The satellite product is a viewer for a range of satellite imagery across Europe and the US.
This page describes how to navigate the Satellite product.
You can find more information on some of the different satellite images within the product here
The top bar of the screen allows the user to control the time steps of satellite images shown and to alter how they are controlled or shown in the main map area (3).
A. Selected Step
The step has a white border, showing that the map will load this step
B. Loaded Step
Steps with solid white text are loaded and ready to display.
Depending on the map, either 1 or 8 steps will be loaded on either side of the current selection. When 'mouseover' or 'slider' mode is enabled, all time steps will always be loaded
3. Available Step
Grey items show that the step is available, but not yet downloaded
4. Selected Run
Currently active run - steps are shown from only this run
5. Available Run
Relating to satellite imagies, a 'run' is effectively the date/day and each of the time steps of that 'run' the times (in minutes and hours) of that day.
6. Latest Mode
There are two 'latest' buttons, for runs and steps. If selected, as new steps/runs become available, they will be selected and displayed.
This next bar controls the playback and selection of satellite time steps / frames.
A. Day of Week
In the Satellite product, there is never more than one day shown here, so this button has no function.
B. Step forward/back
C. Play / Pause
D. Animation Length
Use the dropdown menu to select the number of frames for the animation:
The user can select from various presets of animation frame numbers, so select their own using the 'play last x' option and then moving the mouse back the number of steps required and then clicking.
For example, below, the user will have selected an animation over the past 10 time frames.
E. Animation Speed
Select from default, x2 and x4 animation speeds
F. Mouseover
Toggle on to change time frames by moving the mouse over the frames in the time bar
G. Label
Toggle on to show a label in the top-left of the satellite panel (3) displaying information on the current time step e.g. time, satellite image type
H. Slider
The slider allows the user to control scrolling through time frames of the satellite using a sliding button. The location of the slide can be moved around the screen using (i), while the clicking and dragging button (ii) provides the main functionality of changing time frames.
I. Show All Runs
For the Satellite product, this button has no functionality.
J. Frequency Change
This drop down menu allows the user to reduce the temporal frequency of time steps for satellite images. For example, instead of time steps for each satellite image being shown, often updated every 5 minutes, the frequency can be reduced down to 15 minutes, or several hours.
K. Rotate Timebar
Selecting this option will move the whole Timebar & Controls (2) to be displayed vertically to the right of the screen. This allows a greater vertical extent in displaying the satellite image itself.
The satellite image is displayed in this area. To reload the current image, right-click on it.
The purple label in the top-left of the image can be toggled on/off using option G from the option controls bar. The slider is toggled on/off using option H.
A. Download Image
Download current image to local machine
B. New Window
Open active image in a new browser window
C. Zoom In
Zoom in on the current image
D. Landscape Mode
View the current satellite image in landscape format
E. Full Screen
View the current satellite image in full screen.
Once selected, two further buttons appear in the toolbar allowing the user to step backward/forward through the time steps