GEOCAT Version 1.1 Beta1 Software Release

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graemem
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:44 pm

GEOCAT Version 1.1 Beta1 Software Release

Post by graemem »

Dear Colleagues,

The CSPP Geo Team is pleased to announce that the GEOCAT Version 1.1 Beta1 software package is now available for download.

The main new feature in this release is added support for Himawari-9, which will become operational on 13 December 2022, according to information from JMA.

Capabilities

The GEOCAT software processes data from the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) onboard the Japanese Himawari-8 and Himawari-9 satellites, generating Level 1 reflectances and brightness temperatures, as well as Level 2 cloud and low cloud / fog products. The software can be run on mission-standard data in HimawariCast format as received via direct broadcast, or in Himawari Standard Data (HSD) format as received via HimawariCloud.

What's New

Version 1.1beta1 includes the following major changes compared to the earlier v1.0 beta release:
  • Himawari-9 AHI is now supported
  • Legacy GOES Imager (GVAR) is no longer supported
  • Updated core GEOCAT software baseline
  • Experimental capability to periodically download dynamic ancillary data
  • Use of additional types of dynamic ancillary data
  • Level 1 and Level 2 products can be toggled on and off, including individual channel and product selection
  • Many new command line and configuration options
A more detailed list of changes is in the Software Users' Guide, as well as a full description of supported products and capabilities.

We would like to thank users who tested the previous beta software version for your valuable feedback, which has been used to improve this release.

Beta Software

Note that this is beta software, and as such has not been as thoroughly tested as a typical production release. Beta testers are encouraged to review a list of caveats and known issues affecting this release, which can be found in the Software Users' Guide.

An important caveat is that Japan Area is not support in this beta release. Full Disk and Target Area are supported.

History and Attribution

This package uses research versions of multi-sensor product algorithms that were developed by NOAA under the GOES-R Algorithm Working Group. The core processing software (GEOCAT) is developed and maintained by a NOAA-led group located at CIMSS at the University of Wisconsin. CSPP Geo software packages are also developed at CIMSS.

System Compatibility

The software runs on CentOS 7 compatible Linux, and has also been tested on Rocky 8 Linux, which is being evaluated as a possible future follow-on to CentOS 7.

The software was successfully tested on a system matching the Version 1.1 minimum hardware specification, which is unchanged from Version 1.0.

Software Download and Installation

To obtain the software, system requirements, test data and documentation, please visit the CSPP Geo website (free registration required for download). The software package is self-contained; installation of additional third-party software is not required. Refer to the CSPP Geo GEOCAT Software Users' Guide for instructions on installing and running the software.

Contact

We welcome feedback from users on this beta software and the products, as well as any future improvements people would like to see. Please direct any feedback or questions to csppgeo.issues@ssec.wisc.edu.
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