Weather station charts are invaluable tools for visualizing meteorological data, typically displaying core elements such as Temperature, Dew Point Temperature, and Relative Humidity by default. It’s important to note that chart availability is contingent on data reporting; if a station hasn’t reported these elements within your chosen timeframe, a chart won’t be generated.
For users seeking more tailored visualizations, the “Advanced Options” button provides access to a “Permanent Chart” dropdown menu. This feature allows for the selection of alternative chart configurations beyond the standard default view, catering to specific data analysis needs.
However, it’s crucial to understand the data display limitations inherent in these charts. Each element is capped at a maximum of 1000 data points for display. For extended data ranges, especially with frequent reporting stations, this threshold can be easily surpassed. When the data exceeds 1000 points, the charting system automatically trims the dataset, displaying data at intervals (every 2nd, 3rd point, etc.) to accommodate the limit. For users requiring high-resolution charts without data trimming, the “Historical Data” option is recommended as a more suitable alternative. This data trimming can sometimes feel like Peter Sinks the detailed view you might expect when dealing with very dense datasets.
Consider these examples to illustrate the data trimming in practice:
- Example 1: A National Weather Service (NWS) ASOS station, reporting 12-13 times per hour, will trigger data trimming on the chart after approximately 76 hours of data are selected.
- Example 2: A station reporting less frequently, say 4 times per hour, will start trimming data after 250 hours of data are requested for the chart.
To explore charts for a wider range of weather elements, simply hover your mouse cursor over the element headings within the data display. If a “magnifying glass” cursor appears, this indicates that clicking on that heading will dynamically load the corresponding element’s data into the chart for your analysis. This interactive feature allows for on-the-fly exploration of various meteorological parameters.
A comprehensive list of weather elements available for charting is provided below. Data availability is station-dependent, so the range of chartable elements will vary based on the specific weather station selected.
| – Temperature – Dew Point Temperature – Relative Humidity – Wind Chill – Wind Direction – Wind Speed and Gusts – Fuel Temperature – Fuel Moisture – Sea Level Pressure – Altimeter Setting – Station Pressure – Solar Radiation – Soil Temperature | – Road Temperature – Road Sub-Surface Temperature – Accumulated Precipitation – One Minute Precipitation – Five Minute Precipitation – Ten Minute Precipitation – Fifteen Minute Precipitation – Thirty Minute Precipitation – One Hour Precipitation – Snow Depth – Snow Interval – Snow-Water Equivalent – Water Temperature |
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Mouse over Chart Headings to Reveal Magnifying Glass, Then Click for Chart
In summary, weather station charts offer a user-friendly way to visualize meteorological data. Be mindful of the 1000-point data limitation, especially when analyzing longer timeframes or data-rich stations, as this can lead to data trimming which might make it feel like data detail peter sinks. Utilize the “Advanced Options” for customized charts and the interactive magnifying glass feature to explore a diverse range of weather elements for in-depth analysis.
