saildrone_mission_tools

Helpful tools for Saildrone hurricane mission management.

To create an anaconda environment where the scripts should run smoothly, and activate it (this works on Linux/Mac):

conda update --all
conda env create -f configs/environment.yml
conda activate sd_mission_tools

The first time you run it, you will also need to add the util directory to the path

cd util
pwd -- will return a path (e.g., /Users/....../util)
conda develop /Users/....../util (insert the returned path instead of example)

See the Wiki for details on each of the tools: https://github.com/ajdas1/saildrone_mission_tools/wiki

Basic directory structure

• bash: contains shell scripts that describe the workflow. In a bash environment, you can run all the steps for a specific task in a row.
• configs: contains configuration .yml file and the python conda environment that makes everything work.
• scripts: where working scripts are stored - gets called within bash scripts.
• util: custom functions.

Updating glider positions

bash/get_latest_glider_position.sh

• retrieves the latest positions for Franklin and Unit_1091 gliders (courtesy of Catherine Edwards).

Downloading the latest saildrone data (low-res)

bash/download_saildrone_data.sh

• downloads the latest nc files for the saildrones specified in the config file.

Predicting JASON ovelpass times

bash/download_predic_jason_path.sh

• downloads the last (4) cycles of JASON-3 satellite data.
• extracts latitude, longitude, and time data.
• for a given point, find the next (n) return times of the satellite overpass based on previous data.

Comparing latest observations at a buoy to saildrone

/bash/download_buoy_data.sh

• downloads the latest data at the specified NDBC buoy locations.

Creating NHC 7-day outlook figures with historical storms

bash/process_nhc_outlook_areas.sh

• downloads the atcf forecasts and best track data (default from 2002 to 2023).
• renames the files for easier comprehension and cleans them up: basin_year-storm.dat.
• separates data into different wind speed radii (34-, 50, and 64-kt) products.
• downloads the latest NHC outlook advisories and compiles historical storms that started within the highlighted regions. Makes figures.
• downloads the current invest and storm best track and forecast data. Makes figures.
• create a PDF document with all the figures.

To create the pdf files, there's some additional software that needs to be installed:

• ImageMagick https://imagemagick.org/script/download.php
• pdflatex https://www.latex-project.org/get/

Real-time aircraft reconnaissance plotting

/bash/download_plot_latest_aircraft_recon.sh

• downloads and decodes the recon observations - flight level and dropsonde position
• plots on a map with saildrone locations

Reconnaissance aircraft dropsondes in range of saildrone

/bash/download_process_aircraft_dropsonde_saildrone.sh

After all dropsondes are uploaded (a day or two after a flight):

• downloads the full dropsonde data
• given a saildrone, produces a list of dropsondes within a given distance of the saildrone