McIDAS-X Learning Guide
Version 2020

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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.
  1. Erase the images and graphics in frames 1 through 6.
    Type:  ERASE F 1 6
  2. 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 TIME DAY NUM=ALL
  3. Choose one of the stations listed. Show frame 1 and plot a Skew-T diagram for your chosen station (in this case, 72208, which is Charleston, South Carolina) at 12 UTC using the data in MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2. Note that the actual day needs to be specified if #Y doesn't match.
    Type:  SF 1;UAPLOT 72208 12 #Y DATASET=MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2
  4. Plot a hodograph of the data from Charleston on frame 2. Show frame 2
    Type:  HODO 72208 12 #Y GRA=2 DATASET=MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2;SF 2
  5. 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
  6. 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, Peachtree City, Georgia (72215) to Wallops, 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 72215 72402 MAP=YES DATASET=MYDATA/TEST-PTSRCS.2 TIME=12 DAY=#Y PARAM=THA WINDB MIX GRA=4;SF 4
  7. Show frame 5 and plot a 24-hour surface meteorogram for Middle Georgia Airport, ending at 23 UTC on the previous day.
    Type:  SF 5;SFCMG KMCN TIME=23 DAY={enter yesterday's Julian date}
  8. List the surface hourly data for Middle Georgia Airport for the same 24-hour period.
    Type:  SFCLIST KMCN OPT=PRECIP TIME=0 23 DAY={enter yesterday's Julian date}
    You should notice that the data listed in the Text Window is the same as that displayed in the Image Window.

  9. Exit McIDAS.
    Type:  EXIT

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