Center fix mapping of the "fix" folder in the ATCF system
Posted by
Chris in Tampa on 10/19/2010, 7:29 am
I have developed a system to process ATCF (Automated Tropical Cyclone Forecasting) system center fix data and map it in real time. It should update for anything from this point on. The system updates every half hour, when data is available, at the same time my model system does.
The raw data comes from this folder:
ftp://ftp.tpc.ncep.noaa.gov/atcf/fix/
And using this as a guide to decode it:
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/atcf_web/docs/database/new/newfdeck.txt
I now graphically display the coordinates of each center fix along with the decoded data.
Despite working on it for a while, its usefulness is not as great as I thought it might be. But, it seems interesting enough to keep around.
For 99L, you can view it at the following links:
Simple Center Fix Map (with no additional data when you click an icon):
http://tropicalatlantic.com/models/archive/al/2010/99/1017/nhc/atcf/fix.html
Complete Center Fix Map (with full data when you click an icon; may use a lot of memory):
http://tropicalatlantic.com/models/archive/al/2010/99/1017/nhc/atcf/fix_complete.html
View all center fix data in Google Earth (opens in and requires Google Earth program):
http://tropicalatlantic.com/models/archive/al/2010/99/1017/nhc/atcf/Center_Fixes.kmz
For now my model system in alpha testing just links to the simple version. From the options pane you can then access the complete version, which puts greater load on my site which is why I probably will not feature it as much, and then also the Google Earth version which I will feature more in the future, but everything is still in alpha testing.
The complete version allows easy access to a table with all data, accessed by a link at the end of the options pane on that page, which includes data that has no coordinates. The Google Earth version does as well, but it is hidden in a folder because when the folder is fully expanded it kind of has some performance issues.
Most of the center fix data is either satellite, aircraft, or radar derived, depending on what is available.
If anyone has any suggestions about any of it, let me know. I just completed it and turned it on, so there will be errors I'm sure. I'll probably add the center fix data for other storms that have occurred this year sometime soon. |
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Center fix mapping of the "fix" folder in the ATCF system - Chris in Tampa, 10/19/2010, 7:29 am Post A Reply
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