University of Wisconsin-Madison

Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Science Building

1225 West Dayton Street
Madison, WI U.S.A.

Rooftop Instrument Group (RIG)
Realtime Weather Data Access

(page updated: March, 2008)

About this instrument | Status | ASCII format files | Realtime data text display | Realtime and retrospective data meteorogram display

RIG online data tools:

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About this instrument

This instrument is located at the top of the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Science Building at the corner of Dayton and Orchard Street in the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI (see picture to the right). It measures, in real-time: Temperature Dew Point Temperature Wind Direction and Speed Pressure Precipitation Solar radiation This instrument and the online tools for accessing the data were developed by a collaboration of the following people/institutions: George Weidner Department Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (faculty contact - Dr. Grant Petty) Space Science and Engineering Center University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Status: operating (except wind speed)

• April 23rd, 2008 -- the anemometer has been repaired
• Note that  data are only available since May 29th, 2003.
• Software update: the software was updated in June, 2007, to help overcome some issues with caching the results of data requests which had caused the meteorogram to mis-behave and the data display to seem to note update.
• Software update:  The meteorogram software was updated in February, 2005 to include the top-of-the-atmosphere maximum solar flux plotted along with the the observed values.  Another update was done in early April, 2005 to include the ability to toggle the temperature and dew point plots on/off using the "T" key.
  

Raw data in ASCII format files

Realtime data text display

Realtime and retrospective data meteorogram display

Three windows will pop up:

1. AO&SS Building RIG Meteorogram window. Initially this will be all white for several seconds or so while 'seed data' are being read from the server. The normal mode for this is to display a strip-chart that automatically updates every two minutes (see Controls, below).

   This window is completely re-sizable to suit your needs; the meteorogram will be rescaled and relabelled as needed. You may also toggle parameters on/off (see "Controls", below).

   As you move the mouse inside the graph, the date and time will appear at the top; if you drag the mouse, this will also appear, plus a green vertical reference line will follow the mouse until you release it, and values for each parameter (in both units) will appear either side of the green line.
   
   You may also tap the T key on your keyboard to toggle the display of temperature and dewpoint plots.
   

2. The Meteorogram Controls:

   You may toggle meteorogram parameter subpanels on/off with this window, using the checkboxes along the top.

   You also set the mode:

   • Normally this is a realtime display that updates every two minutes.
   • If you choose one of the "last N hours" modes, it will fetch and display only that data.
   • If you choose the "Set Range" mode, then you would use the choice boxes below for setting the beginning and ending dates and times (note that the software will suggest an interval to retrieve about 300 data points; you may change this, but you must select a "reasonable" value).

   When not in realtime update mode, the program will continue to fetch data every two minutes, however, and when you return to "realtime mode" it will immediately display these data.

   When not in use, just click the window's "Hide" button. When you want it back, then double-click anywhere on the Meteorogram re-display the Controls window.

3. The AO&SS RIG Meteorogram Applet window -- you must keep this open, but it can (should?) be minimized. It does nothing except keep your browser running, and is there primarily so you can move off this page (the one you are reading now) without stopping the applet.

Or use the button below if you will want to print the meteorogram. You will be asked to certify this applet as being allowed to run on your computer because printing is an otherwise forbidden activity. Otherwise, this is the only difference - unless you are using Internet Explorer version 5 with the Microsoft Virtual Machine (VM). In this case, please read the information below this button.

If you are using Internet Explorer with Microsoft's Virtual Machine (VM), we suggest that you immeidately update this with Sun's VM. Microsoft no longer supports their VM, and will in fact recommend you install Sun's. To do this, please visit this site and follow the instructions.

If you cannot update then you might try to enable printing in IE as follows:

1. Click "Tools" -> "Internet Options" -> "Security" (tab)
2. Click on "Custom Level"
3. Scroll down to "Microsoft VM - Java Permissions" and click "Custom"
4. In the pop-up window, select "Java Custom Settings" -> "Edit Permissions"
5. Scroll to "Printing" and click "Enable"
6. Click the "OK" buttons on each window that popped up
7. Restart your browser