Observation datasets containing wind speed and direction were discovered, accessed, and plotted for multiple stations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Catalog-driven search using OGC CSW allowed for dynamic updating as new datasets become available (or inactive).
Data from both OPeNDAP-CF and SOS endpoints were discovered, accessed and used. The accessing of SOS endpoint leveraged IOOS driven tools (PYOOS).
Forecast model datasets were discovered, accessed, and plotted for points near the observation stations.
Standards-based tools allowed extraction of NOAA/NCEP GFS structured grid model output, courtesy of the British Met Office Iris package.
Time series plots were created visualizing wind speed and gusts on a single plot for observation stations (Figure 1), and wind direction (Figure 2).
An inline interactive map interface displays the locations of observation data and corresponding model grid points (Figure 3). A line was drawn on the map to show the distance between observation stations and the corresponding nearest model grid point.
Modeled and observation data were compared via a time series plot (Figure 4).
Figure 1: Time series plot of wind speed (blue) and gusts (green).
Figure 2: Time series plot of wind direction.
Figure 3: Map shows all the observation stations (blue) within a bounding box; the nearest model point to the observation point is shown in red. The green line connects the observation point to the model point against which it is being compared.
Figure 4: Time series of modeled and observed wind speeds for a single station.
Easy Challenges: Identified and Fixed
Some models have different longitude conventions ([0 360] and [-180 180]). This was accounted for by converting all longitude values to [-180 180].
Of all the CSW endpoints tested NGDC and NODC were the only ones with very recent wind data available. The NGDC CSW end point was used.
As of 07/31/2014, the NOAA/NCEP GFS model can't be accessed. See issue #134.
Progress: 2A Winds
Successes
Easy Challenges: Identified and Fixed
Longer-term Challenges Identified