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CMAQ vs ggdemetra

A side-by-side editorial comparison of CMAQ and ggdemetra — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

CMAQ vs ggdemetra: at a glance

FeatureCMAQggdemetra
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score0.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesair-quality, atmospheric-modeling, epa, scientific-computingseasonal-adjustment, ggplot2, time-series, tramo-seats
Last editorial update2h ago53m ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is CMAQ?

CMAQ went global in v5.5, and has been patching that surface ever since.

CMAQ is the EPA's Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system, used for regulatory and research air quality simulation. Its release rhythm is strictly two-tier: numbered major versions carry new science and fresh benchmark datasets, while the x.y.z.n updates carry bug fixes against documentation and benchmarks that stay pinned to the parent version. The current line is v5.5, which introduced CRACMM2 chemistry and coupling to MPAS-A meteorology, followed by three patch rollups.

Read the full CMAQ trajectory →

What is ggdemetra?

A ggplot2 layer for seasonal adjustment output, filling in one plot type at a time.

ggdemetra is a thin, focused bridge: it puts RJDemetra's seasonal adjustment results — TRAMO-SEATS and X-13 models — into ggplot2 geoms and autoplot methods. Development runs in short bursts separated by long quiet stretches, and the most recent work has been correcting SI ratio handling rather than adding surface. The API is small enough that a single function rename counts as the notable change in a release.

Read the full ggdemetra trajectory →

CMAQ vs ggdemetra: editorial side-by-side

C
CMAQ
ANALYTICS
0.0

CMAQ went global in v5.5, and has been patching that surface ever since.

◆ Current state

CMAQ is the EPA's Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system, used for regulatory and research air quality simulation. Its release rhythm is strictly two-tier: numbered major versions carry new science and fresh benchmark datasets, while the x.y.z.n updates carry bug fixes against documentation and benchmarks that stay pinned to the parent version. The current line is v5.5, which introduced CRACMM2 chemistry and coupling to MPAS-A meteorology, followed by three patch rollups.

◆ Where it's heading

The v5.5 patches cluster around the newest and most sensitive components. ISAM source apportionment and DDM-3D sensitivity analysis account for corrections in every one of the three updates, and CRACMM2 needed fixes within months of release. That is the expected shape after a major version lands: the science is stable, the instrumentation built on top of it is not. Parallel I/O work in the latest patch suggests the global configurations are now being run at scales that expose throughput limits.

◆ Prediction

The next major version will fold these fixes in with new science, documentation and benchmark data — the release notes state this explicitly each time. Until then, expect further ISAM and DDM-3D corrections, which have appeared in every patch so far.

G
ggdemetra
ANALYTICS
0.0

A ggplot2 layer for seasonal adjustment output, filling in one plot type at a time.

◆ Current state

ggdemetra is a thin, focused bridge: it puts RJDemetra's seasonal adjustment results — TRAMO-SEATS and X-13 models — into ggplot2 geoms and autoplot methods. Development runs in short bursts separated by long quiet stretches, and the most recent work has been correcting SI ratio handling rather than adding surface. The API is small enough that a single function rename counts as the notable change in a release.

◆ Where it's heading

The package has been steadily completing its coverage of the seasonal adjustment output surface: component extractors and autoplot methods in 0.2.3, SI ratio plotting in 0.2.5, then two releases of corrections to make SI ratios behave under TRAMO-SEATS jSA models and when no seasonal component is exported. Alongside that, the naming is being tidied — y_forecast() became raw(), and init_ggplot() shortened the setup boilerplate. This reads as a package approaching the edge of its intended scope and spending its effort on correctness.

◆ Prediction

Two consecutive releases fixing SI ratios under TRAMO-SEATS suggest that code path is the least settled part of the package, so further corrections there are the most likely next move. The entries give no indication of new model families or plot types being planned.

Alternatives to CMAQ and ggdemetra

Other Analytics products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either CMAQ or ggdemetra.

See all CMAQ alternatives → · See all ggdemetra alternatives →

Recent activity from CMAQ and ggdemetra

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 1y agoCMAQCMAQ 5.5.0.3 enables parallel I/O, fixes DDM-3D control files
  2. 1y agoCMAQCMAQ 5.5.0.2 corrects ISAM aerosol and cloud processing
  3. 1y agoCMAQCMAQ 5.5.0.1 fixes SAPRC mechanism runs and NLCD mapping
  4. 1y agoCMAQCMAQ 5.5 adds global simulation coupled to MPAS-A
  5. 1y agoCMAQCMAQ 5.4.0.5: minor ELMO output fixes
  6. 2y agoCMAQCMAQ 5.4.0.4 fixes RBSTATS under ROS3, corrects a molecular weight
  7. 2y agoggdemetrasiratio() fix when TRAMO-SEATS exports no seasonal component
  8. 2y agoggdemetraraw() replaces y_forecast(); new init_ggplot() helper
  9. 2y agoggdemetraRe-tagged moments later as 0.2.7
  10. 3y agoggdemetraSI ratio plotting functions land
  11. 5y agoggdemetrats2df() conversion helper and geom_outlier date fix
  12. 6y agoggdemetrageom_arima no longer recomputes the model

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CMAQ and ggdemetra?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. CMAQ and ggdemetra are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is CMAQ better than ggdemetra?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. CMAQ and ggdemetra are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to CMAQ?

Top CMAQ alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "CMAQ alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/cmaq for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to ggdemetra?

Top ggdemetra alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "ggdemetra alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/ggdemetra for the full list with editorial commentary on each.