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This icon allows you to specify a geographical location which may or may not coincide with a meteorological station. It is also equipped with a search facility applicable to the ECMWF’s station database.

If the location is a meteorological station, you can search the database of stations. The search can be carried out by Identifier, WMO block, Position or Area.

From Macro/Python the icon can be called as stations()

The Stations Editor

Search Stations Database

Selects the type of station location to be entered. The possible values are as follows:

  • Yes - Wmo Station allows you to choose a station from the WMO station database.
  • No - Location allows you to choose instead an arbitrary location.

Search Key

Specifies which parameter should be used in the search of the stations database. Only available for Search Stations Database set to Yes - Wmo Station. Options are Name, Ident, WMO Block, Position and Area. Each option when selected activates the parameter of the same name that follows in the editor.

Name

Specifies the location name. If Search Stations Database is set to No - Location you are dealing with an arbitrary location and you may enter any name of your choice. If Search Stations Database is set to Yes - WMO Station this should be the name of the required station. You need the exact name of the station so you should be careful with the spelling which is in accordance to WMO. This tries to match the original language spelling, hence an English speaking user should not look for Copenhagen or Oporto, but rather Kobenhavn and Porto.

If you are in doubt about the spelling or know only part of the name you can enter a guess string (e.g. "kobe" or "port") and hit return. Then click the stations help button to the left of the text field - you will see a list of stations whose name starts with the guess string.

Click the one you want and its name will replace the guess string in the input field.

Position

Specifies the exact geographical coordinates of the location of interest. Enter latitude and longitude separated by a "/". To choose a location interactively use the coordinate assist button. If Search Stations Database is set to No - Location you specify the coordinates of an arbitrary location. If Search Stations Database is set to Yes -WMO Station you specify the location of a meteorological station.

It may happen that you do not know the exact coordinates of the station. In this case, you can specify a geographical tolerance in the following parameter, Threshold. If you need to use the Stations database search tool, run it from the main User Interface or from one of the other parameter’s station assist button (which you must select in Search Key).

Height

Specifies the height of the station. If Search Stations Database is set to No - Location then you can specify the height here; otherwise the station’s height is retrieved automatically from the database.

Threshold

Specifies a geographical tolerance in degrees for the coordinates of a meteorological station specified in Position. This is only available for Search Stations Database set to Yes - WMO Station and Search Key set to Position.

Ident

Specifies the station’s WMO numerical identifier which is a 5 digit number. If you are in doubt about the identifier, use the assist button. This is a station assist button and it launches the Stations database search tool. Only available if Search Stations Database is set to Yes - WMO Station and Search Key to Ident.

WMO Block

Specifies the station’s WMO block which is a 2 digit number corresponding to a geographical area. If you are in doubt about the WMO block, use the assist button. This is a station assist button and it launches the Stations database search tool. Only available if Search Stations Database is set to Yes - WMO Station and Search Key to Wmo Block.

Area

Specifies the coordinates of an area where meteorological stations of interest are located. Enter coordinates (lat/long) of an area separated by a "/" (top left lat and long, bottom right lat and long); alternatively, use the coordinate assist button. Only available if Search Stations Database is set to Yes - WMO Station and Search Key to Area. If you need to use the Stations database search tool, run it from the main User Interface or from one of the other parameter’s station assist button (which you must select in Search Key).