McIDAS Learning Guide
Version 2006

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GUI - Looping Satellite Images

In this exercise, you will create loop bounds, and display a loop of images.

Creating Loop Bounds

To loop Satellite Images, we must first create a set of loop bounds to use when displaying the images. Create a loop bound using frames 1 through 3 and name it 'Satellites.'
  1. Bring up the Loop Bounds GUI under the Configure menu.
    Select:  Configure/Loop Bounds
  2. Start a new loop.
    Click:   New Loop
  3. Select your loop bounds by clicking on the first frame, and dragging the mouse over the desired frames to be included in the loop bounds.
    Select:  Frames 1 through 3
  4. Rename 'Loop 1' to 'Satellites.'
    In the Loop Name field, change 'Loop 1' to 'Satellites'.
  5. Save the Loop.
    Click:   Set Loop
  6. Dismiss the Loop GUI.
    Click:   Dismiss

Displaying a Loop of Satellite Images

  1. Next, you will display the 3 latest GOES-West, band 1 images in the 'Satellites' loop.

  2. Use the Image Select GUI to choose the three most recent GOES-West CONUS satellite images.
    Select:  Display/Image
    Select:  Dataset/WESTS/CONUS
    Select 3 images by clicking on the first and dragging the mouse button over the rest.
  3. Start the loop on frame 1, display a map on each image, select the geographical coverage of the images, and display the loop.
    Select:  Select Frame/Satellites/1
    Click:   Display Map on Image
    Click:   Location
    Use the mouse to select a new data coverage area.
    Click:   Load and Dismiss
    This will load all selected images and dismiss the GUI when the loading process is complete.

  4. Start the looping of the images.
    Click:   Play
    Notice how the looping follows the 'Satellite' loop bounds and only loops the first three frames. You may change the loop speed by sliding the Loop Speed slider or clicking on the plus and minus buttons. Moving the slider to the right decreases the dwell rate, thus increasing the looping speed. Moving the slider to the left decreases the looping speed.

  5. Make the loop pause on the most recent image.
    Click:   Pause on Latest Image
    Notice how the loop now pauses longer on frame number 3 than it does on frames 1 and 2.

  6. Stop the looping.
    Click:   Stop

Displaying a Loop of NEXRAD Images

  1. Next, you will create a NEXRAD loop and display a loop of real-time NEXRAD images from a station that you select.

  2. Create a new loop called 'NEXRAD'.
    Select:  Configure/Loop Bounds
    Click:   New Loop
    Select all six frames, by clicking frame 1 and dragging the mouse down to frame 6
    Rename 'Loop2' to 'NEXRAD'
    Click:   Set Loop
    Click:   Dismiss
  3. Display a loop of NEXRAD images
    Select:  Display/Image
    Select:  Select Frame/NEXRAD/1
    Select:  Dataset/NEXRAD/BREF1
    Click:   State
    Click:   the state of your choice
    Click:   Station
    Click:   the station of your choice
    Select the six most recent images by clicking the first image and dragging the mouse down over the next five images.
    Click:   Load and Dismiss
  4. Start the looping of the images.
    Click:   Play
  5. Stop the looping.
    Click:   Stop
  6. When you are done viewing the NEXRAD loop, erase the images and graphics from the current frame.
    Click:   Erase Image
    Click:   Erase Graphics

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