1. Visual Weather Training Grad.Dip.Met.
Practical 2
Further Forecaster Techniques

2. Learning Outcomes I Utilise the following tools in Forecaster:
Feature Tracking
Multi-View
Spot Charts
Roaming Profile
Trajectories
Animator

3. Learning Outcomes II Locate places on a Map
Select locations from the database
Set up Shortcuts

4. Start Visual Weather Start Visual Weather
Start Forecaster from the Mainpanel
Open the following Map:
Forecaster Menu:
Maps
BMTC (opg)
Isobaric

5. Feature Tracking I
The Feature Tracking tool is here LC

6. Feature Tracking II LC on the feature you want to track
Step forward in time then LC then Repeat
Speed and direction of movement
Blue is the current time step

7. Feature Tracking III Exit Feature Tracking using: LC
Turn Feature Tracking back on and your selected points will still be there
In the Feature Tracking tab:
Individual points may be deleted by selecting them and then: LC
All points may be deleted using: LC LC

8. Multi-View I The Multi-View tool is here:
This tool allows simultaneous display of different data LC

9. Multi-View II You should get: LC Single time from multiple models
Number of models 3 LC
USGFS

10. Multi-View III
Repeat for the EC Atmosphere Deterministic and ACCESS R models
LC on an image to select it
Border turns bright green

11. Multi-View IV
Toggle the b key on your keyboard to enlarge selected image and then return to multi-view
Screen space is limited with Multi-views - so it is useful to move side windows, such as the Maps/Areas Explorer, to your second screen

12. Exercise 1
Play around with toggling layers on and off, changing levels and validity time
At T0+72 compare the following fields in the three models:
MSLP
700hPa EPT
200hPa PV
Comment on the similarities and differences
Exit Multi-view using: LC

13. Exercise 2 I Create a Multi-view of Multiple Maps
Use 2 rows and 2 columns and add the following BMTC (opg) Maps:
Isobaric
Section DT
Isentropic

14. Exercise 2 II
1. Compare and comment on the relative locations over time of:
Blobs of higher P (pressure) on the DT Map
Blobs of negative (cyclonic in SH) PV at 325K on the Isentropic Map
MSLP troughs and lows

15. Exercise 2 III
2. Utilise the Isobaric Map to find a time and location over the Southern Ocean with a blob of PV at 300hPa
LC the Section Map to select it
Horizontal Cross-Section Window
Maps
BMTC (opg)
Isobaric
This makes it easier to relate the Cross-section location to the Isobaric Map
Move the Cross-section line so that it intersects the location of the 300hPa PV blob

16. Exercise 2 IV Toggle off the EPT layer Toggle on the PV_PT layer
What happens to surfaces of constant PT near the 300hPa PV blob?
Draw the shape of the PV boundary (double red line) along your Cross-section (it may help to enlarge the Section Map by toggling b)
Exit Multi-view using: LC

17. Locate Places I
To find a location on any Map type the letter c on the keyboard – this brings up the Select Place Window
Enter the location’s name, e.g. YMML in the AVID/ICAO box, then select it

18. Locate Places II LC
A series of concentric circles of decreasing radius homes in on the location

19. Spot Charts I Open the following Map: Maps BMTC (opg) METARAWS
The Spot Chart tool is here:

20. Spot Charts II Zoom in on YMML LC LC on Map in vicinity of YMML
Select Melbourne AP from the pull down list

21. Exercise 3
In groups:
Examine the various tabs in the Spot Chart window
Work out what each of the data types in the different tabs is telling you about the observations for YMML
What do the blue arrows do?
Change aerodromes to YSSY using
Exit Spot Charts using: LC
Reload
Maps
BMTC (opg)
Isobaric

22. Roaming Profile I The Roaming Profile tool is here:
This tool allows dynamic display of the model aerological diagram at the chosen time and position LC
Then LC on Map to select a point

23. Roaming Profile II You should get something like this:
Zoom to low area is often useful
Drag the profile to a larger size and/or place it on your second screen

24. Roaming Profile III You may also look at real F160 data
2. LC near the aerodrome that you wish to view
1. Select the “From Observations” Type

25. Exercise 4 I Return to the “From Model” Type
Play around by moving your profile point and changing the validity time
1. In groups discuss:
At a given point how does the temperature profile change when comparing daytime with night-time?

26. Exercise 4 II
2. Choose an afternoon time step and find four locations with one of each of the following:
Thunderstorms
Rain
Cloud but no precipitation
No cloud and no precipitation
How did you distinguish thunderstorms and rain?
Compare the four temperature and dewpoint profiles and write down a summary of your conclusions

27. Exercise 4 III Select the Indices tab
Write down the Lifted and CAPE values for each of the four locations
Compare these indices and write down a summary of your conclusions
Exit Roaming Profile using: LC

28. Trajectories I The Trajectories tool is here:
This tool allows dynamic display of the model (constant pressure) trajectories* LC

29. Trajectories II
You should get something like: LC

30. Trajectories III
Choose the following settings:
Use 12Z model run LC

31. Trajectories IV LC an interesting initial trajectory position
Set the step period to be the same as the model time step:
Play around with the other settings for visualising the trajectory

32. Trajectories V
Selecting areas, zooming etc… can be performed in the same way as before – but with the ctrl key held down on the keyboard e.g.:
To zoom: ctrl + roll middle mouse wheel

33. Selecting Locations I
In any tool, locations can be selected by looking them up in the database - this is always accessed by something that looks like a house or houses: or
To start your trajectory at YBBN: LC
This gives you the Select Place Window as before:

34. Selecting Locations II
Type YBBN into the AVID/ICAO box
Select Brisbane AP from the list LC

35. Selecting Locations III
The trajectory now starts from YBBN:

36. Exercise 5 In groups: Set up backward trajectories with:
Step period: 3.00h
Number of steps: 16
Start Simulation at Model Run Time +48h
At 850hPa consider two (final T +48h) points close together but either side of a sharp gradient in EPT:
How do the backward trajectories compare?
Exit Trajectories using: LC

37. Animator I
The Animator is used to play image loops – this often helps in understanding how systems develop and evolve LC

38. Animator II
Choose which frames to loop here:
Cache
Use ≤ 200MB LC

39. Animator III
You can adjust the frame rate and lag (at the end of a cycle) here:
The other controls are similar to other media players

40. Shortcuts I
At the start of a shift it is convenient to be able to efficiently open groups of related Maps – we do this in Shortcuts
On Mainpanel RC inside the My Shortcuts Area LC
New
Open Map Editor Map
In this context this means the same as opening a Forecaster Map

41. Shortcuts II
Rename
Its very important to change the perspective to Forecaster LC

42. Shortcuts III
Select the METARAWS Map LC

43. Shortcuts IV In the Slot Window tab add the BMTC (opg) files:
Satellite
Td_Analysis LC
Mainpanel should now look like:

44. Exercise 6 Exit all Visual Weather applications except for Mainpanel
DLC
Note that the other two maps are also open and in the Slot Window ready for use