[IDV #MIN-745234]: WRF plugin?

Hi Mark-

> Full Name: Mark Laufersweiler
> Email Address: address@hidden
> Organization: University of Oklahoma
> Package Version: 2.7u1 build date:2009-07-14 19:24 UTC
> Operating System: Mac OS X
> Hardware: Java: home: 
> /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.5.0/Home version: 
> 1.5.0_19 j3d:1.5.2 fcs (build4)
> Description of problem: Is there a WRF pluggin for IDV to go from model 
> vertical coordinates to pressure etc? I have been asked by a faculty member 
> here to work with WRF output and I am not all that familar with its format 
> and output.

There is nothing in the IDV to do this.  We recommend running WRFPost to 
convert to standard pressure levels and variables.  The IDV will handle either 
GRIB or GEMPAK formatted output.  WRFPost was developed by the experts, so it's 
better to use that than for us to try our lame hands at coming up with 
something. ;-)

While the IDV can read the native grids, we don't recommend it.  There is too 
much overhead to handle the transformations from native coordinates to 
height/pressure coordinates.  Most other programs (GEMPAK, GrADS, RIP, VAPOR, 
Vis5D) need post processors to view the output as well, so we recommend that 
WRF users do the same for IDV.  I think only NCL does the transformations on 
the fly.  At least IDV will read several of the output formats (GEMPAK, Vis5D, 
GRIB), so if you want to use GEMPAK and IDV on your output, that GEMPAK might 
be the best format.

See the FAQ item at:

http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/IDV/docs/userguide/Faq.html#wrf

Don


Ticket Details
===================
Ticket ID: MIN-745234
Department: Support IDV
Priority: Normal
Status: Open