netCDF data output

General

PALM is able to output data of different quantities as time series, vertical profiles (usually horizontally averaged), two-dimensional cross sections or 3d-volume data. Depending on the kind of output (time series, profiles, etc.) and the output format (ASCII or binary) data are written to different files (file descriptions can be found here). By default, all data output files are in netCDF format (​http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/), which can be processed by many public domain and commercial (graphic) software. Data from netCDF files can also be easily read from FORTRAN programs provided that a netCDF library is available. More detailed informations about the PALM-netCDF-output is given here? and here.

Due to historical reasons, PALM can also output data in other formats suitable for some special graphic software. The exact format of these files corresponds to the requirements of the respective software. Still available at IMUK is AVS (e.g. iso-surfaces of 3d volume data). A description of the usage of the AVS software is given here?.

In the following pages, steering of the different data output and how to create plots of the data is described by some examples. Not all details of steering are mentioned. If necessary, these can be found within the description of the respective parameters. For most purposes it should be sufficient to read Generation of a PALM netCDF file? and Example of a PALM netCDF data set which explains the PALM-netCDF-output.