Enhance METplotpy to plot NetCDF output from MODE to replace MET's deprecated plot_mode_field utility #560

Describe the New Feature

Issue dtcenter/MET#3322 and corresponding PR dtcenter/MET#3325 deprecated and remove the plot_mode_field utility to reduce MET's external dependencies. With that change, cairo, freetype, pixman, and Ghostscript fonts are no longer required. plot_mode_field was added in 2014, long before plotting functionality existed through METplotpy.

Recommend enhancing METplotpy to provide functionality roughly equivalent to plot_mode_field, but use input from METplus scientists to advise on desired features and functionality.

For reference, here's what the output from plot_mode_field's unit tests looked like:

You do NOT need to exactly replicate these images. Instead, use advice from scientists to improve upon them.

Acceptance Testing

List input data types and sources.
Describe tests required for new functionality.

Time Estimate

Estimate the amount of work required here.
Issues should represent approximately 1 to 3 days of work.

Sub-Issues

Consider breaking the new feature down into sub-issues.

• Add a checkbox for each sub-issue here.

Relevant Deadlines

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Funding Source

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Define the Metadata

Assignee

• Select engineer(s) or no engineer required
• Select scientist(s) or no scientist required

Labels

• Review default alert labels
• Select component(s)
• Select priority
• Select requestor(s)

Milestone and Projects###

• Select Milestone as a METplotpy-X.Y.Z version, Consider for Next Release, or Backlog of Development Ideas
• For a METplotpy-X.Y.Z version, select the METplotpy-X.Y.Z Development project

Define Related Issue(s)

Consider the impact to the other METplus components.

• METplus, MET, METdataio, METviewer, METexpress, METcalcpy, METplotpy

New Feature Checklist

See the METplus Workflow for details.

• Complete the issue definition above, including the Time Estimate and Funding source.
• Fork this repository or create a branch of develop.
  Branch name: feature_<Issue Number>_<Description>
• Complete the development and test your changes.
• Add/update log messages for easier debugging.
• Add/update unit tests.
• Add/update documentation.
• Add any new Python packages to the METplus Components Python Requirements table.
• Push local changes to GitHub.
• Submit a pull request to merge into develop.
  Pull request: feature <Issue Number> <Description>
• Define the pull request metadata, as permissions allow.
  Select: Reviewer(s) and Development issue
  Select: Milestone as the next official version
  Select: METplotpy-X.Y.Z Development project for development toward the next official release
• Iterate until the reviewer(s) accept and merge your changes.
• Delete your fork or branch.
• Close this issue.