The Grid Analysis and Display System (GrADS) is an interactive desktop tool that is used for easy access, manipulation, and visualization of earth science data. The format of the data may be either binary, GRIB, NetCDF, or HDF-SDS (Scientific Data Sets).
GrADS has been implemented worldwide on a variety of operating systems.
GrADS uses a 4-Dimensional data environment: longitude, latitude, vertical level, and time. Data sets are placed within the 4-D space by use of a data descriptor file. GrADS interprets station data as well as gridded data, and the grids may be regular, non-linearly spaced, gaussian, or of variable resolution.
Features include:
- 5-Dimensional data environment: the four conventional dimensions (longitude, latitude, vertical level, and time) plus an optional 5th dimension for grids that is generally implemented but designed to be used for ensembles.
- Display data in a number of graphical techniques: Line and bar graphs, scatter plots, smoothed contours, shaded contours, vector, streamlines, wind vectors, grid boxes, shaded grid boxes, and station model plots.
- Reads GRIB (version 1 and 2), gridded binary, BUFR, GrADS station data, NetCDF (classic and NetCDF-4), HDF4-SDS, HDF5, and OPeNDAP (grids and station data).
- Writes binary, NetCDF (classic and NetCDF-4), GeoTIFF, KML.
- Draws and writes shapefiles.
- Animate images.
- Programmable interface (scripting language) that allows complex analysis and display applications. It is similar to REXX in implementation.
- Batch mode.
- GrADS scripting language allows for sophisticated analysis and display applications. Use scripts to display buttons and dropmenus as well as graphics, and then take action based on user point-and-clicks. GrADS can be run in batch mode, and the scripting language facilitates using GrADS to do long overnight batch jobs.
- GrADS Data Server (GDS) is a stable, secure data server that uses the OPeNDAP protocol to provide subsetting and analysis services across the internet.
Website: cola.gmu.edu/grads
Support: Documentation, Forum
Developer: Brian Doty and the Institute of Global Environment and Society (IGES)
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
GrADS is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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