• Configuration Options
• Loop Viewing Applet Controls and Features
• Refresh
• Stop/Start
• Show
• Set Animation Speed
• Forward “>” and Backward “<”
• Rock/Loop
• Zoom/Reset
• Clock
• Tips

The opening page for Satellite Loops displays a set of configuration options with a set of satellite images to the right. The first set of configuration options include the ability to choose the number of images you wish to loop and which overlays to place over the image. The first set of overlay images include a set of observations, which consists of temperature, dew point temperature, pressure, geopotential height, and winds. The other set of overlay images, Derived Fields, includes the options: fonts and streamlines. After the configuration options have been set up as desired, click on one of the satellite images to view the configured results. Selecting a satellite image will open up a separate page containing a java applet that will loop the selected images as configured.

The controls and features for the loop viewing applet include the following:

Refresh. This button will refresh the applet by reloading the images being looped.

Stop/Start. The label on this button depends on the current state of the applet. When the satellite page is opened, the applet will automatically begin looping images. Under this scenario, this button will be labeled “Stop”. When “Stop” is pressed, the looping images will stop the looping and the label will change to “Start”. If the applet is labeled “Start”, the applet will not loop. Conversely, when the “Start” label is selected, the looping will start again.

Show. This button is only available when the applet is not automatically looping. When the Show button is pressed, a separate window will appear, displaying the image on (without the applet).

Set Animation Speed. This button controls automatic image loop speed.

Forward “>” and Backward “<”. These buttons move the applet forward or backward one step at a time when the image is not automatically looping.

Rock/Loop. The label on this button depends on the current state of the applet. The Loop button loops images forward until it reaches the end, and then loops forward again from the beginning frame. The Rock button loops images forward until it reaches the ending frame and then loops backwards. Once in reverse, the images will continue to loop until reaching the beginning frame, then start looping forward again. When the label displays “Rock”, the loop is swinging back and forth. When the label displays “Loop” the loop will move in a forward direction only.

Zoom/Reset. This button will zoom the applet in and out. When the Zoom button is selected the mouse cursor will switch to a hand. When the zoom button is selected, you can left click anywhere within the applet to magnify the image. Conversely, when you right click the mouse over the applet, the image will zoom out. Once the image has been zoomed in, you can also pan the image. To restore the applet’s original size, click the Reset button or right-click the mouse button over the image to zoom out until the image is in full view.

Clock. The clock in the top right corner of the applet has an hour hand which shows the hour the image was taken. To the right of the analog clock is a digital readout indicating the exact time of the day (AM/PM) and minute the image was taken. All times are adjusted to the local time of the computer viewing the applet.

To ensure that the correct imagery and overlay information is presented on the applet, it is a good idea to change a caching setting in the Java Control Panel. While viewing one of the loops in the applet, go down to the windows quick launch toolbar (usually in the bottom right corner of the screen) and find the Java icon that looks like a hot, steaming cup. Right click on the icon and select "Open Control Panel". Under the "General" tab find the area labeled "Temporary Internet Files". Click on the "Settings..." button and uncheck the "Keep temporary files on my computer" check box. Click "OK" on each dialog to accept the changes and dismiss the dialogs.