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Sounding Calculation Examples#
Use functions from metpy.calc to perform a number of calculations using sounding data.
The code below uses example data to perform many sounding calculations for a severe weather event on May 22, 2011 from the Norman, OK sounding.
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
import metpy.calc as mpcalc
from metpy.cbook import get_test_data
from metpy.units import units
Effective Shear Algorithm for use in Supercell Composite Calculation
def effective_layer(p, t, td, h, height_layer=False):
"""A function that determines the effective inflow layer for a convective sounding.
Uses the default values of Thompason et al. (2004) for CAPE (100 J/kg) and CIN (-250 J/kg).
Input:
- p: sounding pressure with units
- T: sounding temperature with units
- Td: sounding dewpoint temperature with units
- h: sounding heights with units
Returns:
- pbot/hbot, ptop/htop: pressure/height of the bottom level,
pressure/height of the top level
"""
from metpy.calc import cape_cin, parcel_profile
from metpy.units import units
pbot = None
for i in range(p.shape[0]):
prof = parcel_profile(p[i:], t[i], td[i])
sbcape, sbcin = cape_cin(p[i:], t[i:], td[i:], prof)
if sbcape >= 100 * units('J/kg') and sbcin > -250 * units('J/kg'):
pbot = p[i]
hbot = h[i]
bot_idx = i
break
if not pbot:
return None, None
for i in range(bot_idx + 1, p.shape[0]):
prof = parcel_profile(p[i:], t[i], td[i])
sbcape, sbcin = cape_cin(p[i:], t[i:], td[i:], prof)
if sbcape < 100 * units('J/kg') or sbcin < -250 * units('J/kg'):
ptop = p[i]
htop = h[i]
break
if height_layer:
return hbot, htop
else:
return pbot, ptop
Upper air data can be obtained using the siphon package, but for this example we will use some of MetPy’s sample data.
col_names = ['pressure', 'height', 'temperature', 'dewpoint', 'direction', 'speed']
df = pd.read_fwf(get_test_data('20110522_OUN_12Z.txt', as_file_obj=False),
skiprows=7, usecols=[0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7], names=col_names)
# Drop any rows with all NaN values for T, Td, winds
df = df.dropna(subset=('temperature', 'dewpoint', 'direction', 'speed'
), how='all').reset_index(drop=True)
Isolate needed variables from our data file and attach units
p = df['pressure'].values * units.hPa
T = df['temperature'].values * units.degC
Td = df['dewpoint'].values * units.degC
wdir = df['direction'].values * units.degree
sped = df['speed'].values * units.knot
height = df['height'].values * units.meter
Compute needed variables from our data file and attach units
Compute the wind components
u, v = mpcalc.wind_components(sped, wdir)
Compute common sounding index parameters
ctotals = mpcalc.cross_totals(p, T, Td)
kindex = mpcalc.k_index(p, T, Td)
gdi = mpcalc.galvez_davison_index(p, T, mixrat, p[0])
showalter = mpcalc.showalter_index(p, T, Td)
total_totals = mpcalc.total_totals_index(p, T, Td)
vert_totals = mpcalc.vertical_totals(p, T)
Compture the parcel profile for a surface-based parcel
prof = mpcalc.parcel_profile(p, T[0], Td[0])
Compute the corresponding LI, CAPE, CIN values for a surface parcel
lift_index = mpcalc.lifted_index(p, T, prof)
cape, cin = mpcalc.cape_cin(p, T, Td, prof)
Determine the LCL, LFC, and EL for our surface parcel
Compute the characteristics of a mean layer parcel (50-hPa depth)
Compute the characteristics of the most unstable parcel (50-hPa depth)
Compute the Bunkers Storm Motion vector and use to calculate the critical angle
Work on the calculations needed to compute the significant tornado parameter
# Estimate height of LCL in meters from hydrostatic thickness
new_p = np.append(p[p > lclp], lclp)
new_t = np.append(T[p > lclp], lclt)
lcl_height = mpcalc.thickness_hydrostatic(new_p, new_t)
# Compute Surface-based CAPE
sbcape, _ = mpcalc.surface_based_cape_cin(p, T, Td)
# Compute SRH, given a motion vector toward the NE at 9.9 m/s
*_, total_helicity = mpcalc.storm_relative_helicity(height, u, v, depth=1 * units.km,
storm_u=u_storm, storm_v=v_storm)
# Copmute Bulk Shear components and then magnitude
ubshr, vbshr = mpcalc.bulk_shear(p, u, v, height=height, depth=6 * units.km)
bshear = mpcalc.wind_speed(ubshr, vbshr)
# Use all computed pieces to calculate the Significant Tornado parameter
sig_tor = mpcalc.significant_tornado(sbcape, lcl_height,
total_helicity, bshear).to_base_units()
Compute the supercell composite parameter, if possible
# Determine the top and bottom of the effective layer using our own function
hbot, htop = effective_layer(p, T, Td, height, height_layer=True)
# Perform the calculation of supercell composite if an effective layer exists
if hbot:
esrh = mpcalc.storm_relative_helicity(height, u, v, depth=htop - hbot, bottom=hbot)
eubshr, evbshr = mpcalc.bulk_shear(p, u, v, height=height, depth=htop - hbot, bottom=hbot)
ebshear = mpcalc.wind_speed(eubshr, evbshr)
super_comp = mpcalc.supercell_composite(mucape, esrh[0], ebshear)
else:
super_comp = np.nan
Print Important Sounding Parameters
print('Important Sounding Parameters for KOUN on 22 Mary 2011 12 UTC')
print()
print(f' CAPE: {cape:.2f}')
print(f' CIN: {cin:.2f}')
print(f'LCL Pressure: {lclp:.2f}')
print(f'LFC Pressure: {lfcp:.2f}')
print(f' EL Pressure: {el_pressure:.2f}')
print()
print(f' Lifted Index: {lift_index:.2f}')
print(f' K-Index: {kindex:.2f}')
print(f'Showalter Index: {showalter:.2f}')
print(f' Cross Totals: {ctotals:.2f}')
print(f' Total Totals: {total_totals:.2f}')
print(f'Vertical Totals: {vert_totals:.2f}')
print()
print('Mixed Layer - Lowest 50-hPa')
print(f' ML Temp: {ml_t:.2f}')
print(f' ML Dewp: {ml_td:.2f}')
print(f' ML CAPE: {mlcape:.2f}')
print(f' ML CIN: {mlcin:.2f}')
print()
print('Most Unstable - Lowest 50-hPa')
print(f' MU Temp: {mu_t:.2f}')
print(f' MU Dewp: {mu_td:.2f}')
print(f' MU Pressure: {mu_p:.2f}')
print(f' MU CAPE: {mucape:.2f}')
print(f' MU CIN: {mucin:.2f}')
print()
print('Bunkers Storm Motion Vector')
print(f' u_storm: {u_storm:.2f}')
print(f' v_storm: {v_storm:.2f}')
print(f'Critical Angle: {critical_angle:.2f}')
print()
print(f'Storm Relative Helicity: {total_helicity:.2f}')
print(f'Significant Tornado Parameter: {sig_tor:.2f}')
print(f'Supercell Composite Parameter: {super_comp:.2f}')
Important Sounding Parameters for KOUN on 22 Mary 2011 12 UTC
CAPE: 3223.89 joule / kilogram
CIN: -96.26 joule / kilogram
LCL Pressure: 949.09 hectopascal
LFC Pressure: 735.99 hectopascal
EL Pressure: 194.72 hectopascal
Lifted Index: [-6.96] delta_degree_Celsius
K-Index: 22.10 degree_Celsius
Showalter Index: [-0.08] delta_degree_Celsius
Cross Totals: 17.10 delta_degree_Celsius
Total Totals: 50.20 delta_degree_Celsius
Vertical Totals: 33.10 delta_degree_Celsius
Mixed Layer - Lowest 50-hPa
ML Temp: 20.99 degree_Celsius
ML Dewp: 20.55 degree_Celsius
ML CAPE: 3254.17 joule / kilogram
ML CIN: -138.20 joule / kilogram
Most Unstable - Lowest 50-hPa
MU Temp: 20.40 degree_Celsius
MU Dewp: 20.40 degree_Celsius
MU Pressure: 925.00 hectopascal
MU CAPE: 3693.64 joule / kilogram
MU CIN: -60.50 joule / kilogram
Bunkers Storm Motion Vector
u_storm: 21.85 knot
v_storm: 4.55 knot
Critical Angle: 67.33 degree
Storm Relative Helicity: 279.49 meter ** 2 / second ** 2
Significant Tornado Parameter: [4.60] dimensionless
Supercell Composite Parameter: [9.07] dimensionless
Total running time of the script: (0 minutes 0.241 seconds)