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Refer to Exhibit 2.1.6.6-1 for a display of the Obs menu.

The Obs and NCEP/Hydro menus have replaced the Surface menu that was in release 5.2.1.

Several of the data sets in the Obs menu can be interrogated (sampled) for more detailed information by pressing Mouse Button 1 over a site. These data sets include METAR, Maritime, and Local.

The Obs menu is subdivided into sections that contain related products. These sections are described below:

* METAR: This section contains automatically updating METAR observations, ceiling and visibility plots, wind chill and heat indices, and precipitation plots at various time intervals. The 24hr Chg METAR plot provides the difference between the observed temperature, dewpoint, pressure, and wind from those observed 24 hours earlier. The calculation of the wind difference involves vector subtraction of the u and v components.

* Synoptic: This section contains automatically updating Synoptic observations, and 6- and 12-hour precip plots.

* Local Data: Under the Local Data subheading, there are menu entries for local plots and precipitation plots of various time intervals. Local ASOS obs appear under the Other Plots cascading menu.

* Maritime: This section contains buoy data plots. The Other Maritime Plots Cascading Menu contains options to display the Fixed and Moving Sea State Plots, as well as the Maritime Clouds/Visibility. These plots comprise data collected from fixed and moving buoys.

The Sea State Plot provides information on the wave period and height, and swell period and height. The wave type, whether a standard wave or a wind wave, are denoted in the origin of the plot by a ‘+ ‘and a ‘w’, respectively. An ‘x’ at the plot origin signifies that no wave type was reported. The measurements around the Moving Sea State plot are the same as the Fixed Sea State plot, except that the direction of the movement of the Primary Swell is denoted with an arrow with a ‘1' label pointing in the direction the wave is moving. The movement of Secondary Swells is shown with a shorter arrow labeled with a ‘2.’ The measurements around the Fixed Sea State plot are shown in Exhibit 2.1.6.6-2.

The Maritime Clouds/Visibility plots contain a station circle denoting sky coverage and the visibility along with standard symbols for obstructions to visibility.

* Hazards: Contains Lighting plots, both national and local. The latter include field mill and CGLSS/LLPS plots.

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