Using Python for Model Analysis and More

Robert Hetland
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA


Python is a scripting language that is easy to learn and use (like MATLAB), is object-oriented and very powerful, and is rapidly becoming a standard language for scientific scripting. Many scientists are developing packages and toolboxes in python, for example www-pcmdi.llnl.gov/software-portal/cdat, www.pyngl.ucar.edu, and countless other, smaller packages. Many utilities are being developed with python hooks build in (like VTK, a 3D visualization library). Python has all of the basic tools required for working with numerical model data, in particular NetCDF support. Python can also be used as a wrapper for C and FORTRAN code, so you can have the speed of FORTRAN for number crunching with the ease of a high level language for data I/O. Finally, python is free and open source, and is available on all major computer platforms.