Getting Started
You will need to have a current version (1.4 or better) of Sun's Java runtime installed and browser capable of running Java applets. If everything is working correctly then you should see a 'Click to Open...' button immediately following this paragraph.
Note that if you are connected on a high speed connection then it should take less than a minute to download the applet and display the launch button. However, over slower connection the download time could take several minutes to complete. Click the button when it appears and the applet will launch in a new window. Refer to remainder of this page for some information to help you get started using the applet.
Using the Applet
The Weather Analysis applet consists of three funtional areas: mapping, analysis time, and plot features. All of these functions are used to create a weather analysis. In order to help assist in exploring the applet, the toolbar controls for each area are briefly explained in the remainder of this page.
Mapping
The mapping functions control map properties, navigation, and scale. The mapping toolbar controls are summarized in the following table.
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Button |
Action |
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Sets the map projection, the spacing for station observations, and analysis cell size for generating contours. |
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Moves the map projection's center longitude to the west. The distance moved is determined by the current map scale and will be in a range of 2° to 15°. |
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Moves the map projection's center latitude to the north. The distance moved is determined by the current map scale and will be in a range of 1° to 10°. |
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When pressed the mouse pointer changes to cross-hair and the map projection's center latitude and longitude is set to a location selected on the map by a mouse click. |
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Moves the map projection's center latitude to the south. |
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Moves the map projection's center longitude to the east. |
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Increases the map scale by a factor of two. |
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Decrease the map scale by a factor of two. |
Analysis Time
The time for data associated with an analysis is selected on the toolbar. The time is used by plot features to retrieve data for the selected time. The following table summarizes the toolbar controls associated with time selection.
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Button |
Action |
|---|---|
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Updates the available times to select from. |
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Selects the first (earliest) time. |
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Selects the time before the currently selected time. |
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Selects the time after the currently selected time. |
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Selects the last (latest) time. |
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Refreshes data associated with the selected time. The data used by the applet is updated several times an hour. The refresh button will get the most recent data and update the current analysis. |
Plot Features
Plot features are added by selecting the
button.
The plot features dialog is divided into three categories: weather, images, and mapping. The weather category consists
of observed and computed data at a given pressure level. The images category contains static images such as GOES satellite. The
mapping category consists of features specific to rendering a map such as political boundaries, graticule, etc.
Most map features will have a corresponding dialog that allows you to configure various properties used when plotting the feature. In general, the properties can include color, line types, etc. For weather related features, certain properties allow for controlling and/or filtering a range of values to be plotted. For instance with contours, you can specify a range of values and an associated interval.
Map features with editable properties can be modified while in the plot features dialog. To modify a features properties, click the 'Properties' button to open an edit dialog. To add a map feature without closing the dialog, use the 'Apply' button. If you want to add mutliple features at one time, click each feature while holding down the 'Ctrl' key on the keyboard. Once features have been added to the plot list they will be removed from the plot features dialog's list of available features.
Once features are added to the map, you can set whether or not the feature is plotted by selecting or deselecting the
associated checkbox. You can edit the features properties by clicking the feature's label which is underlined and functions similar
to a hyperlink. You can adjust the order in which features are plotted by clicking the
button to move the feature up or the
button to move the feature down in the list.
The 
button allows the feature to be removed
from the plot list.
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