The plot allows the user to zoom, pan, and choose which parameters and georeferencing layers are displayed. The user can also see individual station data from this interface. While other ROMAN products are dynamic, that is new information is available as soon as it is added to the database, this product updates on a fixed 15 minute schedule. Data that fails the automated quality control procedures are not plotted.

Settings

Remember that in order for any change in settings to take place, the map must be clicked.

The user can change the settings as follows:

• the networks from which the weather information is received: RAWS only, NWS/FAA only, NWS/FAA and RAWS, or All Networks (to reduce initial clutter the default is set to NWS/FAA only).
• the variables to display: Temperature(F), Relative Humidity(%), Vector wind (full barb 10 mph, half barb 5 mph, shaft points from the direction the wind is blowing), Gust (>10mph), and Station ID.
• the color of the variables: Default colors(Temperature, Relative Humidity, Gust), All black, or All White. Wind barbs and calm wind symbols remain yellow.
• the georeferencing layers desired: GCA boundaries, CWA zone boundaries, CWA Fire Wx zone boundaries, State boundaries, and Interstates.

• Zoom. When "zoom in" ("zoom out") is selected, the map will be redrawn scaled smaller (larger) with the center of the new map being where the user clicked on the map.
• Pan. When "pan" is selected, the map will be redrawn with the same scale, but recentered at the point the user clicked on the map.
• Refresh. When "refresh" is selected, the map will not change except to change which weather parameters or georeferencing layers are displayed. However, the map must be clicked for the refresh to occur.

Future Work

Funding has not been provided to greatly enhance this graphical tool. However, some of the obvious things that could be done include:

• Provide other graphical layers, including counties, roads, agency boundaries, fire locations, etc.
• Provide toggle between data in metric and English units.
• Match meteorological convention and have the wind vector terminate at the station box.
• Provide rapid zoom in/out option.
• Define map regions for each individual state (including Hawaii), CWA, and fire weather zone. Currently only the GCAs are defined, and other map regions default to the parent GCA.
• Provide capability to filter observations.
• Highlight by station box color different mesonets (e.g., RAWS vs. NWS).
• Mouseover capability for station names.
• Indicate quality control flag for the data.
• Add additional weather and fuel parameters (weather, precipitation, pressure, fuel moisture).
• Use higher resolution background topographic images. The present TIFF image becomes pixellated at high zoom.
• Specify monitoring threshholds (winds in excess of 15 mph, RH<10%, heavy precipitation, etc.).
• Auto-update displays.
• Integrate with ADAS analyses.
• Develop access to historical data.
• Add stations in Canada, Mexico, and offshore.
• Obtain access to additional mesonets around the country.

MesoWest    Department of Meteorology

Copyright © 2006 University of Utah. All Rights Reserved. For Questions or Comments about this page or MesoWest contact meteo-mesowest@lists.utah.edu