Participants in the Short Course will run live Python code using Jupyter Notebook. You must complete the following steps prior to the Course on January 8 to set up your computer! We recommend a machine running Windows or MacOS, because it is difficult to use Jupyter Notebook in Linux.
- If Anaconda is not installed your computer, follow these instructions to install it.
- Download the following compressed file to your computer; put the file a location that is easy to remember (we suggest the Desktop). Then open the file and and extract the contents.
- Download AMS_Short_Course_2023_Python_Files.zip file
- The "AMS_Short_Course_2023_Python_Files.zip" file contains the files we will use in the Short Course, including 6 .ipynb files (Jupyter Notebook formatted Python files) and 1 .yml file (YAML Ain’t Markup Language environment configuration file):
- abi_rgb.ipynb
- check_python_packages.ipynb
- download_satellite_data.ipynb
- environment.yml
- nucaps_skewt.ipynb
- viirs_aerosol.ipynb
- viirs_fire.ipynb
- The Short Course will use four Python packages that are not part of the standard Anaconda installation, so they have to be installed individually:
- Users running an older version of Python (3.8 or older): The Short Course will use three packages that are part of the standard Anaconda installation, so they should already be installed on your computer. Depending on the version of Python you have installed, however, you may need to update these packages:
- Matplotlib version 3.5.1
- Xarray version 0.20.1
- Requests version 2.27.1
- Set up Jupyter Notebook for the Short Course:
- Follow these instructions to launch Jupyter Notebook on your computer.
- Follow these instructions to make a new folder in Jupyter Notebook and upload to it the 6 Python files (.ipynb) you downloaded in Step 2.
- Follow these instructions to check that the additional packages installed in Step 3 were installed properly, and check that installed package versions match the recommendations listed in Steps 3 & 4 (including Matplotlib, Xarray, and Requests).
- Watch these two short videos (optional but recommeded), which provide important background information on NOAA satellites that won't be covered in the Short Course:
Anaconda is free for individual users. It comes bundled with the latest stable version of Python and ~1500 of the most widely used packages. Note: Anaconda requires ~3GB of free disk space.
It is important that you follow the directions below to install the specified versions of these three packages; the code used in the Short Couse was written with these package versions. They are recent versions but are NOT the current (most up-to-date) versions available. Python is a very dynamic language, so packages update often.
If you already have these packages installed, please check that they are the recommended version number.
Alternatively, if you are comfortable setting up Python environments, use the "environment.yml" file downloaded in Step 2 to set up the "python-workshop" environment.
Instructions to Install Packages:
Windows users: go to Start → Anaconda3 → Anaconda Powershell Prompt
Mac/Linux users: open the terminal
Type (or copy and paste) the following commands into the terminal window one at a time and hit Enter:
conda install netCDF4=1.5.7
conda install -c conda-forge cartopy=0.18.0
pip install s3fs==2022.5.0
pip install metpy==1.3.0
After you type the install command and hit Enter, the terminal should begin preparing to install the package. You will be asked whether you want to proceed:
Proceed (y/n)?
Type the letter "y" and press Enter, and the package should begin downloading.
NOTE: You may see an error message when installing "s3fs" related to the dependences for the package "botocore". You can ignore this message; it won't affect the code we use in the Short Course.
To update any of these packages, follow the instructions in Step 3 to open the Anaconda Powershell Prompt or terminal window and type the following (or copy and paste) for the appropriate package(s) one at a time and then hit Enter:
conda install matplotlib=3.5.1
pip install xarray==0.20.1
pip install requests==2.27.1
When asked if you want to proceed, type the letter "y" and press Enter, and the package should begin downloading.
Some course participants are encountering an unexpected issue with the “pint” package. When running the “check_python_packages.ipynb” file, you may encounter the following error message:
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pint.unit'
If this occurs, go back to the Anaconda Powershell Prompt (Windows) or terminal (MacOS) and type the following commands (or copy and paste) one at a time and then hit Enter:
pip uninstall pint
pip install pint==0.19.2
Then re-run the “check_python_packages.ipynb” file – it should run successfully and print the versions of Python and the required packages.
Backup Files
Course Slides
Examples of "Beautiful Images" Generated in the Course (click any image to open it in a separate tab)
GOES-16 (GOES-East) ABI DustRGB Composite Image for December 2, 2022 at 20:30 UTC
SNPP/VIIRS Aerosol Optical Depth Image for September 11, 2022
NOAA-20/VIIRS Fire Detections Image for October 16, 2022 at 21:18 UTC
NOAA-20/NUCAPS Skew-T/log-P Image for November 29, 2022 at 19:08 UTC