The Meteorology Map command allows the user to create 2D precipitation/evapotranspiration map layers from the computed 2D precipitation and evapotranspiration input data. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn more about precipitation and evapotranspiration data.
Follow the steps below to use the Meteorology Map command:
- From the Results ribbon menu, select the Meteorology Map command.
- The Meteorology Map dialog box will be displayed, as shown below.
The following sections describe how to use the Meteorology Map command and interact with the above dialog box.
General Specifications
This section allows the user to define general specifications for the 2D precipitation/evapotranspiration map layer that is to be created.
The following options are available in this section:
- Meteorology map type
This dropdown combo box allows the user to select the type of precipitation/evapotranspiration map that is to be generated. The following entries are listed in this dropdown combo box:
- Accumulated Precipitation
- Evapotranspiration
- Precipitation
- Meteorology profile type
This dropdown combo box allows the user to select the precipitation/evapotranspiration profile for which the map layer is to be generated.
The following entries are listed in this dropdown combo box:
- Animated Time Series: This option displays the generated precipitation, accumulated precipitation, and evapotranspiration map layer as an animation over the simulation time period. When this option is selected, the Map View animation control is displayed, which allows the user to view the animation directly on the Map View.
- Maximum Value: This option generates the precipitation map with the maximum accumulated precipitation values. Note that this option is enabled when Accumulated Precipitation is selected as the meteorology map type. Otherwise, this option is disabled (i.e., grayed out).
- Minimum Value: This option generates the precipitation map with the minimum accumulated precipitation values. Note that this option is enabled when Accumulated Precipitation is selected as the meteorology map type. Otherwise, this option is disabled (i.e., grayed out).
- Layer name
This entry field allows the user to define the layer name that will be displayed in the Map Data Layers panel. The software uses the default layer name based upon the selected meteorology map type, which can be changed by the user. The following table provides the default layer name for all meteorology map types:
Meteorology Map Type Default Layer Name Accumulated Precipitation Accum-Precip Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration Precipitation Precipitation
- Delete previous meteorology map
This checkbox option allows the user to delete any previously computed precipitation/evapotranspiration map layers. By default, this checkbox option is checked.
Meteorology Map Display Options
This section allows the user to define the display properties of the precipitation/evapotranspiration map layer that is to be generated.
The following options are available in this section:
- Maximum precipitation
This entry field allows the user to define the maximum value to be used to compute the generated map layer. Note that this entry field label name changes based upon the meteorology map type selected in the Meteorology map type dropdown combo box. The following table provides the default label name of this entry field for all meteorology map types:
Meteorology Map Type Label Name Accumulated Precipitation Maximum precipitation Evapotranspiration Maximum evapotranspiration Precipitation Maximum precipitation
- Minimum precipitation
This entry field allows the user to define the minimum value to be used to compute the generated map layer. Note that this entry field label name changes based upon the meteorology map type selected in the Meteorology map type dropdown combo box. The following table provides the default label name of this entry field for all meteorology map types:
Meteorology Map Type Label Name Accumulated Precipitation Minimum precipitation Evapotranspiration Minimum evapotranspiration Precipitation Minimum precipitation
- Intervals
This spin control option allows the user to specify the number of colors that will be used to represent the different precipitation/evapotranspiration data for the generated map layer. The software uses a default value of 5. However, the user can increase or decrease this value to get a better representation of the data.
- Color scheme
This dropdown combo box allows the user to select the color scheme to be used to generate the color ramp.
The user can change the default color values for the selected color ramp scheme from the table as shown below. Clicking the [Reverse Colors] button will reverse the colors defined in the table.
Other Display Options
This section allows the user to define additional options for the 2D precipitation/evapotranspiration map layer that is to be generated.
The following options are available in this section:
- Color blending
This checkbox option allows the user to perform color blending of the generated map image. This is helpful when there is not enough tonal range to represent all the different colors between the brightest and darkest gradient values. By default, this checkbox option is checked.
- Map Data Layers legend
This checkbox option allows the user to create a color legend for the generated map layer in the Map Data Layers panel. By default, this checkbox option is checked.
- Map View legend
This checkbox option allows the user to create a color legend for the generated map layer in the Map View. By default, this checkbox option is checked.
- Transparency
This checkbox option allows the user to adjust the transparency of the map layer that is to be generated. The software uses a default value of 50. However, the user can change the transparency value using the horizontal slider control or spin control button. By default, this checkbox option is checked.
Generating Meteorology Map Layer
When all the options have been properly defined, click the [OK] button. The software will then load and display the generated precipitation or evapotranspiration map layer on the Map View.
In the Map Data Layers panel, the software provides a data legend for each meteorology layer that lists the precipitation or evapotranspiration map data included within that layer. The user can expand the layer to view the data legend.
In the Map Data Layers panel, clicking on the […] button adjacent to the created meteorology map layer will display the Meteorology Map Layer Properties dialog box. This dialog box allows the user to edit the display properties for the meteorology layer on the Map View. The content of the Meteorology Map Layer Properties dialog box is similar to as explained above in this article.