Description:  This tab displays an animation sequence of the storm and it's wind fields in motion

Tab Created by: Map Select Tab, Variable Track Chart Tab, Favorite Tracking Chart Tab

Tab Close Allowed: Yes

Functions Available:

Standard System Menu Functions

Next Position -  When in single step mode, this moves the storm forward 1 hour.

Prior Position - When in single step mode, this moves the storm backward 1 hour.

Start/Stop - When in single pass or continuous loop mode this option will stop or start the animation.

Send - When the animation is stopped, this function will send the current image or animation sequence (animated GIF) to an Email recipient. The characteristics of the animation file is controlled via the User Preferences - E-mail Setup Options.

Print - When the animation is stopped, this function will print the current image.

Save Image - When the animation is stopped, this function will save the current image (color or fax) to a graphic file format, PDF format, to the clipboard, or save the animation sequence to an animated GIF format.

Create Animated Wind Pattern – This option will stop the current animation and build/display a Wind Pattern Animation sequence. This can be a very time consuming process and no new animations can be started. If you are going to use this function it is imperative that you download the processed RI files. You can find our more about the Processed RI files on the topic of Plotting Options.

Stop Processing – This option is only available when a Wind Pattern Animation is being built (first loop). It will stop the current operation and display the wind pattern animation that has been built so far. You cannot resume the wind pattern animation build after it has been stopped.

Toolbars: See Appendix Section for more information.

Miscellaneous:

The user can zoom in by rubber banding an area on the screen or selecting one of the zoom out or pan options.  You need to stop the animation before performing any of these actions.

Tips:

The first loop of either the wind radii animation or the wind pattern animation builds the animation frame file. After the first loop, the animation speed is based on the settings in your user preferences (animation options). The first loop of the wind pattern animation may take a very long time.

There is a complete set of animation user options which are set in animation options.

Selecting the animate option presents the user with the option of animating on the current chart or a refreshed chart (one with just the base geographical map).  Selecting the option to animate using the current chart as the animation chart allows the user to first plot desired "background" items such as forecast tracks, range rings, etc and have those appear during the animation.

The best way to show range rings with animation is to plot the current track on a tracking map and then selecting the Display-Range Rings option… and then selecting the Animate - Using Current Chart – Forecast with no Track map option.

Animation files can be very large. To avoid large files do not animate on top of Landsat, Satellite or Radar images.

If you want to save an animation, be sure to select that option as otherwise they are deleted when you are done viewing them. This is especially important to keep in mind when creating wind pattern animations due to the amount of time it takes to create.