Help
We would greatly appreciate feedback/comments on the page. Mail to Cathy Smith at (cathy.smith@noaa.gov).

WRIT Trajectory Tool
Help
Other WRIT Tools
Background Information
Related Plot/Analysis
 

Web-based Trajectory Tool

Plot a trajectory: Please try out this page and let us know what you think. We plan to improve the plotting capabilities as well as add more functionality such as multiple initial levels or locations. The code used to calculate the trajectories is kindly supplied by the University of Melbourne and details are on their Parcel Trajectory Software Home Page.

? Dataset 1?
Enter start date to end date (YYYY MM DD HH to YYYY MM DD HH). For backwards, end date should be higher than start. You are currently limited to 60 time steps or about 15 days. HH should be 00,06,12, or 18
YYYY MM DD HH
To
YYYY MM DD HH
Enter latitude/longitude and level: Lat (-90 to 90) Lon (-180 to 360) Level (mb)

Plot Options

Markers drawn for every 6 hours: No: Yes:
Map output: :
If CE, select region
go to error submittal form (Report Bugs)
Trajectory model and caveats:
Levels used are from 1000mb to 100mb. Input winds are available 4times daily(0,6,12 and 18z). The trajectory model does not know about the surface and calculations can result in air moving down through the surface. Interpolated model output is used below the surface.

Referencing Trajectory Code: The parcel trajectory software (traj3d) was obtained from the University of Melbourne Parcel Trajectory Software web page (http://www.cycstats.org/trajectories/trajhome.htm). A discussion of the algorithm is given by Noone and Simmonds (1999) and Barras and Simmonds (2009). Noone, D., and I. Simmonds, 1999: A three-dimensional spherical trajectory algorithm. Research Activities in Atmospheric and Oceanic Modelling, Report No. 28, WMO/TD-No. 942. H. Ritchie, Ed., World Meteorological Organization, 3.26-3.27. Barras, V., and I. Simmonds, 2009: Observation and modeling of stable water isotopes as diagnostics of rainfall dynamics over southeastern Australia Journal of Geophysical Research, 114, D23308, doi:10.1029/2009JD012132, 2009.

If you use plots or data from the page, we would also appreciate a reference: "Image provided by the NOAA-ESRL Physical Sciences Division, Boulder Colorado from their Web site at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/". Finally, you should reference the dataset that is used in the plot.

This is a Research and Development Application