Python at KlimaCampus

This page shall be a central help for ZMAW/KlimaCampus users of Python. Contact LarsKaleschke for permission to edit this page. Please help to fill this page with useful information about Python for climate research and data analysis.

ZMAW Setting

Python2.6.2 requires

module load R/2.7.0
module load Python/2.6.2

Documentation and further reading

• http://www.python.org/doc/ Standard documentation

• NumPy for IDL users

• NumPy for Matlab users

• SciPy tutorial

• Software Carpentry

• Open Source Scripting for Geo-Scientific Data Processing and Analysis by LarsKaleschke KlimaCampus Lecture

Modules for Scientific Computing and Visualization

SciPy/NumPy

• http://www.scipy.org/

pylab

• Matplotlib/pylab Plotting functions with a high degree of Matlab compatibility

• http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/basemap/doc/html/ Matplotlib Basemap

Import the Basemap module

from mpl_toolkits.basemap import Basemap

GDAL

• GDAL - Geospatial Data Abstraction Library for various satellite data formats

To enable GDAL use

module load gdal

from osgeo import gdal

PyNGL PyNio

• PyNGL/PyNIO Python interface to NCAR Command Language

• Scientific visualization and data formats (netCDF, HDF, GRIB etc.)

To enable PyNGL (on ZMAW Linux ia32/x64 and solaris10) you have to type

module load PyNGL/1.2.0

Please note, that Nio should be on the top of the list, e.g.

import Nio
from osgeo import gdal
import pylab as pl

Python Interface to GrADS

• http://opengrads.org/wiki/index.php?title=Python_Interface_to_GrADS

RPy

• RPy (R from Python) Statistical computing and graphics

F2PY: Fortran to Python interface generator

Calling Fortran code from python is easy!

Fortran to Python

Topical Modules

• Seawater is a package for computing properties of seawater (UNESCO 1981 and UNESCO 1983).

• Escript/Finley: Fast Finite Elements for Partial Differential Equations

More topical software can be found at http://scipy.org/Topical_Software

Python and Climate

• Principles of Planetary Climate (RAYMOND T. PIERREHUMBERT)

• CliMT: An object-oriented Climate Modeling and diagnostics Toolkit

• Climate Data Analysis Tools (CDAT)

Download (try this at home)

A basic system for scientific computing consists of Python, ipython, numpy/scipy, pylab, and an editor of your choice

• Python interpreter

• IPython shell

• SciPy

• Matplotlib/pylab

• Editor (a nice editor for Windows user, if you don't like to install xemacs)

The python(x,y) distribution contains all that above.