This is the primary editing, viewing, and (some) date analysis tool for radar data. To start, just type "editor" and enter. A graphics window will come up by clicking the mouse. Then follow this sample start of an editor session to get started:
ats% editor
Opened device type x11, Wsta 0x19a000
Got 128 colors at 0
FOF radar data editor (Unix)
-1 = EXIT
0 = Continue
1 = Save menus, prompts, and user responses
Select Option
(NOTE: A Return is defaulted to a "0" response).
The Editor requires its own reformatted file. To create
such a file from tape or from files produced by Todisk or
Toindex, you must exercise the TAPE/DISK INPUT option.
To access an existing Editor file (file with .red suffix)
to edit or display data, you must first exercise the ACCESS
AN EDITOR FILE option before selecting EDITING AND DISPLAY.
To create a Universal Format output tape from a disk file,
you must first ACCESS AN EDITOR FILE before exercising the
TAPE/DISK OUTPUT option.
0 = EXIT this program
1 = Tape/disk input
2 = Access an editor file
3 = Editing and display
4 = Tape/disk output
5 = On line documentation
Select next course of action: 1
Enter file name: MCTEX_951117_0508.uf
Type the editor file name without .red suffix ==> MCTEX_951117_0508
Hit to continue
17-NOV-95 05:08:34 AZ:269.8 EL: 0.7 FX: 0.7 PPI FI: 1 RE: 1 LE:3664 SW: 1
MCTEX Nguiu
7 FIELDS: UZ R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
CZ R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
VR R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
SW R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
ZD R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
PH R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
RH R1: 0.000 GS: 0.300 NG: 480 EC:
Type the number of records to be read in 32000
Type the beam skip factor (optional)
-1 = Start over
0 = Continue
1 = Azimuth subsectioning
2 = Elevation subsectioning
3 = Specify the max. no. of gates per field
Select option
DEFAULT CASE: Use the range to the first gate (R1), the gate
spacing (GS) and the no. of gates in the first
field in the volume
-1 = Start over
0 = Default
1 = Enter R1, GS, etc.
Select option
Enter the fields to be input from the tape.
Type 2 character field mnemonic (0=Cease) cz
Type up to 40 characters of description for this field reflectivity
If there is an error in the range to the first gate (R1)
in the input data set, then
type R1 error
If there is an error in the gate spacing (GS) ...
type GS error
Type 2 character field mnemonic (0=Cease) zd
Type up to 40 characters of description for this field differential reflectivity
type R1 error
type GS error
Type 2 character field mnemonic (0=Cease) ph
Type up to 40 characters of description for this field phase shift
type R1 error
type GS error
Type 2 character field mnemonic (0=Cease) rh
Type up to 40 characters of description for this field correlation coeff
type R1 error
type GS error
Type 2 character field mnemonic (0=Cease) vr
Type up to 40 characters of description for this field radial velocity
type R1 error
type GS error
Type 2 character field mnemonic (0=Cease)
You have asked for 5 fields of 480 gates each.
Space for two scratch fields will be added.
Hit to continue ... or
type number of scratch fields required: 5 (usually same as # of fields
so you have space for copies)
Hit to start input
F: 1 R: 2 L:3664 B: 2 05:08:34 A:270. E: 0.7 F: 0.7 PPI S: 1 G: 0.30
F: 1 R: 32 L:3664 B: 32 05:08:38 A:307. E: 0.7 F: 0.7 PPI S: 1 G: 0.30
F: 1 R: 62 L:3664 B: 62 05:08:42 A:344. E: 0.7 F: 0.7 PPI S: 1 G: 0.30
F: 1 R: 92 L:3664 B: 92 05:08:46 A: 20. E: 0.7 F: 0.7 PPI S: 1 G: 0.30
F: 1 R: 122 L:3664 B: 122 05:08:50 A: 57. E: 0.7 F: 0.7 PPI S: 1 G: 0.30
F: 2 R: 152 L:3664 B: 152 05:08:56 A: 89. E: 2.0 F: 2.2 PPI S: 3 G: 0.30
F: 2 R: 182 L:3664 B: 182 05:08:59 A: 52. E: 2.1 F: 2.2 PPI S: 3 G: 0.30
.
.
. (etc)
0 = EXIT this program
1 = Tape/disk input
2 = Access an editor file
3 = Editing and display
4 = Tape/disk output
5 = On line documentation
Select next course of action: 3
Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red
Select the next process number (1 for list): 1
*******************************************************
2 = Session control
3 = Tape functions
5 = Plot next scan
11 = Change current active disk file number
22 = List known field mnemonics and their descriptions
67 = Zap the Plot Parameter and Boundary tables
76 = Scan or volume table modification
77 = Display beam numbers, azimuths, elevations, etc.
78 = Display beam contents gate by gate
85 = Display header beam by beam
86 = Display housekeeping beam by beam
88 = Scan table contents
89 = Table buffer contents
90 = Change the contents of a table buffer
91 = Display fields in a beam
Hit to continue
123 = Annotate color plots
188 = Volume table contents
321 = Forward and backward azimuth links
322 = Subsection data
331 = Copy data from secondary to primary data file
332 = Generate a new file with a different block size
333 = Change housekeeping
334 = Beam by beam deletion
335 = Convert dbm to dbz
336 = Convert ncp to standard deviation
350 = Shift a field relative to the rest
353 = Filtering (Q&D Kalmann) in azimuth and range
360 = Blaskovic special matrix process
Hit to continue
430 = Correction of bad NCP data
431 = Change the scale of the data
432 = Functional modification of data (ax+b)
The following processes can use the polygon boundary.
440 = Ground clutter removal
------------------------------
441 = Difference of two fields
------------------------------
442 = Radial gate to gate differencing
443 = Copy from 1 field to another
444 = Remove (delete) unwanted data
445 = Forced velocity unfolding
446 = RSF velocity unfolding alogrithm
447 = ZDR filtering [Chill]
449 = Despeckling algorithm
454 = Thresholded copy from 1 field to another
456 = Subtract storm motion
460 = Histograms
Hit to continue
542 = Change target window display parameters
543 = Modify targeted data points
544 = Delete targeted data points
545 = Change nyquist interval of targeted data points
547 = Inspect targeted data points
555 = Color plots (primary)
556 = Irregular boundary definition or modification
using the target
557 = Generate range and angle grid in a graphic image
558 = Generate a cartesian grid in a graphics image
664 = Rhi from ppi color plots
666 = Cappi color plots
667 = Vertical slice plots (RAMTEK only)
668 = Cartesian grid for vertical slice plots.
670 = Mesonet data plots or overlays.
Editor is an interactive, menu-based piece of software that is
useful but old (interface technology circa early 1980's). Each
command above is begun by entering the number and hitting return.
Some of the more common commands are:
1. 555: display's PPI's of up to 4 variables at once.
2. 664: display's RHI's of up to 4 variables at once.
3. 557: Generate range rings on your display.
4. 558: Generate a 2-D grid on your display.
5. 443: Makes copies of a data variable.
6. 444: Deleting data (either thresholded or not).
7. 556: Creating boundaries for editing (ie deleting or unfolding).
8. 445: Manual velocity unfolding routine.
9. 547: You can inspect data points using the mouse.
10. 460: Create Histograms of data.
11. 447: Inspect Grad-Z problems for Zdr
12. 432: Modify data by a multiplicative and/or additive constant
To view your data in PPI mode, use 555 and 664 for RHI mode. The menus are similar for both except you must choose an azimuth in 664 mode. For polarimetric data, RDSS will often not choose appropriate plotting ranges. Use option "3 = Change the plot parameters " to change the magnification, location of the plots, variables plotted, and range of values plotted for each variable. The menus are fairly self-explanatory. Give it a try.
Editing and QC'ing is a critical first step in analyzing any radar data but especially with polarimetric radar data. Your editing requirements will vary with each radar and each case. However, here are some guidelines and hints to get you started:
1. First, it is often wise to make copies of variables that your are editing in case you make a mistake (it is better than starting from scratch). Use command 443 to make a copy:
Select the next process number (1 for list): 443 Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red This process copies data from one field to another field 1) CZ Anonymous 2) ZD Anonymous 3) RH Anonymous 4) PH Anonymous 5) VR Anonymous 6) ZT grad Z > 20 dbZ/km Type source field mnemonic CZ Type destination field mnemonic ZH Type up to 40 characters describing this field copy of CZ -1 = EXIT 0 = Use boundary 1 = Do not use boundary 2 = Enter azimuth or range limits Select option 1 -1 = EXIT 0 = Continue 1 = Enter azimuth limits 2 = Enter range limits Select option -1 = EXIT 0 = Process last scan plotted 1 = Choose the scan to process 2 = Process a volume 3 = Enter beam limits of process Select option 2 Type the volume no. 1 Hit2. If you are working with polarimetric data, then you should be concerned with the effects of mis-matched sidelobes in areas of high reflectivity gradients (ie grad-Z>20 dBZ/km) on your measurement of Zdr (also LDR and rhoHV). To investigate this possibility, run option 447 as follows:to start process
Select the next process number (1 for list): 447 Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red This process does a thresholded copy of the ZDR field using the reflectivity gradient as a threshhold Threshold field values greater than the threshold cause a deletion in the destination field. The default ZDR source field mnemonic is ZD -1 = EXIT this process 0 = Default ... or Type ZDR source field mnemonic The default ZDR destination field mnemonic is ZT HitThis program will delete all gates of Zdr for which grad Z exceeds the threshold you specify and place the results in ZT. This tool is best used as a guideline. Compare the Zdr pattern with potential problem areas located by 447. If Zdr seems physically too high in a region deleted by 447, then it is probably an artifact and should either be removed or appropriately noted as artifact.for default ... or Type ZDR destination field mnemonic Type up to 40 characters describing this field grad Z > 20 dbZ/km The default reflecivity threshold field mnemonic is DZ Hit for default ... or type threshold field mnemonic CZ The threshhold is a linear function specified by a slope and intercept. Enter the slope 0.0 Enter the intercept 20.0 (note: this # is not written in stone)
3. Otherwise, you should begin by thresholding noise out of your data using power (DM), the correlation coefficient (RX or RH), and/or reflectivity (DZ or ZH) depending on what is available to you. This can be accomplished with a thresholded, volume wide delete using option 444 as follows:
Select the next process number (1 for list): 444
Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red
This process is for removing unwanted data in up to 5 fields
-1 = EXIT
0 = Unconditional delete
1 = Test on one field
2 = Test on two fields
Select option 1
Type test field mnemonic rx
Choice of a single bound implies the other is unbounded
0 = Apply both the lower and upper bounds
1 = Apply only the lower bound
2 = Apply only the upper bound
Select option 1
Type the lower bound 0.7 (note: this # is not written in stone)
0 = Data outside the bounds will be removed
1 = Data inside the bounds will be removed
Select option
Enter field mnemonic(s) in which deletion occurs
0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic dz
0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic dr
0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic dp
0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic vr
0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic rx
-1 = EXIT
0 = Use boundary
1 = Do not use boundary
2 = Enter azimuth or range limits
Select option 1
-1 = EXIT
0 = Continue
1 = Enter azimuth limits
2 = Enter range limits
Select option
-1 = EXIT
0 = Process last scan plotted
1 = Choose the scan to process
2 = Process a volume
3 = Enter beam limits of process
Select option 2
Type the volume no. 1
Hit to start process
You should choose the best thresholds that suit your particular situation.
4. You should manually remove ground clutter (and other spurious data such as 2nd-trip echoes and flare echoes, unless your studying them!) using the 556 and 444 commands as follows.
Select the next process number (1 for list): 556 Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red -1 = Exit 0 = Target points for the irregular boundary 1 = Clear boundary table 2 = Clear boundary overlay 3 = Remove the last point from the boundary 4 = Additional options Select option: 1 -1 = Exit 0 = Target points for the irregular boundary 1 = Clear boundary table 2 = Clear boundary overlay 3 = Remove the last point from the boundary 4 = Additional options Select option: Which window? 1 Use the LEFT mouse button to target points. Use the MIDDLE button to erase the last point. Use the RIGHT button when you are done. (Using the mouse, create a boundary around the area you wish to delete.) ENTRY 1 AZ= 97.59 RANGE= 17.29 ENTRY 2 AZ= 71.57 RANGE= 14.46 ENTRY 3 AZ= 51.71 RANGE= 13.83 . . (etc...) -1 = Exit 0 = Target points for the irregular boundary 1 = Clear boundary table 2 = Clear boundary overlay 3 = Remove the last point from the boundary 4 = Additional options Select option: -1 Select the next process number (1 for list): 444 Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red This process is for removing unwanted data in up to 5 fields 0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic cz 0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic zd 0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic ph 0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic rh 0 = Cease ... else type field mnemonic vr -1 = EXIT 0 = Use boundary 1 = Do not use boundary 2 = Enter azimuth or range limits Select option -1 = EXIT... Else apply the process 0 = Inside the boundary 1 = Outside 2 = Beyond...(from the boundary to the end of the data) 3 = Before...(from the radar to the boundary) Select option -1 = EXIT 0 = Process last scan plotted 1 = Choose the scan to process 2 = Process a volume 3 = Enter beam limits of process Select option Hit5. Unfold velocity field (or phidp if you're using MCTEX data). If you need to change the Nyquist interval because it is wrong in the UF file or because you want to unfold phidp, follow this procedure first.to start process DELTE1 5683 GATES EXAMINED 5683 DELETED
CHANGING NYQUIST:
Select the next process number (1 for list): 333 Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red This process modifies housekeeping parameters -1 = Exit this process 0 = Continue 1 = Apply changes to a scan 2 = Apply changes to a volume 3 = Specify beam limits for changes 4 = Apply changes to every beam in the file Select option 2 Type the volume number 1 -1 = Exit this process 0 = Continue 1 = The change is a constant 2 = Change an angle 3 = Change the time 4 = Preprogrammed special function (check first) 5 = Change experiment name, site, radar, etc. 6 = Change range to first gate and spacing 7 = Start over Select option 1 Type the housekeeping word number 199 Type the new contents of this word 2500 <---- This is 25 m/s (*100) -1 = Exit this process 0 = Continue 1 = The change is a constant 2 = Change an angle 3 = Change the time 4 = Preprogrammed special function (check first) 5 = Change experiment name, site, radar, etc. 6 = Change range to first gate and spacing 7 = Start over Select option (Don't forget to hit 0 or RETURN here)TO UNFOLD/DEALIAS (ie. correct velocities which wrap since they are larger than the unambiguous velocity):
(For MCTEX data, this technique can be used for phidp unfolding as well).
a. After making a copy of your velocity (VT or VR usually), display VT in one of the windows using 555. Using the same technique as above for clutter removal, draw a polygon tightly around the area that is aliased.
b. Use option 445 (forced velocity unfolding...use 446 RSF velocity unfolding algorithm at your own risk!). Type in an appropriate velocity threshold. If the fold is in a -/+ velocity field (ie folds to +/- values), then choose a -/+ number close to the Nyquist value (ie if 25 m/s then choose -/+ 24.9). Process the last scan plotted, inside the boundary. Here is an example:
Select the next process number (1 for list): 445 Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red This process does forced velocity unfolding Hitto use the default mnemonic VT else type the mnemonic of the field to be unfolded Type the center of the unfolded interval -24.9 -1 = EXIT 0 = Use boundary 1 = Do not use boundary 2 = Enter azimuth or range limits Select option -1 = EXIT... Else apply the process 0 = Inside the boundary 1 = Outside 2 = Beyond...(from the boundary to the end of the data) 3 = Before...(from the radar to the boundary) Select option -1 = EXIT 0 = Process last scan plotted 1 = Choose the scan to process 2 = Process a volume 3 = Enter beam limits of process Select option Hit to start process THE NYQUIST VELOCITY IS 25.00 M/S FUNFOL 5683 GATES EXAMINED 439 UNFOLDED
c. Use 555 to replot the same scan and check your work. If you made a mistake, use 443 to copy that scan (and that one only!) from your extra copy of velocity back to VT.
6. Lastly, if you are using the differential reflectivity, Zdr, then you should investigate the possibility of a Zdr bias (ie an artificial offset in Zdr caused by various calibration and other engineering factors). To do this, use 555 to plot Zdr to screen at one of the highest elevation angles available (>20 degrees is required) in which there is little or no heavy precipitation close to the radar. Use option 460 to construct a histogram of Zdr in 0.25 dB bins. If the absolute value of the area-weighted average Zdr (found by looking at the output) is > 0.2 dB, then option 432 should be used to shift the distribution back toward zero where it should be on average for these high elevation angles in small ice crystals and aggregates aloft. For example:
Select the next process number (1 for list): 460
Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red
Bin type: regular increments.
Lower limit: -10.00. Increment: 5.00. # steps: 17.
Source field: DZ.
Histogram will be done by areas.
-1 = Exit.
0 = Start the histogram process
1 = Change the histogram bins
2 = Display custom bin limits
3 = Reinitialize the parameter table
4 = Specify the source field
5 = Change the histogram output
6 = Change the gate weighting scheme
Select option: 4
Enter the source field mnemonic: dr
Bin type: regular increments.
Lower limit: -10.00. Increment: 5.00. # steps: 17.
Source field: DR.
Histogram will be done by areas.
-1 = Exit.
0 = Start the histogram process
1 = Change the histogram bins
2 = Display custom bin limits
3 = Reinitialize the parameter table
4 = Specify the source field
5 = Change the histogram output
6 = Change the gate weighting scheme
Select option: 5
Terminal output is ENABLED.
File output is DISABLED.
0 = Return to previous menu
1 = Toggle terminal output flag
2 = File output
Select option: 2
0 = No file output, 1 = yes file output: 1
Enter file name: zdr_test
0 = Create new version each time, 1 = Append to old version 1
Terminal output is ENABLED.
File output will be appended to zdr_test.hst
0 = Return to previous menu
1 = Toggle terminal output flag
2 = File output
Select option:
Bin type: regular increments.
Lower limit: -10.00. Increment: 5.00. # steps: 17.
Source field: DR.
Histogram will be done by areas.
-1 = Exit.
0 = Start the histogram process
1 = Change the histogram bins
2 = Display custom bin limits
3 = Reinitialize the parameter table
4 = Specify the source field
5 = Change the histogram output
6 = Change the gate weighting scheme
Select option: 1
Histogram bins.
-1 = Return to previous menu
0 = Use regularly spaced bins
1 = Use custom bins
Select option:
Enter lower bin limit: -2
Enter bin increment: 0.25
Enter number of bins: 25
Bin type: regular increments.
Lower limit: -2.00. Increment: 0.25. # steps: 25.
Source field: DR.
Histogram will be done by areas.
-1 = Exit.
0 = Start the histogram process
1 = Change the histogram bins
2 = Display custom bin limits
3 = Reinitialize the parameter table
4 = Specify the source field
5 = Change the histogram output
6 = Change the gate weighting scheme
Select option:
-1 = EXIT
0 = Use boundary
1 = Do not use boundary
2 = Enter azimuth or range limits
Select option 1
-1 = EXIT
0 = Continue
1 = Enter azimuth limits
2 = Enter range limits
Select option
-1 = EXIT
0 = Process last scan plotted
1 = Choose the scan to process
2 = Process a volume
3 = Enter beam limits of process
Select option
Hit to start process
Less than -2.00 0.04 |
-2.00 to -1.75 0.13 |
-1.75 to -1.50 0.01 |
-1.50 to -1.25 0.03 |
-1.25 to -1.00 0.17 |
-1.00 to -0.75 0.03 |
-0.75 to -0.50 0.39 |
-0.50 to -0.25 1.87 |
-0.25 to 0.00 4.36 |#
0.00 to 0.25 35.38 |############
0.25 to 0.50 52.27 |##################
0.50 to 0.75 146.15 |####################################################
0.75 to 1.00 57.23 |####################
1.00 to 1.25 36.27 |############
1.25 to 1.50 8.96 |###
1.50 to 1.75 7.01 |##
1.75 to 2.00 1.47 |
2.00 to 2.25 1.66 |
2.25 to 2.50 0.29 |
2.50 to 2.75 0.29 |
2.75 to 3.00 0.00 |
3.00 to 3.25 0.21 |
3.25 to 3.50 0.00 |
0 = Continue, 1 = Cease terminal output
3.50 to 3.75 0.01 |
3.75 to 4.00 0.01 |
4.00 to 4.25 0.00 |
Greater than 4.25 0.02 |
(By viewing zdr_test.hst, we see that the average Zdr was 0.62.)
Hit to continue
Select the next process number (1 for list): 432
Current active file no.: 1 Name: /usr/tmp/carey/MCTEX_951117_0508.red
functional modification of the data of the form Y = A*X +B
for single beams or beam runs
-1 = EXIT THIS PROCESS
0 = +B ONLY
1 = A*X ONLY
2 = A*X +B
Select option 0
1) DZ Horizontal Reflectivity
2) DR Differential Reflectivity
3) RX Correlation Coefficient
4) DP Phase shift
5) VT Velocity
6) ZT grad Z > 20 dbZ/km
Type the mnemonic field to be modified dr
0 = Apply to all gates in beam
1 = Select gate limits of application
Select option
-1 = EXIT this process
0 = A beam run
>0 = Perform modification on this beam no.
Select option
Type first beam in run 1
Type last beam in run 5000
Out of range -1 to 2356 -- try again
Type last beam in run 2356
B = -0.62
The best way to learn editor (RDSS) is to play with it! Have fun!