Features
Support for several CloudSat CPR, CALIPSO CALIOP, and Aqua MODIS data sets
ccplot can plot profile, layer, and MODIS earth view data sets. See table below.
Extent selection
Extent to be plotted can be selected vertically by height, and horizontally by rays, time, geographical coordinates, or scanlines and samples (MODIS).
Custom colormaps
Custom colormaps can be constructed if you don't like any of those bundled with ccplot.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio of profile and layer plots can be set. This means your CloudSat and CALIPSO plots will have a uniform look, and thereby be easily comparable.
Multiple output formats
ccplot supports these vector and raster formats: SVG, PNG, PDF, EPS and PostScript.
Multiple projections
ccplot uses basemap map projection library. Several projections are supported, including mercator, transverse mercator, south (north) pole stereographic.
Interpolation radius
ccplot uses nearest-neighbor interpolation for resampling of data onto a regular grid. Interpolation radius can be set on the command-line.
Surface elevation
A surface elevation line can be plotted on CALIPSO profile products.
Comprehensive documentation
ccplot comes with a manual page as well as the thesis Visualising Data from CloudSat and CALIPSO Satellites, containing an overview of the A-Train constallation, products, scientific basis, data processing, and a ccplot tutorial.
Supported products
List of supported instruments and data structures is given in the table below.
| Spacecraft | Instrument | Product | Data set |
|---|---|---|---|
| CALIPSO | CALIOP | Lidar L1B Profiles | Total Attenuated Backscatter 532nm |
| Attenuated Backscatter 1064nm | |||
| Perpendicular Attenuated Backscatter 532nm | |||
| Attenuated Color Ratio 1064nm/532nm | |||
| Depolarization Ratio | |||
| Lidar L2 Cloud Layer (333m, 1km, 5km) |
Integrated Attenuated Backscatter 532nm | ||
| Integrated Attenuated Backscatter 1064nm | |||
| Integrated Attenuated Total Color Ratio 1064nm/532nm | |||
| Integrated Volume Depolarization Ratio | |||
| Midlayer Temperature | |||
| CloudSat | CPR | 2B-GEOPROF | Radar Reflectivity Factor |
| Aqua | MODIS | MYD02QKM | Bands 1, 2 |
| MYD02HKM | Bands 1-7 | ||
| MYD021KM | Bands 1-12, 13lo, 13hi, 14lo, 14hi, 15-36 |