A number of useful visualization and analysis tools already exist, each with its own set of unique strengths. A translation tool is needed to convert data from the large number of model output Ikwmats into formats suitable for use with visualization and analysis tools. Such a translator would allow a researcher using a climate model to easily exploit a large number of visualization and analysis tools. Our goal is to develop a translation tool lk~r UNIX computer systems that will be highly portable, very simple to use, and easily expandable. The translation program, The ANU translator will feature a graphical user interface when run on any system with an XII interface. It will work with a number of climate model formats, including: CCMI, CCM2, RegCM2, MM5, CSIRO, and ANU-CTM. It will produce output in a range of data file lormats, including Vis5D, GRADS, and neICDF. NetCDF allows access to a range of analysis and visualization tools, including AVS, HDF, and GMT. VisSD, GRADS, and the tools compatible with netCDF will enable the user to view data statically or in animation, including the following critical options: (1) geographic distribution plots: (2) two-dimensional graphics: and (3) fully' three-dimensional renderings. It is intended that this translation package be made widely available for use by the climate modelling community as a research and teaching aid. Copyright a3 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd Kevwords." Climate models; scientific visualization 1. Introduction model results must be achieved through the integration of vast amounts of data. Statistical methods are applied The climate modelling community relies heavily to some extent for the purposes of evaluating model upon data visualization for the evaluation and analysis performance, but it is often unclear whether or not of climate model results. Because there are no closed- such methods are strictly applicable to model results. form solutions for climate models, the analysis of Many statistical methods assume a random variable 65 66 D.E. Hyman et al./The ANU translator and/or a normal distribution; this poses a problem strengths. The most inhibiting factor for climate model- when analysing output from General Circulation Mod- lers wishing to access these tools is the problem of els (GCMs) because they are deterministic systems. In converting vast quantities of model output into formats addition to statistical analysis, numerical data analysis suitable for visualization and analysis tools. Our goal is used by climate modellers for preparing data for is to develop a computer program that will convert visualization, e.g. to time average the data before plot- large amounts of data from a number of model output ting. formats into formats suitable for inputting into a variety Scientific visualization is of value in the following of visualization and analysis tools. We aim to create ways: a program that will be highly portable, easily extend- ible, and very simple to use. We believe that such a • it serves as a diagnostic for model performance with data translation tool will be of considerable value to respect to observations; the wider climate modelling community. • it provides the modeller with a quick method of The conversion program, The ANU Translator, is checking that a model run is proceeding in a plaus- being written by Dena E. Hyman and Drew Whitehouse ible manner. This assists the modeller to prevent the at the Australian National University (ANU). The code squandering of valuable computer resources when, is written in ANSI C with a Tcl interpreter. It is due to human or computer error, a run is not designed to be highly portable, capable of running on proceeding as intended; any UNIX platform. The Translator is also designed • it helps the modeller compare the output derived to be simple to use and easily expandable. It interacts from sensitivity experiments with the output derived with the user through a Tcl/Tk user-friendly, graphical from control runs; interface, and can also be run in non-graphical mode • it provides illustrations for scientific articles and if an X11 interface or Tk are unavailable. Our goal is conference discussions; to incorporate the following models into The ANU • it provides visual aids to help scientists meet their Translator in the specified order: CCM1, CCM2, obligations to educate the public about the impor- RegCM2, MM5, CSIRO9, and ANU-CTM. A brief tance and implications of their work; description of each of these models follows in • it allows scientists to examine processes, which tend Section 1.1. Our goal is also to incorporate the follow- to incorporate the time-dependent behaviour of two ing output formats/tools into The ANU Translator in or more variables in concert; and the specified order: Vis5D, GRADS, and netCDF. • it aids scientists in locating displaced climatic fea- NetCDF allows access to AVS, GMT, HDF, and other tures that may be more difficult to detect through tools. A brief description of the output formats and statistical methods alone, e.g. a somewhat displaced tools mentioned here follows in Section 1.2. major circulation cell like the Icelandic Low. One of the most extensive and widely used analysis 1.1. Model descriptions and visualization packages in climate modelling is the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Modular Processor, which is compatible with the 1.1.1. CCM1. The NCAR Community Climate NCAR Community Climate Models (CCMs) (Buja, Model Version 1 (CCM1) is a 12-vertical-layer pseudo- 1992, 1993). The NCAR Modular Processor also reads spectral atmospheric global GCM with spectral resol- observational data written in CCM format, such as the ution R15, corresponding to a grid resolution of 4.44 ° European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts latitude x 7.5 ° longitude. CCM1 can be run with an (ECMWF) data. The NCAR Modular Processor was optional interactive surface hydrology based on a sim- designed for use on the NCAR Crays and is highly ple bucket model. For a complete description of CCM 1, dependent on Cray architecture. see Williamson et al. (1987). It has only been successfully ported to other Crays and to the IBM RS/6000. In Cray binary representation, 1.1.2. CCM2. The NCAR Community Climate the integer, character, and floating point words are all Model Version2 (CCM2) is an 18-vertical-layer equal sized, 64-bit words. The Processor takes advan- pseudo-spectral atmospheric global GCM with spectral tage of this memory structure to manage whole blocks resolution T42, corresponding to a grid resolution of of mixed mode (integer/real/character) memory as a 2.8 ° latitude x 2.8 ° longitude. Compared with CCM1, large group of integers or as a large group of reals the physical parameterizations are improved upon for depending upon the task. the IBM RS/6000 has the a number of key climate processes, including: the rare property of being able to emulate this equal- planetary boundary layer, moist convection, transport, size memory construct, but other high-end processors and clouds and radiation. A diurnal cycle is added. do not. CCM2 can be run coupled to the Biosphere-Atmos- In addition to the NCAR Modular Processor, a num- phere Transfer Scheme (BATS) for more advanced ber of other highly useful scientific visualization and treatment of land surface processes. For a complete analysis tools exist, each with its own set of unique description of CCM2, see Hack et al. (1993). D. E. Hyman et al./The ANU translator 67 1.1.3. BATS. We plan to give The ANU Translator (DAR). Its resolution in spectral space is R21; in grid the capability of reading BATS output files. The pur- space it has 64 evenly spaced longitudes on the globe poses of BATS as coupled to the CCM are (Dickinson and 28 unevenly spaced latitudes in each hemisphere. et al., 1993): CSIRO9 includes a diurnal cycle and does not include any biosphere modelling. Three layers are used for the • to calculate the net exchange of thermal infrared computation of soil temperatures, with the upper layer radiation of different surfaces and the fraction of being the surface; soil moisture is computed in the incident solar radiation absorbed by them; reservoir method. Ocean grid points adjacent to sea • to compute temperature and moisture values at land ice are modelled as 50 m deep mixed layer ocean and sea ice surfaces; (MLO) points; the location of MLO points changes as • to determine the transfers of moisture, momentum, sea ice extent waxes and wanes. Expansion of the and sensible heat between the atmosphere and the MLO points to include the entire ocean is in progress. surface; and CISRO9 computes screen temperatures, facilitating • to compute values for wind, temperature, and moist- diagnostic comparisons with observational data. The ure at the level of surface observations, within veg- model includes a particle trajectory facility for analys- etation canopies, and in the atmosphere. ing flow patterns and estimating final positions of particles introduced into the atmosphere (e.g. vol- 1.1.4. RegCM2.