McIDAS Learning Guide
Version 2015

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GUI - Plotting and Looping Grids

In this exercise, you will display and compare grids from two different models, and then display a loop of grids.

Displaying Grid Data over an Image

  1. Display the previous day's 48 hour 700 mb relative humidity forecast from the 12:00 UTC GFS model run in green over the current Meteosat image.
    Select:  Display/Grid
    Select:  Dataset/RTGRIDS/GFS-GLME
    If the RTGRIDS/GFS-GLME dataset contains too many grids to sort, a day and time modification box will pop up for you to narrow the search and try again.
    Enter:   yesterday's Julian day
    Select:  Time/12
    Click:   OK
    Select:  Parameter/RH
    Select:  Level/700 MB
    Click:   the 48 hour forecast (third from the bottom)
    Click:   the Options tab
    Select:  Contour Color/Green
    Click:   Load Grid(s)
  2. Load the same data from the ECM model run in a different color and compare the results between the two models.
    Select:  Contour Color/a different color of your choice
    Click:   the Data tab
    Select:  Dataset/RTGRIDS/ECM-GLME
    Select:  Parameter/RH
    Select:  Level/700 MB
    Select:  Date/yesterday
    Select:  the 12:00 UTC 48 hour forecast
    Click:   Load and Dismiss

Displaying and Looping Grid Data on a map

  1. Erase the images and graphics on frames 1-6.
    Click:   Erase Image
    Click:   Erase Graphics
    Click:   Advance Frame
    Repeat process until all frames have been erased.
  2. Select the 24 hour MSL pressure forecast from the March 13, 1993 00:00 UTC NGM model run (valid 14 MAR 00:00 UTC) to be displayed on frame 5.
    Select:  Display/Grid
    Select:  Select Frame/ALL FRAMES/5
    Select:  Dataset/BLIZZARD/GRIDS
    Select:  Source/NGM
    Select:  Parameter/P
    Select:  Date/13 Mar 1993
    Click:   the 24 hour forecast (second in the list)
  3. Display the grid over the United States.
    Click:   the Options tab
    Select:  Map Boundaries/USA
    Click:   Load Grid(s)
  4. Display the same grid, but this time as part of a loop in frames 1-3.
    Click:   the Data tab
    Select:  Select Frame/Satellites/1
    Select:  the first three grids in the list by clicking the first grid and dragging your mouse down over the next two grids listed
    Click:   Load and Dismiss
  5. Loop the grids to see the movement of the Low Pressure System.
    Click:   Play
  6. When done viewing the grids, stop the loop.
    Click:   Stop
  7. Erase the images and graphics on frames 1-6.
    Select:  Show Frame/ALL FRAMES/1
    Click:   Erase Graphics
    Click:   Advance Frame
    Repeat process until all frames have been erased.

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