8.5 MD files - Meteorological Diagrams
In this exercise, you will create four types of meteorological diagrams: a
Skew-T diagram, a hodograph, a vertical cross section and a surface
meteorogram. You will also list surface data in a tabular format.
- Erase the images and graphics in frames 1 through 6.
- Type: ERASE F 1 6
- List the upper-air reporting stations in position 2 of the
MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS dataset that you copied in the previous exercise.
- Type: PTLIST MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2 PAR=IDN NUM=ALL
- Choose one of the stations listed. Show frame 1 and plot a Skew-T diagram
for your chosen station (in this case, 72304, which is Cape Hatteras, North
Carolina) at 12 UTC using the data in MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2.
- Type: SF 1;UAPLOT 72304 12 93072 DATASET=MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2
- Plot a hodograph of the data from Cape Hatteras on frame 2. Show frame 2
- Type: HODO 72304 12 93072 GRA=2 DATASET=MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2;SF 2
- Show frame 3 and display a map of the stations contained in this dataset.
- Type: SF 3;PTDISP MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2 PARAM=IDN MAP=USA
- Choose two stations that are the farthest apart on the map.
Show frame 4 and display a vertical cross section of theta, wind, and
mixing ratio values from these two stations (in this case, Waycross,
Georgia (72213) to Washington/Dulles, Virginia (72402)) using upper air
data from MD file 4001. The MAP=YES keyword displays a map in the
upper-right corner showing the cross section location and stations
selected.
- Type: UACROSS 72213 72402 MAP=YES DATASET=MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2 TIME=12 DAY=13/MAR/93
PARAM=THA WINDB MIX GRA=4;SF 4
- Show frame 5 and plot a 24-hour surface meteorogram for Macon, Georgia,
ending at 23 UTC on 13 March 1993 using data from the BLIZZARD/SFCHOURLY
dataset.
- Type: SF 5;SFCMG MCN TIME=23 DAY=13/MAR/93 DATASET=BLIZZARD/SFCHOURLY
- List the surface hourly data for Macon, Georgia for the past 24 hours.
- Type: SFCLIST MCN TIME=0 23 DAY=13/MAR/93 DATASET=BLIZZARD/SFCHOURLY
You should notice that the data listed in the Text Window is the same as that
displayed in the Image Window.
- Exit McIDAS.
- Type: EXIT
