NCAR - TIGGE Data Archive Tools

Data Tools

All TIGGE data are encoded in WMO GRIB-2 format. TIGGE parameters and GRIB-2 encoding specifications can be found here. As GRIB-2 is a new format, most analysis tools are undergoing their initial releases and may be limited in functionality. This page will be continually updated as new tools are developed and additional functionality becomes available.
Official documentation for WMO GRIB-2 format: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WMOCodes/GRIB.html

NCL:

The NCAR Command Language (NCL) is a free interpreted language designed specifically for scientific data processing and visualization. NCL has robust file input and output with support for NetCDF, HDF, GRIB-1 and GRIB-2 file formats. The version provided here includes support for all published TIGGE GRIB-2 parameters. The graphics are world class and highly customizable.
NCL is provided with a couple of useful command line tools:
- ncl_filedump - prints the contents of supported files in a netCDF-like view.
- ncl_convert2nc - converts one or more files in any of the supported formats to netCDF formatted files.
This version of NCL is supported on the following operating systems: Solaris, AIX, Linux, MacOS X
Further information may be found at the NCL home.

TIGGE Parameter Subset Download Scripts:

The tigge_data_processing.tar.gz package includes scripts to download user selected parameter subsets from the online TIGGE model data archive staged at NCAR (This archive includes approximately the most recent 3 weeks of TIGGE forecast cycles). Additionally, example NCAR Command Language (NCL) post-processing scripts are included.
This package can be configured to download user specified parameters on a recurring basis (i.e. download total precipitation grids from all producing centers 1 time/day for the 12z forecast cycle).
A DSS user login is required to use this software. This can be obtained at the DSS login page. Users must agree to the TIGGE data usage terms during the registration process.

PyNGL and PyNIO:

PyNGL and PyNIO provide a Python interface to most of the NCL tool and its functionality, with an emphasis on high quality 2D visualizations. PyNIO, in particular supports TIGGE GRIB-2 with the functionality provided by NCL.
Further information may be found at the PyNGL and PyNIO home.

ECMWF GRIB_API and grib2_to_netcdf Conversion Tool:

European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has developed a C GRIB API for encoding, decoding and data manipulation in GRIB-2 format. All TIGGE parameters should be recognized through ECMWF's GRIB_API. Documentation and ECMWF GRIB_API codes can be found here.
grib2_to_netcdf is a conversion utility built on the ECMWF GRIB_API and Unidata NetCDF libraries. The utility converts regular lat/lon gridded TIGGE data from GRIB-2 to NetCDF format. Source code for this utility can be found here.

NOAA tools:

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) provides a generalized set of codes for encoding, decoding and data manipulation in GRIB-2 format. Many TIGGE parameters will not be recognized using's NCEP's GRIB-2 table definitions. Documentation and NCEP GRIB2 codes can be found here.
Climate Prediction Center (CPC) provides a tool (wgrib2) for examining and manipulating GRIB-2 files. Many TIGGE parameters will not be recognized using wgrib2. Documentation and wgrib2 source code can be found here.
A modified version of wgrib2 designed to read all TIGGE parameters can be downloaded here: tiggewgrib2.tar . This version has only been tested on Sun OS 2.10, and Linux.
ncBrowse is a GUI based tool that can be used to visualize TIGGE NetCDF data.

Unidata tools:

Unidata has developed multiple tools for decoding and analyzing GRIB-2 format data. GEMPAK provides functionality for analysis of GRIB-2 data. GRIB Java Decoder provides file manipulation functionality.
Unidata IDV is a GUI based tool that can be used to visualize both NetCDF and GRIB-2 data.

NASA tools:

NASA Panoply is a GUI based tool that can be used to visualize TIGGE NetCDF data and easily compute/plot zonal averages.

GrADS:

The Grid Analysis and Display System (GrADS) is an interactive desktop tool that is used for easy access, manipulation, and visualization of earth science data. It supports many data file formats, including GRIB2 and NetCDF, and uses a 5-Dimensional data environment: the four conventional dimensions (longitude, latitude, vertical level, and time) plus an optional 5th dimension for grids that is generally implemented but designed to be used for ensembles.
GrADS can be downloaded at: http://www.iges.org/grads/