Bufkit version 13.4

April 30, 2013

Bufkit 13.4 is primarily a maintenance release that corrects the "Adjust Local Time" capability when Daylight Savings time (DST) is in effect. This release also displays "Above Ground Level (AGL)" heights in the "Data" display panel.

Overview

BUFKIT is a forecast profile visualization and analysis tool kit. It is targeted as a training and forecast tool for the decision makers of the National Weather Service. It is also available to anyone that would like to explore very high vertical and temporal resolution model output for specific point locations.

BUFKIT provides support for ensemble means, access to profiles with missing data fields (e.g. 4km NAM), and exporting forecast profiles into AWIPS2.

Download and Install

Download the Bufkit distribution package. Unzip the three files in the distribution package. Note the location of the file "Setup.exe".

1) If you install on a PC that has never run Bufkit before, just perform a standard install by running the program "Setup.exe" and run BUFKIT/BUFGET.
2) If you install on a PC that currently has BUFKIT installed:

• Uninstall the previous version of BUFKIT (this step is very important!)
• Install this version by running the unzipped program "Setup.exe"
• Run BUFKIT and BUFGET.
• Use the “Training” button to access the BUFKIT training videos.

Bufkit Specifics:

1. Interpolating/extrapolating missing data. If a profile is missing a few data fields at a specific forecast hour, Bufkit will attempt to interpolate (or extrapolate) the missing fields. This allows Bufkit to plot model profiles previously undisplayable such as the 4km NAM.
    
   
   
   
    
   
2. Exporting to AWIPS-2. Bufkit can export a Bufkit forecast profile for a specific forecast hour into AWIPS-2. Just press the “Export” button (under the “Control Panel”) and the display forecast profile is exported to a “.nsp” file that the AWIPS-2 sounding tool can import.
    
   
   
    
   
    
   
   
    
   
3. Ensemble Means. Bufkit supports ensemble mean visualization available for SREF Bufkit profiles generated at NWS forecast offices. All Bufkit displays can be used with the ensemble mean (e.g. see the ensemble mean hodograph at the top of this page).
    
   
   
    
   
   
    
   
4. Bufget can now archive ensemble profiles. The Bufget profile download application can now archive compressed ensemble profiles.
    
   
   
   
    
   
5. User-define Overview time scale. The “Set Up Panel” now allows the user to define the 4 time scales on the Overview display by model type. You can access this option by clicking on the “Scale Extension” check box under the “Advanced Options.”
    
   
   
   
    
   
6. SE Linux Support. In additional to standard Linux support using WINE, Bufkit 12 can now run in those Linux distributions that has Security Enhanced Linux installed.
    
   
7. Storm Motion Calculations. The storm motion calculations no longer use pressure weighting to calculate mean storm motion. The change allows for better compatibility with published techniques.

Previous Available Versions

Bufkit 11: Some users are still using this older version of the software, so we are making this version available for those users.

Questions

NWS staff can contact me via e-mail: