A Strategy and a Tool, Ferret, for Closely Integrated Visualization and Analysis

Abstract

Ferret is a workstation-based visualization and analysis environment designed to meet the needs of physical scientists studying global ocean/climate interactions. The scientist working with Ferret is provided with a highly-automated, flexible, end-to-end environment in which he/she can probe large and complex gridded data sets, such as model outputs and observational data products, with little or no assistance from computer professionals. The design of Ferret has emphasized close integration of graphics, analysis, and data management. Ferret provides well-proven scientific graphics styles, such as contours, scatter plots, and vector diagrams, and the ability to define new variables as mathematical expressions involving database variables. Analysis is augmented by regridding capabilities and Boolean operators to perform calculations over arbitrary regions. Ferret's data management is based on a simple, adaptable data model integrated with standardized, self-describing, direct-access files.