Bug#587422: ITP: ferret-viz -- Interactive data visualization and analysis environment, for gridded and non-gridded climate data

[Alastair McKinstry <mckinstry@debian.org>]

Package: wnpp
Severity: wishlist
Owner: Alastair McKinstry <mckinstry@debian.org>

* Package name    : ferret-viz
  Version         : 6.2
  Upstream Author : NOAA 
* URL             : http://ferret.pmel.noaa.gov/Ferret/home
* License         : Public Domain / 
  Programming Lang: Fortran
  Description     : Interactive data visualization and analysis environment, for gridded and non-gridded climate data

Ferret is an interactive computer visualization and analysis environment designed to meet the needs of oceanographers and meteorologists analyzing 
large and complex gridded data sets. It runs on most Unix systems, and on Windows XP/NT/9x using X windows for display. It can transparently access 
extensive remote Internet data bases using OPeNDAP (formerly known as DODS); see http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/dods/.

Ferret was developed by the Thermal Modeling and Analysis Project (TMAP) at PMEL in Seattle to analyze the outputs of its numerical ocean models and 
compare them with gridded, observational data. The model data sets are generally multi-gigabyte in size with mixed 3 and 4-dimensional variables 
defined on staggered grids. Ferret offers a Mathematica-like approach to analysis; new variables may be defined interactively as mathematical 
expressions involving data set variables. Calculations may be applied over arbitrarily shaped regions. Fully documented graphics are produced with a 
single command.

Many excellent software packages have been developed recently for scientific visualization. The features that make Ferret distinctive among these 
packages are Mathematica-like flexibility, geophysical formatting, "intelligent" connection to its data base, memory management for very large 
calculations, and symmetrical processing in 4 dimensions.

Ferret is widely used in the oceanographic community to analyze data and create publication quality graphics. We have compiled an (incomplete) list of 
publications where the authors felt that the contribution of Ferret was sufficient to warrant an acknowledgment. We appreciate your acknowledgment of 
Ferret in your publications.

-- System Information:
Debian Release: 5.0.4
  APT prefers stable
  APT policy: (500, 'stable')
Architecture: powerpc (ppc)