Articles | Volume 10, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-1069-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-1069-2017
Methods for assessment of models
 | 
07 Mar 2017
Methods for assessment of models |  | 07 Mar 2017

TempestExtremes: a framework for scale-insensitive pointwise feature tracking on unstructured grids

Paul A. Ullrich and Colin M. Zarzycki

Abstract. This paper describes a new open-source software framework for automated pointwise feature tracking that is applicable to a wide array of climate datasets using either structured or unstructured grids. Common climatological pointwise features include tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones and tropical easterly waves. To enable support for a wide array of detection schemes, a suite of algorithmic kernels have been developed that capture the core functionality of algorithmic tracking routines throughout the literature. A review of efforts related to pointwise feature tracking from the past 3 decades is included. Selected results using both reanalysis datasets and unstructured grid simulations are provided.

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Short summary
Automated pointwise feature tracking is used for objective identification and tracking of meteorological features, such as extratropical cyclones, tropical cyclones and tropical easterly waves, and has emerged as an important and desirable data-processing capability in climate science. In the interest of exploring tracking functionality, this paper introduces a framework for the development of robust tracking algorithms that is useful for intercomparison and optimization of tracking schemes.