Science libraries for Mac can be installed quite easily via the MacPorts project from http://www.macports.org (To install it go to http://www.macports.org/install.php. Succesful ports for Sierra, High Sierra and Mojave versions of MacOS) and use then the "port install" command line. The software available is listed on the macports website and below a selection of ports installation. The Yosemite Java Runtime Environment provided by Apple is no longer needed in Mojave http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572 . Here a list of "port install" commands that installed (under /opt/local) rather safely for me:
sudo port install wget
sudo port install eccodes
sudo port install hdf5
sudo port install netcdf
sudo port install netcdf-fortran
sudo port install ncview
sudo port install nco +netcdf
sudo port install cdo
sudo port install xmgr
sudo port install xv
sudo port install gv
sudo port instal mpich
Patch needed: cd /opt/local/bin ; sudo mv ./as ./as-broken ; sudo ln -s /usr/bin/as ./as
Python provides a collection of scientific and numerical software libraries that are easily installed via the ports:
sudo port install py-scipy
sudo port install py-numpy
for NetCDF4 the port is working fine
sudo port install py-netcdf4
for Grib the port is working fine
sudo port install py-pygrib
for large code management and build the FCM software provided by the UK MetOffice is recommended as for instance used for OpenIFS https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/collaboration/fcm https://confluence.ecmwf.int/display/OIFS/OpenIFS+Home
Python has also plotting software libraries, free and quite comprehensive, with a growing community also in NWP. To plot on geography you can use the "basemap" lib (check its developer site here: http://matplotlib.org ). This for me was installed (after having installed geos with port command and NetCDF/HDF5), more traditionnally as:
sudo port install py-matplotlib-basemap
sudo port install grads
sudo port install metview
TexShop is a recommended front-end. For the actual LaTex library the "TexLive" distribution is recommended and can be installed via macports (since there are a lot of dependecies) as
sudo port install texlive
sudo ln -s /opt/local/bin /usr/texbin
This second command is needed to link the expected bin location to the macports installation location. (if problems occur some instructions are available at: http://www.macfreek.nl/memory/LaTeX_installation_on_Mac )
To surf large codes such as NWP models a code tree library such as "doxygen" is recommended. Install with the port command:
sudo port install doxygen
sudo port install graphviz
There are several Mac Users out there and a lot in NWP&Climate, that took the challenge of documenting installation procedures (eg. http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~salathe/osx_unix/ , so Google is a good companion to search for it!
Hope this is useful! Please feel free to post here any correction.