The Environmental WorkBench - An Interactive 3D Analysis and Visualization Tool for Meteorology and Environmental Applications

The Environmental WorkBench (EWB) is a PC (WIN NT and Win95/8) and Unix based application for interactive analysis of environmental data. Observed and model generated data of all relevant types can be easily integrated into a common, easy to use visualization system. Examples include surface and upper air observations, satellite imagery, 2D and volume scan radar data, air quality observations, 3D and 2D gridded outputs from meteorological and air quality models, and outputs from Lagrangian particle dispersion models. Grib formatted data from all major modeling centers (NCEP, ECMWF, etc.) can easily be ingested. Facilities are provided for major mesoscale models such as MM5, ARPS, and COAMPS. Features of interest include: slices and isosurfaces, support for simultaneous viewing of multiple grids, support for true terrain following vertical coordinates, time-frame management with multiple, asynchronous data sources, easy inter-comparison of model results and observations, Skew-T diagrams, irregular TIN grid systems, user defined derived variables, user defined macros, and the ability to automate production of products in a non-interactive "command line" mode, among many others. Applications of the EWB to operational systems and research uses will be discussed. The use of the EWB in the USAF OPS-II operational software system in its Operational Weather Squadrons will be described.