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15.6 Displaying non-AREA Imagery

For years, the only way to use imagery that was not in McIDAS AREA format in McIDAS was to write a routine that would convert the imagery into an AREA file. With the implementation of ADDE, the job becomes one of creation of a secondary ADDE server that understands the non-McIDAS imagery files.

There are now a number of commercial NOAAPORT reception systems that can be used to ingest the GOES East and West sectors in NOAAPORT channels 1 and 2. In addition, the SSEC Desktop Ingestor (SDI) is a satellite ingestion facility that can be used to gather imagery from a variety of satellites. All of these systems store ingested data in a format different from McIDAS AREA. The UPC-developed GINI ADDE server and the ADDE server on the SSEC SDI systems allow McIDAS users to access the data in its native format. McIDAS users make various ADDE requests (list, display, copy, remap, etc.) to the server for display on their local workstation. As is the case for all ADDE servers, the machine with the data need only be accessible by TCP/IP Ethernet.

In the Spring of 2002, the Steve Chiswell of the UPC developed a technique that allows combining NEXRAD Level III products into US National composite images. Several of these (e.g., Base Reflectivity at Tilt 1; 1-hour Storm Rainfall; and Storm Total Rainfall) are now produced regularly and distributed to Unidata IDD participants in the FNEXRAD data stream. These images are available to McIDAS users locally, if they choose to ingest the FNEXRAD datastream products, or remotely from a number of Cooperating Community Servers that allow public access to their McIDA ADDE remote servers.

  1. If a McIDAS session is not already running, start one with at least six frames.

    Type: mcidas

    at the Unix prompt.

NOAAPORT GINI Imagery Display

Displaying GINI formatted NOAAPORT imagery is functionally no different for the end user than displaying imagery stored in AREA format. The only difference lines in the name of the data set used for data access.

The various sectors available in the channels 1 (GOES-East) and 2 (GOES-West) of the NOAAPORT broadcast are accessible through the following ADDE dataset names (group and descriptor):

Imagery Data type ADDE dataset names
1 km VIS East CONUS GINIEAST/GE1KVIS
4 km 12.0 um East CONUS GINIEAST/GE4K12
4 km 3.9 um East CONUS GINIEAST/GE4K39
4 km 10.7 um East CONUS GINIEAST/GE4KIR
8 km WV East CONUS GINIEAST/GE8KWV
24 km 12.0 um Nhem-Composite GINIEAST/GNC24K12
24 km 3.9 um Nhem-Composite GINIEAST/GNC24K39
24 km 10.7 um Nhem-Composite GINIEAST/GNC24KIR
24 km VIS Nhem-Composite GINIEAST/GNC24KVIS
24 km WV Nhem-Composite GINIEAST/GNC24KWV
8 km 10.7 um Puerto Rico National GINIEAST/GPN8KIR
8 km VIS Puerto Rico National GINIEAST/GPN8KVIS
8 km WV Puerto Rico National GINIEAST/GPN8KWV
1 km VIS Puerto Rico Regional GINIEAST/GPR1KVIS
4 km 12.0 um Puerto Rico Regional GINIEAST/GPR4K12
4 km 3.9 um Puerto Rico Regional GINIEAST/GPR4K39
4 km 10.7 um Puerto Rico Regional GINIEAST/GPR4KIR
8 km WV Puerto Rico Regional GINIEAST/GPR8KWV
8 km 12.0 um Super-National GINIEAST/GSN8K12
8 km 3.9 um Super-National GINIEAST/GSN8K39
8 km Sounder Cloud Top Pressure GINIEAST/GSN8KCTP
8 km 10.7 um Super-National GINIEAST/GSN8KIR
8 km Sounder Lifted Index GINIEAST/GSN8KLI
8 km Sounder Precipitable Water GINIEAST/GSN8KPW
8 km Sounder SFC Skin Temperature GINIEAST/GSN8KSFCT
8 km VIS Super-National GINIEAST/GSN8KVIS
8 km WV Super-National GINIEAST/GSN8KWV

NOAAPORT Channel 2 GINI imagery.

NOAAPORT GOES-West GINI Imagery
Imagery Data type ADDE dataset names
8 km 10.7 um Alaska National GINIWEST/GAN8KIR
8 km VIS Alaska National GINIWEST/GAN8KVIS
8 km WV Alaska National GINIWEST/GAN8KWV
16 km WV Alaska Regional GINIWEST/GAR16KWV
2 km VIS Alaska Regional GINIWEST/GAR2KVIS
8 km 12.0 um Alaska Regional GINIWEST/GAR8K12
8 km 3.9 um Alaska Regional GINIWEST/GAR8K39
8 km 10.7 um Alaska Regional GINIWEST/GAR8KIR
14 km IR Hawaii National GINIWEST/GHN14KIR
14 km VIS Hawaii National GINIWEST/GHN14KVIS
14 km WV Hawaii National GINIWEST/GHN14KWV
1 km VIS Hawaii Regional GINIWEST/GHR1KVIS
4 km 12.0 Hawaii Regional GINIWEST/GHR4K12
4 km 3.9 um Hawaii Regional GINIWEST/GHR4K39
4 km 10.7 um Hawaii Regional GINIWEST/GHR4KIR
8 km WV Hawaii Regional GINIWEST/GHR8KWV
24 km 10.7 um Mult-Composite GINIWEST/GMC24KIR
24 km VIS Mult-Composite GINIWEST/GMC24KVIS
24 km WV Mult-Composite GINIWEST/GMC24KWV
24 km 12.0 um Nhem-Composite GINIWEST/GNC24K12
24 km 3.9 um Nhem-Composite GINIWEST/GNC24K39
24 km 10.7 um Nhem-Composite GINIWEST/GNC24KIR
24 km VIS Nhem-Composite GINIWEST/GNC24KVIS
24 km WV Nhem-Composite GINIWEST/GNC24KWV
8 km 12.0 um Super-National GINIWEST/GSN8K12
8 km 3.9 um Super-National GINIWEST/GSN8K39
8 km Sounder Cloud Top Pressure GINIWEST/GSN8KCTP
8 km 10.7 um Super-National GINIWEST/GSN8KIR
8 km Sounder Lifted Index GINIWEST/GSN8KLI
8 km Sounder Precipitable Water GINIWEST/GSN8KPW
8 km Sounder SFC Skin Temperature GINIWEST/GSN8KSFCT
8 km VIS Super-National GINIWEST/GSN8KVIS
8 km WV Super-National GINIWEST/GSN8KWV
1 km VIS West CONUS GINIWEST/GW1KVIS
4 km 12.0 um West CONUS GINIWEST/GW4K12
4 km 3.9 um West CONUS GINIWEST/GW4K39
4 km 10.7 um West CONUS GINIWEST/GW4KIR
8 km WV West CONUS GINIWEST/GW8KWV

NOAAPORT Channel 1/2 GINI imagery.

NOAAPORT GOES-East/West Composite GINI Imagery
Imagery Data type ADDE dataset names
24 km 12.0 um Nhem-CompositeGINICOMP/GNC24K12
24 km 3.9 um Nhem-Composite GINICOMP/GNC24K39
24 km 10.7 um Nhem-CompositeGINICOMP/GNC24KIR
24 km VIS Nhem-Composite GINICOMP/GNC24KVIS
24 km WV Nhem-Composite GINICOMP/GNC24KWV
8 km 12.0 um Super-National GINICOMP/GSN8K12
8 km 3.9 um Super-National GINICOMP/GSN8K39
8 km 10.7 um Super-National GINICOMP/GSN8KIR
8 km VIS Super-National GINICOMP/GSN8KVIS
8 km WV Super-National GINICOMP/GSN8KWV

  1. Tell McIDAS where you want to look to see NOAAPORT GINI imagery.

    Type: DATALOC ADD GINIWEST ADDE.UCAR.EDU

  2. List all of the GOES-West 1km Visible products available.

    Type: IMGLIST GINIWEST/GW1KVIS.ALL

    Note that the time it takes to get the listing on your terminal depends on how many GW1KVIS sectors are available, and the loading of the ADDE server from which the data are being accessed. Your mileage may vary.

  3. Display the latest GOES-West 1km Visible sector centered over Denver, CO in frame 1 and draw a map on top of it.

    Type: IMGDISP GINIWEST/GW1KVIS 1 STA=KDEN SF=YES EU=IMAGE REFRESH='EG;MAP H'

  4. Display the same image blown down by a factor of three so you can get a better view of the regional cloud patterns.

    Type: IMGDISP GINIWEST/GW1KVIS 1 STA=KDEN MAG=-3 SF=YES EU=IMAGE REFRESH='EG;MAP H'

  5. Load a sequence of GOES-West 4km Visible sectors centered over Salt Lake City, Utah on your workstation and loop them.

    Type: IMGDISP GINIWEST/GW4KIR STA=KSLC ALL=1 6 SF=YES EU=BREF REFRESH='EG (GRA);MAP H GRA=(GRA)'
    Type: LB 1 6
    Type: DR 5*3 15
    Type: TERM L ON

NEXRAD Level III Composite Product Display

Displaying NEXRAD Level III composite imagery is functionally no different for the end user than displaying imagery stored in AREA format. The only difference lines in the name of the data set used for data access. We access NEXRAD composite products through the ADDE NEXRCOMP dataset.

The following table lists the different types of composite NEXRAD imagery available from the Cooperating Community Servers:

NOAAPORT NEXRAD Level III FNEXRAD Composite Imagery
Imagery Data type ADDE dataset names
NEXRAD 1 km Base Reflectivity Tilt 1 NEXRCOMP/1KN0R-NAT
NEXRAD 2 km 1-hour Surface Rain Total NEXRCOMP/2KN1P-NAT
NEXRAD 4 km Storm Total Rainfall NEXRCOMP/4KNTP-NAT
NEXRAD 6 km Base Reflectiveity Tilt 1 NEXRCOMP/6KN0R-NAT
NEXRAD 10 km Radar Coded Message NEXRCOMP/10KRCM-NAT

  1. List all of the 1 km Base Reflectivity at Tilt 1 composite products:

    Type: DATALOC ADD NEXRCOMP ADDE.UCAR.EDU
    Type: IMGLIST NEXRCOMP/1KN0R-NAT.ALL

    Note that the time it takes to get the listing on your terminal depends on how many 1KN0R-NAT sectors are available, and the loading of the ADDE server from which the data are being accessed. Your mileage may vary.

  2. Display the latest 1KN0R-NAT sector in frame 1 and draw a map on top of it.

    Type: IMGDISP NEXRCOMP/1KN0R-NAT 1 SF=YES STA=TWX MAG=-2 EU=BREF24 REFRESH='EG;MAP H'

  3. Load a sequence of 6KN0R-NAT sectors on your workstation and loop them.

    Type: IMGDISP NEXRCOMP/6KN0R-NAT STA=TWX ALL=1 6 SF=YES EU=BREF24 REFRESH='EG (GRA);MAP H GRA=(GRA)'
    Type: LB 1 6
    Type: DR 5*3 15
    Type: TERM L ON

  4. Display the latest 1 km Base Reflectivity composites in frame 1 centered over Denver, CO, and draw a map on top of it.

    Type: IMGDISP NEXRCOMP/1KN0R-NAT 1 SF=YES STA=KDEN EU=BREF24 REFRESH='EG;MAP H'

  5. Display a loop of the latest 4 km Storm Total Precipitation sectors in frames 1 through 6 centered over Denver, CO, and draw a maps of county outlines for Colorado on top of them.

    Type: IMGDISP NEXRCOMP/4KNTP-NAT ALL=1 6 SF=YES STA=KDEN MAG=2 EU=PRET REFRESH='EG;MAP SAT 8 COUNTY=ALL ST=CO;MAP H 1 WID=2'
    Type: TERM L ON

NOAAPORT NEXRAD Level III Product Display

The model currently used at the UPC for storage of NEXRAD Level III products is one where data files are stored in subdirectories of one top level node. With daily scouring, we end up having about 1400 of each type of NEXRAD image online at any time. Since there are roughly 20 types of NEXRAD products, you can see that the number of files adds up rapidly. We use multiple subdirectories to limit the numbers of data files stored in any one location. This helps alleviate problems that some Unix systems can have listing directories that have numerous files.

The process of displaying NEXRAD Level III products is the same as for NEXRCOMP composites. We maintain 21 ADDE data sets, one for each type of Level III image product.

NOAAPORT NEXRAD Level III NNEXRAD/FNEXRAD Imagery
Imagery Data type ADDE dataset names
NEXRAD Base Reflectivity Tilt 1 RTNEXRAD/N0R
NEXRAD Base Reflectivity Tilt 2 RTNEXRAD/N1R
NEXRAD Base Reflectivity Tilt 3 RTNEXRAD/N2R
NEXRAD Base Reflectivity Tilt 4 RTNEXRAD/N3R
NEXRAD Composite Reflectivity RTNEXRAD/NCR
NEXRAD Layer Reflect SFC-24 K ft RTNEXRAD/N0L
NEXRAD Layer Reflect 24-33 K ft RTNEXRAD/N1L
NEXRAD Layer Reflect 33-60 K ft RTNEXRAD/N2L
NEXRAD Echo Tops RTNEXRAD/NET
NEXRAD Vertical Liquid H2O RTNEXRAD/NVL
NEXRAD 1-hour Surface Rain Total RTNEXRAD/N1P
NEXRAD 3-hour Surface Rain Total RTNEXRAD/N3P
NEXRAD Storm Total Rainfall RTNEXRAD/NTP
NEXRAD Radial Velocity Tilt 1 RTNEXRAD/N0V
NEXRAD Radial Velocity Tilt 2 RTNEXRAD/N1V
NEXRAD Radial Velocity Tilt 3 RTNEXRAD/N2V
NEXRAD Radial Velocity Tilt 4 RTNEXRAD/N3V
NEXRAD 248 nm Base Reflectivity RTNEXRAD/N0Z
NEXRAD Storm-Rel Mean Vel Tilt 1 RTNEXRAD/N0S
NEXRAD Storm-Rel Mean Vel Tilt 2 RTNEXRAD/N1S
NEXRAD Storm-Rel Mean Vel Tilt 3 RTNEXRAD/N2S

As can be seen from the table, the ADDE data set for the tilt 1, base reflectivity NEXRAD product is RTNEXRAD/N0R.

  1. List all of the stations reporting Reflectivity at Tilt 1 sectors.

    Type: DATALOC ADD RTNEXRAD PAPAGAYO.UNL.EDU
    Type: IMGLIST RTNEXRAD/N0R ID=LIST

    NOTE: This listing may take a significant amount of time the first time an ADDE NEXRAD data set is accessed. Successive access to the same data set should be fast since search results will be cached on the server.

  2. Next, generate a list of the available N0R products for the Denver, CO NEXRAD (FTG).

    Type: IMGLIST RTNEXRAD/N0R.ALL ID=FTG

  3. Display a loop of Tilt 1 Base Reflectivity images for the Denver, CO NEXRAD (FTG) your workstation and loop them.

    Type: IMGDISP RTNEXRAD/N0R ALL=1 6 ID=FTG STA=FTG SF=YES EU=BREF REFRESH='EG (GRA);MAP SAT 8 COUNTY=ALL GRA=(GRA);MAP H 1 WIDTH=2 GRA=(GRA)'
    Type: LB 1 6
    Type: DR 5*3 15
    Type: TERM L ON


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