LIGHT
Sections
NAME
light - NLDN lightning display program
SYNOPSIS
light [parameters...] filename
PARAMETERS
| Command Line | Resource | Default | Description |
| -h | help | No | Lists basic help information. |
| -df=filename | default | .wxpdef | Sets the name of the resource file. |
| -na=name | name | light | Specifies the name used in resource file parsing. |
| -ba | batch | No | Run program in batch mode |
| -me=level | message | out2 | Specifies level of messages to be displayed
|
| -fp=filepath | file_path | current directory | Specifies location of database files. |
| -dp=datapath | data_path | current directory | Specifies the location (path) of the input raw data files. This may be modified in the name convention file. |
| -cp=conpath | con_path | current directory | Specifies the location (path) of the input surface converted data files. This may be modified in the name convention file. |
| -rp=rawpath | raw_path | current directory | Specifies the location of the output raw files generated by the program. These files will not be generated unless the out_file resource is specified and the output is plotted data. |
| -gp=gridpath | grid_path | current directory | Specifies the location of the output grid files generated by the program. These files are not generated unless the out_file resource is specified and the output is a gridded field. |
| -ip=imagepath | image_path | current directory | Specifies the default location of the output GIF images generated by the program. |
| -nc=name_conv | name_conv | name_conv | The name convention file specifies how files are named in WXP. This sets which name convention file to use. |
| -inp=input | input | albany | Specifies the input file type. The default is albany. Possible
values are:
|
| -if=in_file | in_file | nldn | Specifies the input file name tag. The default is nldn, but it can be modified to any value in the filename convention file. A full name convention can be specified as well. |
| -of=out_file[,out...] | out_file | None | Specifies what type of output file. There is no output file created by the program but GIF files can be created. |
| -mf=mapfile[,...] | map_file | wxp.map or cont.dat, country.dat for domains outside North America |
Specifies the name of the map database file. Multiple maps can be specified along with attributes to describe how to draw the map. |
| -cu=[hour|la] | current | None | This specifies to use current data files. The current filename is based on the name convention. An optional hour can be specified for older data. If la is specified, the program will search back to find the most recent available file. |
| -ho=hour | hour | None | This resource specifies the exact hour that a data file is valid for. This locks in the start hour for a multi-file sequence. |
| -nh=num_hour | num_hour | 0 (no loop) | This specifies the number of hours that will be used in the plot. If this is not specified, a single hourly plot will appear. If this is specified, a loop of plots over this time will be generated. |
| -pd=domain | plot_domain | User prompt Batch: first domain in wxp.reg file. |
This specifies the plotting domain. The projection, aspect ratio and the domain size are specified. |
| -re=region | region | Same as plot domain | This resource is synonymous with the plot_domain. |
| -va=variable | variable | intens | This specifies the variable to use to color the strike points:
|
| -sc=scale_factor | plot_scale | 1.0 | Specifies a scaling factor for all plotted text, symbols, vectors, etc. |
| -fm=format | plot_format | None | Specifies the output format of the plots. This is generally used to specify how many decimal places get displayed on the plot and in the output raw files. |
| -pp=param[,param...] | plot_param | None | Specifies additional plotting parameters. See the plot_param resource for more details. |
| -dr=drawable[,...] | draw | all | Specifies which part of the plot is to be drawn. |
| -la=label[,...] | label | Program defaults | Specifies the labels to be plotted around the plot. By default, labels are generated by the program and plotted above and below the plot. This resource overrides these labels. |
| -in=interval | con_interval | None for plots, User prompt for grids. Batch: 0 | Specifies the contour interval to use in contouring grids. This can also be used to color code plotted data and vectors. |
| -cb=base | con_base | Lowest contour value, maximum wind speed | Specifies the base value for color fill contours, and wind speed per grid distance. For more details, see the con_base resource. |
| -fl=font_list | font_list | modern.fnt | Specifies a list of fonts to use in the plots. |
| -ct=color_table | color_table | wxp.clr | Specifies the color table to use in the plot. This maps color names to actual RGB color values. |
| -cot=color[:attr] | color_text | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the text color for labels above and below the plot. |
| -cod=color[:attr] | color_data | green | Specifies the color for plotted data. |
| -com=color[:attr] | color_map | red | Specifies the color for background maps. |
| -coln=color[:attr] | color_line | magenta:st=dsh | Specifies the color for lat/lon lines. |
| -cowd=color[:attr] | color_wind | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the color for wind barbs. |
| -cocd=color[:attr] | color_cloud | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the color for cloud cover symbols. |
| -cowx=color[:attr] | color_wx | yellow brown for inverse plots |
Specifies the color for weather symbols |
| -cofr=color[:attr],... | color_front | A predefined color set | Specifies the colors for fronts and pressure systems. |
| -cocm=color[:attr] | color_cmap | black | Specifies the color for color fill contour maps. |
| -coco=color[:attr] | color_cont | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the color for line contours. |
| -cof=[val:]color[:attr],... | color_fill | A predefined color set based on the wxp.clr color table | Specifies the color fill contour color set. See the color_fill resource for more details. |
| -cola=color[:attr] | color_label | white black for inverse plots. |
Specifies the line contour label color. |
| -cocl=color[:attr] | color_clabel | black | Specifies the color fill contour label color. |
| -de=device[,...] | device | User prompt Batch: display |
Specifies the output device. |
| -ti=title | title | Program name | Specifies the window title. |
| -ic | icon | Off | Specifies whether to open window in iconified mode. |
| -bg=color | background | black white for inverse plots |
Specifies the background color of the window. |
| -ge=geometry | geometry | 640x480 | Specifies the window and paper geometry. |
| filename[#seq] | filename | None User Pompt Batch: current=la |
The name of the surface converted data file to be plotted. An optional sequence number can be added to designate the time for non-WXP files. |
DESCRIPTION
This program plots lightning strike data on a background map. The input to the program is a NLDN lightning file. Then, based on a plot domain and a variable selected by the user, a plot is generated. Overlay plots, contour plots and loops can also be generated if the appropriate options are set.
The programs starts off by prompting the user for input converted file name. The input file can either be in Albany or Unisys format. The default is Albany but Unisys can be specified with in_file set to unisys. The user may specify the input file either via the command line of through the current resource. The input naming convention is specified by the nldn tag no matter whether in_file is set to unisys or albany. The tag can be changed with the in_file resource. To generate a loop, the num_hour resource can be specified. This will tell the program to loop through this number of hours.
Next, the program prompts the user for the plot domain. This is done through a region menu which has predefined regions available. If needed a full plot domain can be specified to get a precise domain. The domain can be interactively changed using the mouse once the plot has been generated.
After the region has been set, the lightning data will be plotted. The program will now open the graphics window and start processing the data. The user will be prompted for the output device. Initially, a map is plotted. Then, the lightning data file is opened and read in. A point is plotted for each strike. The strike data will be colored based on a variable type.
| Variable | Description | Color Fill |
| intens | intensity of strike (default) | -500:blue, -300:lblue, -200:cyan, -175:lcyan, -150:green, -125:lgreen, -100:brown, -50:yellow, 0:red, 50:lred, 100:magenta, 150:lmagenta, 200:lgray, 300:white |
| time | the minute of the strike | 0:blue, 5:lblue, 10:cyan, 15:lcyan, 20:green, 25:lgreen, 30:brown, 35:yellow, 40:red, 45:lred, 50:magenta, 55:lmagenta |
| flash | the number of flashes | 1:blue, 2:cyan, 3:green, 4:brown, 5:red, 6:magenta |
NOTE: The Unisys format does not contain intensity or number of flash information.
EXAMPLES
light -cu=la -re=mw -de=d
This plots a lightning strike map colored based in intensity.
FILES
SEE ALSO
Last updated June 11, 1998