This icon derives (and returns) a vertical cross section data unit of upper air fields along a specified arbitrary transect line. For each upper air field, point values are interpolated along the transect line, with a spacing consistent with the resolution of the input GRIB data.
The cross section data can be plotted (using a default visualisation and with the plot area based on the range of data values) or saved as a NetCDF data file.
To customise the orography colour the visual definition icon MGRAPH can be applied.
A related icon, Cross Section View, is used to provide cross section plotting specifications. You can use it to visualise a cross-section without explicitly deriving the cross-section data - see Views.
The macro language equivalent is mcross_sect().
The Cross Section Data Editor
Data
Specifies the data (GRIB icon) from which to derive the cross-section profile. The input GRIB icon must specify a multi-level (pressure or model levels) upper air meteorological variable, in a latitude-longitude or Gaussian grid. If the input data is specified in model levels, you must include the parameter LNSP should you want the vertical axis of the plot in pressure levels rather than model levels when visualising the output. If more than one time and/or forecast step is contained in the GRIB icon, it returns a set of cross sections.
Interpolate Values
Specifies whether to interpolate vertically the cross-section values into a regular set of interpolated vertical levels. Choosing not to interpolate returns a cross section data matrix with values at the original levels.
Note - if you need to use the cross section data in calculations further down the stream you should not interpolate.
Line
Specifies the coordinates of a transect line along which the cross-section is calculated. Enter coordinates (lat/long) of a line separated by a "/" (easternmost lat and long, westernmost lat and long). Alternatively, use the coordinate assist button.
Note that it is possible to define a line through either pole by describing the line’s coordinates as follows. First, when specifying the latitudes of the two points, imagine that the latitude values go above 90 when you cross the North Pole and below -90 when you cross the South Pole. Next, if you wish a straight line, ensure that the two longitude values are the same as each other. An example demonstrates this. Say you wanted to defined a straight-line cross-section from 60S/25E to 60S/155W. This would be specified as -60/25/-120/25. The fact that one of the latitude values is below -90 indicates to Metview that a cross-section going through the South Pole is desired. Once this has been established, the fact that the two longitude values are identical tells Metview to use a straight line through the pole. If this is the intent, then only one unique longitude value is required, as the other one can be deduced. Giving Metview two different longitude values will cause a cross-section consisting of two curves to be produced.
Wind Parallel
Setting this option to On will produce a cross section plot of the projection of the wind onto the cross section plane (going from a 3D wind field to a 2D wind field projection). This is plotted using wind arrows. Valid values are On/Off.
Wind Perpendicular
Setting this option to On will produce a cross section plot showing the projection of the horizontal wind components onto the direction perpendicular to the cross section plane. The result is a one-dimensional quantity and is plotted with contour lines. Also produced is another cross section plot of the W component of the wind. Valid values are On/Off.
Wind Intensity
Setting this option to On will produce a cross section plot of the scalar wind intensity, plotted with contour lines. If one of the previous two parameters is On, then the intensity is that of the specified projection. Also produced is another cross section plot of the W component of the wind. Valid values are On/Off.
Lnsp Param
Specifies the parameter number of the Lnsp data, if you are using non-ECMWF data - ECMWF uses specific parameter numbers different from the WMO ones. Enter whichever parameter number is appropriate for your data.
U Wind Param
Specifies the parameter number of the U wind component data, if you are using non-ECMWF data - ECMWF uses specific parameter numbers different from the WMO ones. Enter whichever parameter number is appropriate for your data.
V Wind Param
Specifies the parameter number of the V wind component data, if you are using non-ECMWF data - ECMWF uses specific parameter numbers different from the WMO ones. Enter whichever parameter number is appropriate for your data.
W Wind Param
Specifies the parameter number of the W wind component data, if you are using non-ECMWF data - ECMWF uses specific parameter numbers different from the WMO ones. Enter whichever parameter number is appropriate for your data.