output ( macro/python )
KML is an XML-based file format used to display describe vector data in a geospatial browser, such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and Microsoft Virtual Earth. KML is very different from the others formats supported in Magics. Even though it is a vector format it has dimensions for expressing height and time (for animations). The height is expressed in kilometres, not pressure levels, and is set through a parameter for all data. Different layers of information can be stored and controlled by the Google Earth user interface.
KML uses often external (raster) files to optimise the file size. In case of Magics, it uses PNG files to express cell shading and satellite data. The Magics logo is also stored in a external file. Therefore Magics generates zip archives of all generated files (KML, PNGs and logo) in the so-called KMZ files. The resulting KMZ files can be read by all KML readers and the GNU zip tools (you might want to change the files extension to .zip first).
Please be aware that KML does not support all forms of display offered by Magics. For example graph plotting is not supported in KML. Colours might also need adjusting, since Google Earth's background is generally darker compared to the white (paper) background of other Magics output formats.
Magics offers parameters to give meta information, such as author and descriptions and an initial focus point.
Please be further aware that KML currently does only generate valid output for cylindrical and Mercator projection. This is because KML's co-ordinate system is based on Longitude/Latitude. For projections different to the mentioned above a different co-ordinate system is used inside Magics.
For more information on Google Earth, see the documentation at: Google Earth