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Module 10: Display Model Data in Plan View
This module contains step-by-step instructions on how to load and display model data in plan view using the Volume Browser.
Objective 1 - Display a Single Graphic in Plan View
1. Clear the Display.
2. From the Scale option menu in the Toolbar, set scale to CONUS.
3. From the Volume Menu on the Menu Bar, open the Volume Browser.
4. Verify in the Settings pull-down menus that Plan View and Time are selected.
5. From the Sources Menu, select the RUC80 Model.
6. Under the Fields Section, open the Basic pull-down menu and select the Height Field.
7. From the Planes section, open the Pres pull-down menu, select 850 mb. After you make this selection, the RUC80 850 mb Height (dam) appears highlighted in the Product Selection List.
8. To display the product, click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser Menu.
9. Once the RUC80 850 mb Height (dam) Product is displayed, try looping and stepping through it.
10. Keep the Volume Browser open and continue to display this product for Objective 2.
Objective 2 - Display Multiple Model Graphics in Plan View
1. From Objective 1, the RUC80 850 mb Height (dam) Field should be displayed in the large display pane on the CONUS Scale.
2. In the Volume Browser, the Product Selection List should still contain the RUC80 850 mb Height (dam) Label.
3. Under the Fields Menu, open the Basic pull-down menu and select Temperature. Now your Product Selection List has the RUC80 850 mb Temperature (C) highlighted and ready to load.
4. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser and watch the RUC80 850 mb Temperature (C) Field overlay the RUC80 850 mb Height (dam) Field.
5. Now try loading several additional RUC80 Fields from the Basic, Derived, Sfc/2D, and Other Fields pull-down menus.
6. Keep the Volume Browser open and continue to display these products for Objective 3.
Note: The system imposes no practical limit on the number of graphical products that can be overlaid at one time. However, as you display more data fields, you may notice a slight degradation in overall system performance.
Objective 3 - Display a Single Image Field
As previously mentioned, gridded model data can be displayed as an image. Instead of graphical contours, the product is displayed in graduated colors, each color representing a numerical value of the displayed field.
1. From the Toolbar, clear the large display pane.
2. With Mouse Button 1, deselect all the products in the Product Selection List except the RUC80 850 mb Temperature (C) Field.
3. Using Mouse Button 2 (middle), click the RUC80 850 mb Temperature (C) Label. This changes the label to an image.
4. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser to display the image field.
5. Try looping and stepping the displayed image. Also, from the Image Properties Dialog Box, adjust the color table of the displayed image ("Ctrl + I" Accelerator Keys also opens the Image Properties Dialog Box). Refer to Section 5.3 for information on editing color tables.
6. Keep the Volume Browser open and continue to display this product for Objective 4.
Objective 4 - Overlay Model Graphics onto an Image Field
1. With the image from Objective 3 displayed, select the RUC80 850 mb Height (dam) Field from the Volume Browser and load.
2. Observe the graphic as it loads.
3. Notice the product legends and verify that they are time-matched.
Objective 5 - Display Two Image Fields
1. In the Volume Browser, under the Edit pull-down menu, select Clear All.
2. From the Toolbar, clear the large display pane.
3. From the Scale option menu, select the CONUS Scale.
4. From the Satellite pull-down menu, select the IR Window image. The image displays immediately into the large display pane.
5. From the Options pull-down menu, open the Image Properties Dialog Box and toggle ON the Combine next image Check Button. You can perform this same action by clicking on the "Toggle Image Combination" Icon in the Toolbar.
6. Verify in the Volume Browser the Settings pull-down menus that Plan View and Time are selected.
7. From the Sources menu, select RUC80 Model.
8. Under the Fields Section, open the Basic pull-down menu and select the Relative Humidity Field.
9. From the Planes section, open the Pres pull-down menu and select 500 mb.
10. From the Volume Browser, select the RUC80 500 mb Relative Humidity (%) Field.
11. Use Mouse Button 2 to change the RUC80 500 mb Relative Humidity (%) to an image and click the Load Button to combine this image with the satellite image. You may need to step to the earlier frames to view the images displayed together.
12. Use the Image Properties Dialog Box to change the color tables or brightness of the displayed images, or to fade from one image to another.
Objective 6 - Create a Difference Field Using the Volume Browser
The Volume Browser allows you to calculate the difference between two fields. The "Difference" field is then generated and plotted. The Diff menu button in the lower left corner of the Volume Browser is disabled until you have at least two fields in the Product Selection List.
1. From the Toolbar, clear the large display pane.
2. From the Scale option menu on the Toolbar, set the scale to CONUS, if not already selected.
3. Under the Edit pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, choose Clear All to empty the Volume Browser.
4. In the Volume Browser, select (but do not load) the ETA 700 mb Temperature and the ETA 500 mb Temperature. The order in which you select the fields or planes is important. The second product you select is subtracted from the first product you select.
5. Click the Diff menu button located in the lower left portion of the Volume Browser. The new file is immediately loaded in the large display pane and has the [700 mb - 500 mb] Temperature (C) Legend.
Notes:
• Keep in mind that it is possible to generate nonsensical fields.Module 11: Display Gridded Data in Cross Sections, Model Soundings, Time-Height Cross Sections, and Time Series• At least two levels or fields must be chosen before the Diff menu button is enabled.
• Other fields can be overlaid onto a difference field.
• You can display the new difference field as an image. Press Mouse Button 2 on the product name in the Product Selection List of the Volume Browser to overlay the displayed data as an image.
• If you have already loaded the product into the Large Display, you cannot toggle between image and graphic using Mouse Button 3 on the Product Legend.
• You can also calculate the difference of data fields that are displayed as cross sections, time-height cross sections, or time series.
• It is possible to change the Load Mode before calculating a difference field.
This module provides step-by-step instructions on how to load and display model data in cross section view using the Volume Browser. The Volume Browser allows you to specify a baseline (a straight line with two endpoints) or polyline (a connected series of line segments that are not necessarily straight) within the data domain when creating a cross section of gridded data.
The resulting cross section from a baseline represents the interpolation of the gridded data. The resulting cross section from a polyline represents the interpolation of point (RAOB and Profiler) data. If you use a polyline to generate a cross section, the vertices of the polyline automatically adjust to the nearest RAOB or Profiler site.
The following objectives illustrate the use of baselines and polylines, along with other techniques for displaying gridded data.
Objective 1 - Edit a Baseline for a Cross Section
1. Clear the large display pane and the Volume Browser.
2. From the Scale option menu set scale to CONUS.
3. From the Toolbar, select Tools -> Baselines. Ten baselines, labeled A - J, appear on the display.
4. Using Mouse Button 2, click on the Baselines legend. The word "Editable" appears, signifying that you can now modify any of the baselines.
5. Choose Baseline A to edit. The pointer changes from left-pointing to right-pointing when you move an endpoint of Line A. By pressing and holding Mouse Button 1 on an endpoint, you can shorten, lengthen, or change the line orientation.
6. To move the entire line, move the pointer over Line A. The pointer turns into a four-way arrow. Press Mouse Button 1 and drag Line A so that it is over Iowa.
7. Swap the baselines to a Small Pane for reference as you prepare to generate a cross section in Objective 2.
Objective 2 - Display a Cross Section of a Single Graphic
1. Clear the large display pane.
2. From the Scale option menu in the Toolbar, set scale to CONUS and zoom in over Iowa.
3. From the Frame option menu in the Toolbar, set frame count to 12.
4. In the Volume Browser, under the Settings options menu, select Cross Section and, from the Time options menu, select Time. Notice that the Planes menu changes to Lon, Lat, and Specified pull-down menus.
5. From the Sources pull-down menu, select the Eta Model.
6. From the Fields Menu, open the Basic pull-down menu and select the Temperature Field.
7. From the Specified pull-down menu, select Line A.
8. To display the product, click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser Menu. Notice that a small reference map appears in the top right-hand corner of the large display pane indicating the location of the cross-sectional slice that is displayed.
Note: Once the Eta Temperature (C) Field is displayed, try looping and stepping through it. Continue to display this product for Objective 3.
Objective 3 - Display a Cross Section of Multiple Model Graphics
1. From Objective 2, the cross section of the Eta Temperature Line A (C) Field should be displayed in the large display pane.
2. From Objective 2, the Volume Browser Product Selection List should still contain the Eta Line A Temperature Label.
3. Under the Fields Menu, open the Basic pull-down menu and select Relative Humidity.
4. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser and watch the Eta Relative Humidity (%) Field overlay the Eta Line A Temperature (C) Field.
5. Now try loading several additional cross sections of Eta Fields on Line A.
Note: There is no practical limit on the number of graphic overlays that you can display at one time, but they must all be loaded on the same cross-sectional slice (i.e., the same latitude, longitude, or specified slice). Try toggling, looping, and stepping through the displayed fields.
Objective 4 - Display a Cross Section of Profiler Data Using a Polyline
1. Click the Clear Button in the Toolbar to clear the Main Display.
2. From the Edit pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, select Clear All.
3. From the Scale option menu, select CONUS.
4. From the Maps pull-down menu, select Profilers. The Profiler Network locations map background appears on the display.
5. From the Baseline Icon in the Toolbar, load the Baselines.
6. Using Mouse Button 2, click on the Interactive Baselines Legend. The word "Editable" appears, signifying that you can now modify any of the baselines.
7. Choose Baseline B to edit. Using Mouse Button 1, drag Baseline B over the Profiler Network.
8. Using Mouse Button 1, put the B endpoint near Aztec, New Mexico (AZCN5) and put the B' endpoint near Jayton, Texas (JTNT2). You may need to increase the density to find these profiler sites.
9. Position the cursor over Baseline B and press Mouse Button 2 to add a vertex to Baseline B. This creates a polyline which interpolates itself to the profiler sites.
10. Swap the large display pane with an empty small display pane.
11. From the Scale option menu, select CONUS.
12. Open the Volume Browser. Under the Settings options menus, select Cross Section and Time.
13. From the Sources pull-down menu, select Profiler.
14. From the Fields pull-down menu, open the Basic pull-down menu and select the Wind Field.
15. From the Planes Menu, open the Specified pull-down menu and select Line B.
16. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser. Notice the baselines in the first Small Pane. Baseline B jumped to the nearest Profiler sites. The cross section of the wind data are interpolated from these Profiler sites.
Objective 5 - Display a Cross Section of a Single Image Field
As previously mentioned, gridded model data can be displayed as an image. This objective shows you how to display a cross section of a single image field.
1. Click the Clear Button in the Toolbar to clear the large display pane.
2. From the Settings pull-down menus in the Volume Browser, select Cross Section and Time.
3. In the Volume Browser, select the Eta Line A Relative Humidity (%) Field.
4. In the Product Selection List, use Mouse Button 2 (middle) and click on the Eta Line A Relative Humidity (%) Field. This changes the label to an image.
5. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser to display the image field.
Note: Try looping and stepping the displayed image. Also, open the Image Properties Dialog Box to adjust the color table of the displayed image ("Ctrl + I" Accelerator Keys also opens the Image Properties Dialog Box). Continue to display this product for Objective 6.
Objective 6 - Overlay Cross Sections of Model Graphics with an Image Field
1. Select the Eta Temperature (C) Field and load.
2. Observe the graphic as it loads.
Objective 7 - Display Cross Sections of Two Image Fields
1. From the Toolbar, clear the large display pane.
2. From the Volume Browser, select Eta Line A Relative Humidity (%) and Eta Line A Temperature (C).
3. Change both products to images using Mouse Button 2.
4. In the Toolbar, press ON the Toggle Image Combination Icon Button.
5. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser to display both images and observe the combined images as they load.
Notes:
Objective 8 - Animate Plan View Model Data in Space• You can toggle the images by clicking with Mouse Button 1 on the image name in the legend, or by using the . (decimal) numeric key.
• You can fade from one image to another by using the slider bar in the Image Properties Dialog Box, or by using the + (plus) or - (minus) numeric keys.
• Try to adjust color tables using the Image Properties Dialog Box.
The Volume Browser allows you to animate model data in space rather than in time. Objectives 8 and 9 provide step-by-step instructions on how to display and manipulate model data that animate spatially, rather than temporally.
The Animate in Space perspective allows you to view model data at a fixed time vertically in a stack of pressure or isentropic surfaces or horizontally across the model domain along longitude or latitude lines.
When animating plan view data spatially, the data are plotted on either pressure or isentropic surfaces. The first frame displays the lowest pressure or isentropic surface.
1. Clear the large display pane and the Volume Browser.
2. From the Scale option menu, set the scale to CONUS.
3. Under the Settings pull-down menus, select Plan View and Space.
4. From the Sources Menu, select the Eta Model.
5. Under the Fields Menu, open the Basic pull-down menu and select Temperature.
6. Under the Plane Menu, open the Coordinate pull-down menu and select All mb. After you make this selection, the Eta *MB Temperature (C) appears highlighted in the Product Selection List.
7. In the Toolbar, set the Load Mode to Prognosis Loop.
8. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser.
9. Select the desired prognosis time from the Select Forecast Time dialog box that appears in the center of the display.
10. Observe the legends as the product is displayed. Each frame is a different pressure level.
11. From the Product Selection List in the Volume Browser, change the Eta *MB Temperature (C) Field to an image and click the Load Button. Select the same prognosis time as you did in Step 9.
Objective 9 - Animate Cross Sections of Model Data in Space
When animating cross sections of model data in space, the data are plotted on slices along longitude or latitude lines. The longitude slices animate from West to East (or from East to West depending on how the Looping Controls are set), while the latitude slices animate from North to South (or from South to North depending on how the Looping Controls are set).
1. Clear the large display pane and the Volume Browser.
2. From the Toolbar, set the scale to CONUS.
3. Under the Settings pull-down menus, select Cross Section and Space.
4. From the Sources Menu, select the NGM Model.
5. Under the Fields Menu, open the Basic pull-down menu and select Relative Humidity.
6. Under the Plane Menu, open the Lon pull-down menu and select All Lon. After you make this selection, the NGM allLONS Relative Humidity appears highlighted in the Product Selection List.
7. Set the Load Mode to Prognosis Loop.
8. Click the Load Button at the bottom of the Volume Browser.
9. Select the desired prognosis time from the dialog box that appears in the center of the display.
10. Observe the legends and the reference map as the product is displayed. Each frame is a different longitude line. Notice the reference map in the upper right corner of the large display pane.
11. From the Product Selection List in the Volume Browser, change the NGM allLON Relative Humidity (%) Field to an image and click the Load Button. Select the same prognosis time as you did in Step 9.
Objective 10 - Display a Model Sounding
The Volume Browser allows you to generate a model sounding of temperature, dew point temperature, and winds from the grid point data.
1. Clear the large display pane and the Volume Browser.
2. From the Toolbar, set the scale to CONUS.
3. Under the Settings pull-down menus, select Sounding.
4. From the Tools pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, select Points. Ten points, labeled A - J, appear on the display.
5. Using Mouse Button 2, click on the Points Label at the bottom of the display. The word "Editable" appears, signifying that you can now modify the location of the points.
6. Choose Point C to edit. The pointer changes from left-pointing to right-pointing when you put it over the point. Drag Point C over the Seattle location.
7. In the Volume Browser, select NGM from the Sources pull-down menu, Sounding from the Thermo Fields pull-down menu, and Sounding C from the Points Planes Menu.
8. Load the NGM Point-C Sounding from the Product Selection List.
Notes:
• A reference map appears in the upper left corner indicating the location of your sounding.Objective 11 - Display a Time-Height Cross Section• Change the frame count as needed to accommodate the number of forecast times for a given model run.
• You can overlay other point soundings or RAOB soundings to compare models, or you can overlay RAOB soundings to verify the model initialization.
The Volume Browser allows you to display time-height cross sections of model data, which presents the data for a single grid point on a time versus height static plot. Forecast times are plotted along the abscissa (x-axis) and the height levels are plotted along the ordinate (y-axis). The Points Tool (described in Objective 10) is used to select the desired grid point.
1. Clear the Display.
2. Open and clear the Volume Browser.
3. From the Tools Menu, open the Points Tool.
4. Click on the legend with Mouse Button 2 to make the points editable. Drag Point D to the Amarillo, Texas location.
5. Clear the Display.
6. In the Volume Browser, under the Settings pull-down menus, select Time Height and >Right.
7. In the Volume Browser, select the NGM Temperature (C) Field. Under the Points Planes Menu, choose Tsect D.
8. Set the frame count to 8.
9. Load the NGM Point D - Temperature (C) Product. Notice the reference map in the upper right corner of the large display panel.
10. Now overlay the Relative Humidity (%) Field as an image at Point D.
Notes:
• The frame count affects the number of forecast time intervals that are displayed along the abscissa. A frame count of one means display all available time periods.Objective 12 - Create a Time Series Plot with Model Data• You can overlay time-height cross sections from other grid point locations.
The Volume Browser allows you to display time series of model or other grid point data, which presents the data for a single grid point on a time versus data units plot. For example, 500 mb relative humidity at a specified location would generate a time versus relative humidity plot, with forecast times plotted along the abscissa (x-axis) and the percentage of relative humidity plotted along the ordinate (y-axis). The Points Tool (described in Objective 10) is used to specify the desired point.
1. Clear the large display pane and the Volume Browser.
2. From the Scale option menu on the Toolbar, set the scale to CONUS.
3. From the Volume Browser Tools menu, select Points to load the Interactive Points tool.
4. With Mouse Button 1, drag Point A to near Spokane, Washington.
(If you need help locating Spokane, load the RAOBs map background from the Maps pull-down menu. The identifier for Spokane is KOTX in eastern Washington.)
5. From the Settings area on the Volume Browser Menu Bar, select Time Series and Point A.
6. In the Volume Browser, select the Eta 700 mb Temperature.
7. Set Frame Count to 7.
8. Click the Load menu button in the Volume Browser and observe the time series plot.
Note: With the frame count at 7, the display includes
the first seven time steps in the model run, 0 - 36h in this case, providing
that all time periods are available for
the 700 mb temperature. Change Frames to 8 and
the display repaints, now including the 42h time step. If you select
frame count 1, all available periods will be displayed. Try it. This applies
also to point sources (profiler and RAOB).
Module 12: Volume Browser Display Manipulation Actions
This module instructs you on the use of the Volume Browser manipulation actions.
Objective 1 - Clone the Product Selection List
1. Clear the large display pane and the Volume Browser.
2. Under the Settings pull-down menus, select Plan View and Time.
3. Select several products for the Product Selection List using the Sources, Fields, and Planes pull-down menus.
4. Deselect one or two products in the Product Selection List.
5. From the File pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, select Clone.
6. The selected products in the Product Selection List are duplicated in a floating tear-away menu.
Note: Only highlighted products in the Product Selection List are cloned. A cloned Product Selection List can be closed only one time. You need to re-clone the Product Selection List to restore it. You should continue to display the original Product Selection List for Objectives 2 and 3.
Objective 2 - Select None of the Products in the Product Selection List
1. From the Edit pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, choose Select none.
2. Each of the products is removed from the Product Selection List, but the selections you made in the Sources, Fields, and Planes Menus remain but are not highlighted.
3. Keep this Product Selection List for the next Objective.
Note: The None Button in the cloned Product Selection List un-highlights rather than removes the products.
Objective 3 - Select All of the Products in the Product Selection List
1. From the Edit pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, choose the Select all option.
2. Each of the products is highlighted and ready to be displayed.
3. Click the Load Button to display all the products in the Product Selection List.
4. Keep this Product Selection List for the next Objective.
Objective 4 - Clear the Product Selection List
1. From the Edit pull-down menu in the Volume Browser, choose the Clear All option.
2. All of the products in that Product Selection List are now removed.
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