Location

Baselines tool

The Baselines tool, when selected, displays 10 different lines on the main display panel. These lines, labeled A-A’ to J-J’, are used to construct cross-sections from model and radar data from within the Volume Browser. These lines are “editable” by default and can be moved anywhere in the main display and adjusted to almost any length. Vertices can be added to make complex lines with a Middle-Mouse Button on the line. The Middle-Mouse Button to add vertices is a common feature to many line tools in AWIPS.

Home tool

The Home tool displays a marker (denoted with an “x” and labeled with “Home”) that is used as a reference point for displaying azimuth and range (AZ/RAN) values when sampling is enabled. The home location serves other purposes like identifying which radar the Volume Browser will use to create radar-derived graphics (nearest radar to cursor home location). The Home location is not editable by default, but can be made editable by pressing down on the scroll wheel while hovering over the Home product listing in the product menu. When editable, the Home location can be moved with a Left-Mouse Button and drag.

Choose By ID tool

The Choose By ID tool is a method to assign a point to the location of a Digital Mesocyclone Display (DMD) algorithm id by entering the id in the left-most box next to the point letter for display through the Volume Browser (not common). This tool allows the AWIPS operator to monitor the same feature over time as it moves (as long as the DMD algorithm continues to identify that feature).

Besides its use for the DMD algorithm, the Choose By ID tool can also be used to set Points, Baselines, and Home at specific locations by entering METAR, RAOB, and radar names. The left box next to the letter is for points (requires single location), and the right box is for baselines (requires two locations). You must hit the enter key to register your location entered.

Put Home Cursor tool

The Put Home Cursor tool allows the AWIPS operator to quickly identify the location of a specific METAR station, city, or Latitude/Longitude coordinate. This tool uses the Put Home Cursor GUI when the AWIPS operator specifies the method used to put Home in the new location.

Points tool

The Points tool, when selected, displays ten points in the main display panel. These points, labeled A through J, can be used to generate model soundings, vertical wind profiles (using profilers and WSR-88D VAD Wind Profiles), time-height cross-sections, time series, and variable vs. height plots in CAVE using the Volume Browser. These points are editable when loaded and can be moved to any location visible in the main display panel. You can create your own points and control their name and size separately. The points can also be launched from the button with the three dots on the CAVE toolbar.