Briefing Support

displaying alphanumeric data and is not used in MIDDS. SAND gives the user the ability to manipulate and display these products in several ways. The operator selects from various menu boxes and bars using the Windows format. Additional menu options allow the user to pan/zoom and rotate images, add weather symbols to displays, loop images, and automatically display range-bearing information. Customized color enhancements can also be created. The SAND application also executes automatic station plots, contour plots, Skew-T plots, and even time-series plots (fig. 1-9). FOS (FAMILY OF SERVICES).—The Family of Services (FOS) is the applications module used to display and manipulate alphanumeric data. Forecasters need TAFs, station observations, and general text messages to successfully provide quality forecasts. The type, age, amount, and location of the data can be tailored for the needs of each forecaster. MIDDS can display information by using three different formats: areas (a geographical area, such as Nevada), routes (two weather stations connected by a line), and groups (a random group of stations). As with the SAND application, the operator selects from various menu boxes and bars using the Windows format. Individual stations can be sorted by either station ID or name. Once the desired station is selected, the required products for that station are then selected. The data can be viewed, edited, printed, or archived. Briefing Support MIDDS contains a briefing support program designated as "Weather Brief." It provides the capability to create an environmental brief composed of satellite, radar, alphanumeric products, or other user- defined products from MIDDS application programs. Two different types of briefs can be created, dynamic or static. In a "dynamic" brief, products in the brief are automatically updated when new ones are ingested into Figure 1-9.—MIDDS time-series plot. 1-17