NCPLOT

Basic Information

Name of Program

NCPLOT

Version-Date

March 2017

Description-Date

February 2017

Catchwords

graphical postprocessor
graphical presentation of CF NetCDF data (unknown attributes are ignored)
finite element models
finite difference models
orthogonal unstructured grid model
orthogonal unstructured grid model with subgrid information
conversion or transformation (extensive - intensive) of physical units
calculation of new quantities (for display) from one or several input data sets
(optional) filter based on water depth
(optional) filter based on number of observations

Acknowledgment: This project took advantage of netCDF software developed by UCAR/Unidata (www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/).

Short Description of Functionality

The graphical postprocessor NCPLOT can be used for a scaled graphical presentation of CF NetCDF data. Different scalar quantities can be visualized in the horizontal plane. The data can be defined on nodes, edges or faces. The program works on 2D-data, 3D-data and on data with details scaled on a subgrid.
If the X- and the Y-component of a vector quantity exists, the visualization of the entire vector is possible. Normal components of a vector quantity saved on edges can be visualized as a normal vector of the edge or as an interpolated total vector.
The thin out of the display of vector arrows is possible.

Picture 1: Salinity with underlaid topography.

NCPLOT is a pure plot program without any user interaction at runtime. The layout of the picture and the graphical presentation of the data has to be described in the steering file.

The visualisation of a data set is described in a so-called 'layer'. The assignment of colors to values of a data set and the form of representation of the underlying geometry are set in one layer block of the steering file. Color legends used by a layer can be displayed on the scene and can be arranged horizontally or vertically. Another layer dependent, optional image element is a text field for the data label (e.g. Indication of the time). Also simple data operations can be executed (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, absolute value, square root).

Different layers can be plotted in a map lying upon each other. Each map can be framed. The type of frame can be a simple black edging or a complex frame with coordinates. The offered coordinate frames are optimized for values belonging to Gauss Krüger or to universal transverse mercator (UTM) projections. Different maps can be arranged in one picture.

NCPLOT creates vector graphics in CGM format.

Just in case HDF error is detected during read of a data record, the program tries to reconstruct the wanted data set from adjacent (in time) records for the same variable. This type of repair works for time dependent variables only.

The sample pictures illustrate the capability of the program NCPLOT.
Example figures: NCPLOT

Input-Files

1. general input data (file type ncplot.dat)
2. result files (file type CF-NETCDF.NC)
3. file with interval definitions for color legends (file type bounds.cfg.dat)
   Hint: (Recommended) Local configuration file or file from the directory $PROGHOME/cfg/.
4. file with list of definitions of palettes (file type palettes.cfg.dat)
   Hint: (Recommended) Provided file from the directory $PROGHOME/cfg/ or local configuration file.
5. file with definitions of colors (file type colors.cfg.dat)
   Hint: (Recommended) Provided file from the directory $PROGHOME/cfg/ or local configuration file.

For NCPLOT the following standard configuration files from the directory $PROGHOME/cfg/ are required:

• GKS parameter file: gkssystem.computername.dat

Output-Files

1. plot metafiles (CGM format)
2. (optional) informative printer file of program execution (file type ncplot.sdr)
3. (optional) trace of program execution (file type ncplot.trc)

Methodology

The data are presented by the program at their original positions (node, edge, face). A horizontal interpolation of the data is not yet possible. Node data can be visualized by marker symbols or text. Edge data can be visualized by line symbolization and face data can be presented by using a fill area symbolization. For edge and polygon data, there are also the possibilities of point-symbolization. In this case the marker or the text is positioned at the middle of the edge or at the polygon center. The edges of polygons can be also visualized by lines symbolization.

For special data files it is possible to exclude data at places with low water coverage from the display. The technic works only on original UnTRIM result files in CF NetCDF format.

Program(s) to run before this Program

DATACONVERT, GRIDCONVERT, NCAGGREGATE, NCANALYSE, NCDELTA, UNK, UNTRIM2007, UNTRIM2

Program(s) to run after this Program

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Additional Information

Language

Fortran95

Additional software

GKS (by GTS-Gral)

Original Version

G. Lang, J. Jürges

Maintenance

G. Lang, J. Jürges

Documentation/Literature

template files available in $PROGHOME/examples/ncplot

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Overview