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Graphical Utilities

HYSPLIT Utilities Download Page

The Windows executable of HYSPLIT is available as a self installing file. The package is complete in that it contains all the documentation and test data. However, the utility programs such as Tcl/Tk and ImageMagick must be independently downloaded and installed to be able to use all the features of the HYSPLIT Graphical User Interface (GUI). You can download these programs from the links below. Not that each section indicates the latest version that has been tested with HYSPLIT.

Installing the Tcl/Tk graphical user interface

Although not required to run the PC version of HYSPLIT, various GUI scripts are provided that use Tcl/Tk 8.5 or later. The model can also be run from a DOS window using a command line interface. However, it is easier for novice users to use the Tcl/Tk interface. The standard HYSPLIT installation includes all the GUI scripts, but the Tcl/Tk interpreter is not part of the distribution. You can download and compile the source code, use one of the precompiled binaries available from the Tcl/Tk web site, or download and unzip the tcl.zip file to a directory on your computer (C:\tcl for example) that contains a Windows executable (bin/wish86t.exe) we compiled for you. Install the tcl software prior to installing HYSPLIT. If you download our tcl.zip file, after unzipping the file, let's assume the binary (wish86t.exe) resides under C:\tcl\bin, right-click the HYSPLIT shortcut "Run Hysplit" on the desktop, then Properties. In the Target: field, add C:\tcl\bin\wish86t.exe before C:\hysplit\guicode\hysplit.tcl (assuming hysplit was installed in C:\hysplit and separate these two strings with a blank space). Tcl/Tk version 8.5 or later is required for HYSPLIT graphical user interface.

Windows Tcl executable - ARL pre-compiled Tcl/Tk 8.6 executable.
Go to the Tcl/Tk Home Page - To download, register, and find out more about Tcl/Tk.

Installing ImageMagick Graphics File Converter

One feature of the GUI is the ability to convert the SVG graphics output file to other graphical formats. This capability is enabled through the installation of ImageMagick. ImageMagick is not part of the distribution and should be obtained and installed prior to HYSPLIT. Install the software to the suggested default directory, but when prompted for additional tasks check the box to Install Legacy Utilities. Tested versions include up to 7.0.7.

Go to the ImageMagick home page - To download, register, and find out more about ImageMagick

Predefined customized map background files

All HYSPLIT Postscript output files were created using the PSPLOT this link opens in a new window graphics library. Maps are created from customized programs which all use the same ASCII map background file called Arlmap which can be found in the /graphics directory. This is a coarse resolution global file of political boundaries and coastlines. This file can be replaced by higher resolution customized files, either created by the user, or taken from our library of existing regional data files. The files are stored in ZIP format and when decompressed will create a new Arlmap file. Either rename the original file and place the new file in the /graphics directory, or if you want to maintain both files, put the new file in the /working directory. All graphical programs first look for the map background file in the local startup directory before looking in the /graphics directory. Map background files can also be selected through the GUI. If you create your own map background file and would like to share it here with other users, please contact the ARL webmaster at arl.webmaster@noaa.gov.

The following existing map background extracts are available for downloading:

Starting with HYSPLIT version 4.9, most Postscript mapping programs support the use of Shapefiles to draw map backgrounds. See the model User's Guide for more information on how to define these files to be used by the graphical programs. Shapefiles must be supplied by the user. Note that map background Shapefiles can contain any content even the output converted from a previous concentration or trajectory simulation. Public shapefiles for U.S. County boundaries, Canada, and Mexico are provided with the distribution.

Optional GIS Package to Analyze Meteorological Data and HYSPLIT Output

The MeteoInfo GIS package was designed to view and analysis meteorological data and HYSPLIT model output. The program currently supports HYSPLIT (ARL), NetCDF, and GrADS gridded meteorological file formats. You can create 2-dimensional plane or cross-section views, overlay multiple variables, satellite images, observations (METAR), trajectories and dispersion model results. Some map background shapefiles are provided. The UNIX version can be run using the .NET development framework under Mono this link opens in a new window .

Get the most recent version - from the authors web site