McIDAS Learning Guide
Version 2015

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Real-time Data Access - Fronts

In this exercise you will display current and forecasted NCEP fronts on maps and over satellite images.
  1. Erase the images and graphics on frames 1 through 4.
    Type:  ERASE F 1 4
  2. Display the most recent NCEP frontal positions on a map of the United States.
    Type:  FRNTDISP USA LATEST
    Entering 'LATEST' in the time parameter will use the latest analysis within the previous 6 hours. You should get a map that looks similar to this:


  3. Next, list the decoded front point and High/Low positions in a tabular format.
    Type:  FRNTDISP USA LATEST OUT=TAB
    You will see that the data is listed in a format that labels the latitude, longitude and pressure of each High and Low, and the latitude and longitude for each point of the troughs and fronts.

  4. Display the most recent GOES-East IR Full Disk image centered over Topeka with a magnitude of -2 on frame 2. Overlay the latest NCEP fronts on the image.
    Type:  SF 2;IMGDISP EASTL/FD BAND=2 MAG=-2 STA=TOP;MAP
    Type:  FRNTDISP
    The default of FRNTDISP is to use the current frame navigation to display the latest NCEP frontal positions.

  5. Display the 24 hour forcast over the United States at 0Z on frame 3.
    Type:  SF 3;FRNTDISP USA 0 FHOUR=24
    This commands draws the 24-hour forcast fronts in today's 00 UTC NCEP frontal position analysis product on a map of the United States.

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