**MPE Editor**

**User's Guide**

**February 5, 2008**

**Build 8.3**

**NWS Office of Hydrologic Development**

![](media/image1.png){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="5.188888888888889in"}

**TABLE OF CONT**ENTS

[1.0 Introduction 1](#introduction)

[2.0 New Features in MPE Editor 2](#new-features-in-mpe-editor)

[2.1 DailyQC Gage Editing Tools 2](#dailyqc-gage-editing-tools)

[2.1.1 New Filters on QC Temp Options Window
2](#new-filters-on-qc-temp-options-window)

[2.1.2 New Filters on QC Freeze Options Window
2](#new-filters-on-qc-freeze-options-window)

[2.1.3 Precipitation and Temperature Graph Options
2](#precipitation-and-temperature-graph-options)

[2.1.4 Edit Precipitation Station Window Consistency Check Information
3](#edit-precipitation-station-window-consistency-check-information)

[2.1.5 Edit Temperature Station Window Consistency Check Information
3](#edit-temperature-station-window-consistency-check-information)

[2.1.6 Climatology Source Information
3](#climatology-source-information)

[2.1.7 Editing Multiple Precipitation, Temperature, and Freezing Level
Stations
3](#editing-multiple-precipitation-temperature-and-freezing-level-stations)

[2.1.8 Temperature Quality Control 3](#temperature-quality-control)

[2.1.9 Disaggregation of 6 Hour Gage Values
4](#disaggregation-of-6-hour-gage-values)

[2.1.10 Display of Missing DailyQC Values
4](#display-of-missing-dailyqc-values)

[2.1.11 MPE Editor Logging 4](#mpe-editor-logging)

[3.0 The MPE Editor Graphical User Interface
4](#the-mpe-editor-graphical-user-interface)

[3.1 The Main Window 4](#the-main-window)

[3.2 The Choose Data Period Window 5](#the-choose-data-period-window)

[3.3 The Main Menubar 5](#the-main-menubar)

[3.3.1 File Menu Options 5](#file-menu-options)

[3.3.1.1 Save as Gif 5](#save-as-gif)

[3.3.1.2 Print Image 6](#print-image)

[3.3.1.3 Print Reverse Image 6](#print-reverse-image)

[3.3.1.4 Close 6](#close)

[3.3.2 Tools Menu Options 7](#tools-menu-options)

[3.3.2.1 Areal Zoom 8](#areal-zoom)

[3.3.2.2 Point Zoom 8](#point-zoom)

[3.3.2.3 Pan 8](#pan)

[3.3.2.4 Recenter 8](#recenter)

[3.3.2.5 Tool Bar 8](#tool-bar)

[3.3.2.6 Set Font 9](#set-font)

[3.3.2.7 MPE Color Manager 9](#mpe-color-manager)

[3.3.2.8 Set Colors (deprecated) 9](#set-colors-deprecated)

[3.3.2.9 View 12](#view)

[3.3.2.10 Display Data As 14](#display-data-as)

[3.3.3 Projections Menu Options 14](#projections-menu-options)

[3.3.4 Overlays Menu Options 15](#overlays-menu-options)

[3.3.5 MPEcontrol Menu Options 17](#mpecontrol-menu-options)

[3.3.5.1 Next Hour Option 17](#next-hour-option)

[3.3.5.2 Previous Hour Option 18](#previous-hour-option)

[3.3.5.3 Choose Data Period Option ... 19](#choose-data-period-option)

[3.3.5.4 Save Best Estimate Top Option
21](#save-best-estimate-top-option)

[3.3.5.5 Save Best Estimate Bottom Option
21](#save-best-estimate-bottom-option)

[3.3.5.6 Regenerate Hour Fields (formerly Rerun Fieldgen\...)
21](#regenerate-hour-fields-formerly-rerun-fieldgen...)

[3.3.5.7 Clear Data 22](#clear-data)

[3.3.5.8 Transmit Best Estimate QPE 22](#transmit-best-estimate-qpe)

[3.3.5.9 Transmit RFC Bias 22](#transmit-rfc-bias)

[3.3.6 PrecipFields Menu Options 23](#precipfields-menu-options)

[3.3.6.1 Radar Mosaic Option 24](#radar-mosaic-option)

[3.3.6.2 Average Radar Mosaic Option 24](#average-radar-mosaic-option)

[3.3.6.3 Max Radar Mosaic Option 25](#max-radar-mosaic-option)

[3.3.6.4 Field Bias Radar Mosaic Option
25](#field-bias-radar-mosaic-option)

[3.3.6.5 Local Bias Radar Mosaic Option
26](#local-bias-radar-mosaic-option)

[3.3.6.6 Gage Only Analysis Option 26](#gage-only-analysis-option)

[3.3.6.7 Multisensor Mosaic Option 27](#multisensor-mosaic-option)

[3.3.6.8 Local Bias Multisensor Mosaic
27](#local-bias-multisensor-mosaic)

[3.3.6.9 Satellite Precip Option 27](#satellite-precip-option)

[3.3.6.10 Local Bias Satellite Precip Option
28](#local-bias-satellite-precip-option)

[3.3.6.11 Satellite Radar Mosaic 28](#satellite-radar-mosaic)

[3.3.6.12 Satellite Gage Mosaic 28](#satellite-gage-mosaic)

[3.3.6.13 Satellite Radar Gage Mosaic 28](#satellite-radar-gage-mosaic)

[3.3.6.14 Triangulated Local Bias Mosaic
28](#triangulated-local-bias-mosaic)

[3.3.6.15 Best Estimate QPE Option 29](#best-estimate-qpe-option)

[3.3.6.16 RFC Field Bias Mosaic 29](#rfc-field-bias-mosaic)

[3.3.6.17 RFC Multisensor Mosaic 30](#rfc-multisensor-mosaic)

[3.3.6.18 RFC QPE Mosaic 30](#rfc-qpe-mosaic)

[3.3.7 BaseFields Menu Options 30](#basefields-menu-options)

[3.3.7.1 Local Span Option 31](#local-span-option)

[3.3.7.2 Local Bias Option 31](#local-bias-option)

[3.3.7.3 Height Field Option 31](#height-field-option)

[3.3.7.4 Radar Coverage Field 32](#radar-coverage-field)

[3.3.7.5 Gage Triangles 32](#gage-triangles)

[3.3.8 Gages Menu Options 32](#gages-menu-options)

[3.3.8.1 QC Precipitation 33](#qc-precipitation)

[3.3.8.2 QC Temp Options 40](#qc-temp-options)

[3.3.8.3 QC Freezing Level 45](#qc-freezing-level)

[3.3.8.4 Save Level 2 Data 49](#save-level-2-data)

[3.3.8.5 Add Pseudo Gage 50](#add-pseudo-gage)

[3.3.8.6 Gage Table \... 51](#gage-table-...)

[3.3.8.7 Display 7 x 7 53](#display-7-x-7)

[3.3.8.8 Show Bad Gages 54](#show-bad-gages)

[3.3.8.9 Show Gage Identifiers 54](#show-gage-identifiers)

[3.3.8.10 Show Gage Values 54](#show-gage-values)

[3.3.8.11 Show Missing Gages 55](#show-missing-gages)

[3.3.8.12 Gage Color 55](#gage-color)

[3.3.8.12.1 Solid Color 56](#solid-color)

[3.3.8.12.2 Contrast Color 56](#contrast-color)

[3.3.8.12.3 Color By QC 56](#color-by-qc)

[3.3.8.12.4 Color By Value 56](#color-by-value)

[3.3.9 Polygons Menu Options 57](#polygons-menu-options)

[3.3.9.1 Draw Polygons 57](#draw-polygons)

[3.3.9.2 Delete Polygons 59](#delete-polygons)

[3.3.10 Climo Menu Options 61](#climo-menu-options)

[3.3.10.1 Monthly Prism Precip 61](#monthly-prism-precip)

[3.3.10.2 Monthly Prism Max Temp 61](#monthly-prism-max-temp)

[3.3.10.3 Monthly Prism Min Temp 61](#monthly-prism-min-temp)

[3.3.11 Misc Menu Options 62](#misc-menu-options)

[3.3.11.1 Display Bias Table 62](#display-bias-table)

[3.3.11.2 Review Hourly Radar \... 65](#review-hourly-radar-...)

[3.3.11.3 Time Lapse Submenu 67](#time-lapse-submenu)

[3.3.11.4 Multi-Hour QPE 68](#multi-hour-qpe)

[3.3.12 Help Menu Options 70](#help-menu-options)

[4.0 Mouse Controls and Hot Keys 70](#mouse-controls-and-hot-keys)

[4.1 Exceptions to Mouse Functionality
71](#exceptions-to-mouse-functionality)

[4.2 Pop Up Menu Options 73](#pop-up-menu-options)

[4.3 Hot Keys 73](#hot-keys)

[5.0 MPE Editor Legends 74](#mpe-editor-legends)

TABLES

[Table 4- 1 MPE Editor Mouse Functionality
71](#__RefHeading___Toc189280095)

[Table 4- 2 Pop up Menu Options 72](#__RefHeading___Toc189280096)

[Table 4- 3 MPE Editor Hot Keys 74](#table-4--mpe-editor-hot-keys)

**FIGURES**

[Figure 1 File Menu Options 5](#__RefHeading___Toc189280098)

[Figure 2 Send to Database window 7](#__RefHeading___Toc189280099)

[Figure 3 Tools Menu Options 7](#__RefHeading___Toc189280100)

[Figure 4 Set Font Submenu 8](#__RefHeading___Toc189280101)

[Figure 5 Color Scale Manager Window 9](#__RefHeading___Toc189280102)

[Figure 6 The Deprecated Color Thresholds window
10](#__RefHeading___Toc189280103)

[Figure 7 View Submenu 12](#__RefHeading___Toc189280104)

[Figure 8 Display Data As Submenu 14](#__RefHeading___Toc189280105)

[Figure 9 Projections Menu Options 14](#__RefHeading___Toc189280106)

[Figure 10 Overlays Menu Options 15](#__RefHeading___Toc189280107)

[Figure 11 Streams and Lakes Submenu 16](#__RefHeading___Toc189280108)

[Figure 12 Topography Submenu 16](#__RefHeading___Toc189280109)

[Figure 13 Highways/Roads submenu 16](#__RefHeading___Toc189280110)

[Figure 14 MPEcontrol Menu Options 17](#__RefHeading___Toc189280111)

[Figure 15 Choose Data Period Window 19](#__RefHeading___Toc189280112)

[Figure 16 PrecipFields Menu 23](#__RefHeading___Toc189280113)

[Figure 17 BaseFields Menu 31](#__RefHeading___Toc189280114)

[Figure 18 Gages Menu 32](#__RefHeading___Toc189280115)

[Figure 19 QC Precipitation Options Window
33](#__RefHeading___Toc189280116)

[Figure 20 Group Edit Stations Window 35](#__RefHeading___Toc189280117)

[Figure 21 The Edit Precipitation Station window
37](#__RefHeading___Toc189280118)

[Figure 22 Timeseries Precipitation Graph
38](#__RefHeading___Toc189280119)

[Figure 23 QC Temp Options Window 40](#__RefHeading___Toc189280120)

[Figure 24 Edit Temperature Station window
44](#__RefHeading___Toc189280121)

[Figure 25 Temperature Timeseries 45](#__RefHeading___Toc189280122)

[Figure 26 QC Freeze Options Window 47](#__RefHeading___Toc189280123)

[Figure 27 Edit Freezing Level Station window
48](#__RefHeading___Toc189280124)

[Figure 28 Send to Database Window 50](#__RefHeading___Toc189280125)

[Figure 29 Gage Table 52](#__RefHeading___Toc189280126)

[Figure 30 Display 7x7 Window 53](#__RefHeading___Toc189280127)

[Figure 31 Bad Gage List Window 54](#__RefHeading___Toc189280128)

[Figure 32 Show Missing Gages Submenu 55](#__RefHeading___Toc189280129)

[Figure 33 Gage Color Submenu 56](#__RefHeading___Toc189280130)

[Figure 34 Polygons Menu Options 57](#__RefHeading___Toc189280131)

[Figure 35 Edit Precipitation Window 58](#__RefHeading___Toc189280132)

[Figure 36 Delete Polygons Window 60](#__RefHeading___Toc189280133)

[Figure 37 Climo Menu Options 61](#__RefHeading___Toc189280134)

[Figure 38 The Misc Menu Options 62](#__RefHeading___Toc189280135)

[Figure 39 The Edit Bias Table Window 63](#__RefHeading___Toc189280136)

[Figure 40 Table Showing Memory Span Information for a Specific Radar
64](#__RefHeading___Toc189280137)

[Figure 41 Show Single Radar Site Radar Selection Window
65](#__RefHeading___Toc189280138)

[Figure 42 Show Single Radar Site Window
66](#__RefHeading___Toc189280139)

[Figure 43 Time Lapse Submenu Options 67](#__RefHeading___Toc189280140)

[Figure 44 The Multi-Hour Precipitation Accumulation
69](#__RefHeading___Toc189280141)

[Figure 45 Help Menu 70](#__RefHeading___Toc189280142)

[Figure 46 Popup Menu Options 73](#__RefHeading___Toc189280143)

[Figure 47 Point Precipitation Legend 74](#__RefHeading___Toc189280144)

[Figure 48 Point Temperature Legend 74](#__RefHeading___Toc189280145)

[Figure 49 Point Freezing Level Legend 74](#__RefHeading___Toc189280146)

[Figure 50 Gridded and MAP Precipitation Legend
74](#__RefHeading___Toc189280147)

[Figure 51 Gridded and MAT Temperature Legend
75](#__RefHeading___Toc189280148)

[Figure 52 Gridded and MAZ Freezing Level Legend
75](#__RefHeading___Toc189280149)

[Figure 53 MPE and 6/24 Hour GageQC Legends
75](#__RefHeading___Toc189280150)

[Figure 54 MPE, MPE Information and 6/24 Hour GageQC Legends
76](#__RefHeading___Toc189280151)

# Introduction {#introduction .hmap_mpe_header1}

MPE Editor's focus is on areal estimations of rainfall amounts based on
both remotely sensed data (radar, satellite) and "ground truth"
observations (rain gages). It creates hourly, gridded, multi-sensor
precipitation estimates on a 4-km Hydrologic Rainfall Analysis Project
(HRAP) grid. The primary inputs to MPE are the gridded Digital
Precipitation Array (DPA) products - which provide radar estimates on a
4-km grid - and precipitation gage data. The main steps involved in
creating the multi-sensor estimate include determining a mean field bias
adjustment for each available radar, creating a multi-radar mosaic and
merging the mosaic with precipitation gage observations. MPE Editor
offers the ability to edit these gridded data fields and the point gage
observations. MPE is capable of generating several different types of
precipitation fields and mosaics, with one of these designated as the
best estimate QPE grid. At RFCs, this best grid is then used to produce
MAPX time series for input into NWSRFS. At WFOs, this grid is used as
input to the SiteSpecific Headwater Model.

As the result of an effort to incorporate DailyQC functionality into MPE
Editor, tools are available to edit 6 and 24 hour precipitation gage
observations; 6 hourly, maximum, and minimum temperature reports; and 6
hour freezing level values. These edited precipitation and temperature
data can then be used as input into the NWSRFS river models. These data
are not incorporated in to the 1 hour MPE precipitation fields and
mosaics.

This document will describe the MPE Editor application. It starts by
describing enhancements and new features in Section 2. Then, the entire
application, including all of its tools will be the subject of Section
3. In section 4 the mouse and hot key controls are discussed.

# New Features in MPE Editor {#new-features-in-mpe-editor .hmap_mpe_header1}

New features and modifications made to MPE Editor include the following:

# DailyQC Gage Editing Tools {#dailyqc-gage-editing-tools .hmap_mpe_header2}

The implementation of DailyQC tools in MPE Editor has continued with the
addition of several new features and the modification of some existing
features.

# New Filters on QC Temp Options Window {#new-filters-on-qc-temp-options-window .hmap_mpe_header3}

Three new filters have been added to the QC Temp Options window. These
are the Point filter, the Point Reverse filter and the Point Elevation
Filter. These filters are adjusted using the Point Filter, Point Reverse
Filter and Point Elevation slider bars at the bottom of the QC Temp
Options window. They work the same as those on the QC Precipitation
Options window. A temperature value is displayed if:

-   its value is greater than or equal to the value of the Point Filter
    slider bar, and

-   its value is lesser than or equal to the value of the Point Reverse
    Filter slider bar and

-   its elevation is greater than or equal to the value of the Point
    Elevation Filter slider bar.

# New Filters on QC Freeze Options Window {#new-filters-on-qc-freeze-options-window .hmap_mpe_header3}

Two new filters have been added to the QC Freeze Options window. These
are the Point filter, and the Point Reverse filter. These filters are
adjusted using the Point Filter and Point Reverse Filter slider bars at
the bottom of the QC Freeze Options window. They work the same as those
on the QC Precipitation Options and QC Temp Options windows. A freezing
level value is displayed if:

-   its value is greater than or equal to the value of the Point Filter
    slider bar, and

-   its value is lesser than or equal to the value of the Point Reverse
    Filter slider bar.

# Precipitation and Temperature Graph Options {#precipitation-and-temperature-graph-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

A Graph button has been added to the Edit Precipitation Stations and
Edit Temperature Stations windows. Selecting this button will launch a
new window titled TimeSeriesLite. This window will display a graph of
the precipitation or temperature values for the selected station for the
past several days.

# Edit Precipitation Station Window Consistency Check Information {#edit-precipitation-station-window-consistency-check-information .hmap_mpe_header3}

Text fields have been added to the Edit Precipitation Station window to
show the four 6 hour precipitation values and the 24 hour precipitation
value for the selected station. These text fields are editable, allowing
the 6 hour values and the 24 hour value to be modified. Placing this
information on the Edit Precipitation Station window eliminates the
Station Consistency Check window which would appear each time a
station's value was changed.

# Edit Temperature Station Window Consistency Check Information {#edit-temperature-station-window-consistency-check-information .hmap_mpe_header3}

Text fields have been added to the Edit Temperature Station window to
show the four 6 hour temperature values, the 24 hour maximum temperature
value and the 24 hour minimum temperature value. These text fields are
editable, allowing these temperature values to be modified. Placing this
information on the Edit Temperature Station window eliminates the
Station Consistency Check window which would appear each time a
station's value was changed.

# Climatology Source Information {#climatology-source-information .hmap_mpe_header3}

The Edit Precipitation Stations and Edit Temperature Stations windows
have been modified to display the source of the climatology value shown
in the top of each of these windows. By default, the climatology data
for each precipitation and temperature station are derived from PRISM
data and assigned a typesource of PB. Climatological data from different
sources may be substituted for the PRISM-derived climatology data. More
information is provided in the MPE Editor Implementation Guide.

# Editing Multiple Precipitation, Temperature, and Freezing Level Stations  {#editing-multiple-precipitation-temperature-and-freezing-level-stations .hmap_mpe_header3}

The Edit Precipitation Stations, Edit Temperature Stations and Edit
Freezing Level Stations windows have been modified to allow multiple
stations to be quickly edited. These windows remain open when the Apply
button is selected and the station's modified value is saved. Right
clicking another station updates the information shown in the Edit
window. These windows are closed by selecting their Close button.

# Temperature Quality Control {#temperature-quality-control .hmap_mpe_header3}

A quality control check was added to make sure that the four 6 hourly
temperatures fall within the range defined by the 24 hour maximum and
minimum temperature. If a 6 hourly temperature fails this test, then it
is flagged as questionable.

# Disaggregation of 6 Hour Gage Values {#disaggregation-of-6-hour-gage-values .hmap_mpe_header3}

The option to disaggregate 6 hour DailyQC gage values to 1 hour gages
values has been added to the DailyQC portion of MPE Editor. The disagg
operation is performed automatically when DailyQC data are saved to
Level 2 if the token mpe_disagg_execute token is set to 'ON'. The
resulting one hour gage values can then be used in the MPE 1 hour
precipitation fields and mosaics. More information about the DailyQC
disagg feature can be found in the MPE Implementation Guide.

# Display of Missing DailyQC Values {#display-of-missing-dailyqc-values .hmap_mpe_header3}

The display of DailyQC missing values is now controlled by the token
mpe_show_missing_gage, the same one which manages the display of MPE
missing values. By default, DailyQC does not show missing values. If the
mpe_show_missing_gage token is set to Reported or All, then missing
DailyQC values are shown as a gray 'm'. The names, handbook 5
identifiers, PC codes, and deviation values of stations with missing
data are also colored gray.

# MPE Editor Logging {#mpe-editor-logging .hmap_mpe_header3}

MPE editor has been set up to write log messages both to the standard
output window and a log file. A new log file is created for each MPE
Editor session. This log file is in the directory specified by the token
mpe_editor_logs_dir. By default this directory is
/awips/hydroapps/precip_proc/local/data/log/mpe_editor. The log files
are named mpe_editor\[MMddhhmm\].pid, where MM is the month, dd is the
day, hh is the hour, and mm is the minute MPE Editor was started. Pid is
the process id. These log files are purged at regular intervals by the
purge_mpe_files script. See the MPE Implementation Guide for more
information.

# The MPE Editor Graphical User Interface {#the-mpe-editor-graphical-user-interface .hmap_mpe_header1}

This section of the document describes in greater detail all of the
various utilities available through the menubar displayed across the top
of the MPE Editor main window. It then describes the mouse-controls and
hot-keys in greater detail.

# The Main Window {#the-main-window .hmap_mpe_header2}

The Main window is the first window which appears when the application
is opened, and it is the primary controlling window for the MPE Editor
process. It consists of a large display area with a menubar across the
top. What is shown in the display area is user-configurable. The
overlays can be set by toggling on and off the overlay options under the
Overlays menu. Also, the overlays displayed when MPE Editor starts can
be controlled by editing the overlay configuration file. Overlays and
the overlay configuration file are described in more detail in the MPE
Editor Implementation Document. Neither MPE data nor DailyQC data are
displayed when MPE Editor is started.

# The Choose Data Period Window {#the-choose-data-period-window .hmap_mpe_header2}

When MPE Editor is launched and the main window appears, the Choose Data
Period window is displayed. The Choose Data Period window allows the
selection of the date, time and duration for which to retrieve MPE and
DailyQC data. The Choose Data Period window is described in section
3.3.5.3.

# The Main Menubar {#the-main-menubar .hmap_mpe_header2}

The menubar which spans across the top portion of the MPE Editor viewer
shows the following menu headings, listed from left to right: **File,
Tools, Projections, Overlays, MPEcontrol, PrecipFields, BaseFields,
Gages, Polygons, Climo, Misc,** and **Help**. Utilities are grouped by
function under these menu headings. Each of these menus can be
"torn-off". This is done by clicking on the perforation across the top
of the menu. The menu will then appear in its own window. This can
reduce the number of mouse clicks when a menu option needs to be
accessed many times. Each of these menus is described in detail below.

# File Menu Options {#file-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The File menu has the following available options: **Save as Gif, Print
Image, Print Reverse Image, Close** (Figure 1)

# Save as Gif ![](media/image2.png){width="1.7534722222222223in" height="1.85in"} {#save-as-gif .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this displays the Save as GIF popup window which creates a
screen capture of the current MPE Editor display and saves it as a
GIF-formatted file. The filename of the saved GIF image must have the
extension "\*.gif". If it does not, an error will result. In order to
get a complete screen capture of the MPE Editor display, the Save as GIF
window must be moved outside of the MPE Editor display area before
selecting the OK button. Otherwise, the "shadow" of the Save as GIF
window will appear in the screen capture.

# Print Image {#print-image .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option prints the MPE Editor display. To print the image to a
specific printer, the token **whfs_printcommand_LX** must be set. This
token must contain the full print command including any non-default
printer destinations and options. For example, to print the image to
printer lp2, the whfs_printcommand_LX token must be set to "**lp
-dlp2\"**. The default value of this token is "**lp"**.

To prevent the "shadow" of the File menu from appearing on the printed
image of the MPE Editor display, "tear off" the File menu and move it
outside of the MPE Editor display before selecting the "Print Image"
option.

# Print Reverse Image {#print-reverse-image .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option prints the MPE Editor display in reverse video. To print the
image to a specific printer, the token whfs_printcommand_LX must be set
as outlined in the **Print Image** section above.

To prevent the "shadow" of the File menu from appearing on the printed
image of the MPE Editor display, "tear off" the File menu and move it
outside of the MPE Editor display before selecting the "Print Image"
option.

# Close {#close .hmap_mpe_header4}

Note that the information in this section also applies to the Close
button (the 'X') on the upper right corner of the MPE Editor window
frame.

Selecting this option closes the MPE Editor application. Before MPE
Editor is closed, a check is made to determine if the DailyQC tools were
used to edit precipitation, temperature and freezing level data sets. If
any days in these datasets were not edited, then the Send to Database
dialog box appears (Figure 2). This box contains the message "The
following datasets need to be QC'd!". Beneath this message each of the
days of the precipitation, temperature and freezing level datasets which
still need to be quality controlled are listed. Selecting the OK button
closes the Send to Database window, and the MPE Editor window remains
open allowing the remaining DailyQC datasets to be
QC'd.![](media/image3.png){width="3.2597222222222224in"
height="3.1256944444444446in"}

If the "quit anyway" button on the Send to Database window is selected,
then the Send to Database window is closed. A check is then made to
determine if any days in the precipitation, temperature or freezing
level datasets have been quality controlled but not saved. If any are
found, then the Send to Database dialog box is again displayed. This
time it contains the message, "Save the following Precipitation and MAP
datasets?" Below this message the days of the 6/24 hour gage datasets
which need to be saved are shown. If the OK button is chosen, then data
are saved, and the Send to Database window is closed. If the No button
is pressed, then the Send to Database window is closed and the data are
not saved. One last dialog box is displayed confirming that the MPE
Editor window should be closed. Selecting OK causes the MPE Editor
application to close. If Cancel is selected, then MPE Editor will not
close and MPE/DailyQC editing can
resume.![](media/image4.png){width="2.8756944444444446in"
height="3.2402777777777776in"}

# Tools Menu Options {#tools-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The choices available on the Tools sub‑menu are **Areal Zoom, Point
Zoom**, **Pan**, **Recenter**, **Tool Bar, Set Font, MPE Color Manager,
Set Colors, View,** and **Display As** (see Figure 3). The Restore
Initial and Find Station options are not available.

# Areal Zoom  {#areal-zoom .hmap_mpe_header4}

Areal Zoom and its associated hot key combination \<Ctrl+Z\> allow the
MPE Editor display to be zoomed into and out of an area bounded by a
zoom rectangle. They also allow the MPE Editor map to be returned to its
prior state after a zoom, pan or recenter operation.

The zoom rectangle is drawn by holding down the left mouse button and
dragging the mouse. Once the rectangle is drawn, selecting Areal Zoom or
pressing Ctrl+Z causes the MPE Editor map display to zoom into the area
inside the rectangle. Selecting Areal Zoom or pressing Ctrl+Z again will
unzoom the display, returning it to its previous zoom level and
orientation.

# Point Zoom  {#point-zoom .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting Point Zoom brings up a small menu with the options "In" and
"Out" on it. "In" zooms into the map. "Out" zooms out of the
map.![](media/image5.png){width="3.3756944444444446in"
height="3.2284722222222224in"}

# Pan {#pan .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option brings up a small menu with the map navigation
options "Up", "Down", "Right", and "Left" on it.

# Recenter  {#recenter .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option changes the mouse pointer to a leftward pointing
hand. While in this mode, a single left mouse button click will recenter
the map display around the selected location.

# Tool Bar  {#tool-bar .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option is a toggle button which enables or disables the display of
the MPE Editor toolbar. This toolbar by default is "off". When it is
enabled through this menu option, it is displayed just below the main
menubar. This toolbar contains the following items from left to right:
the pan up button, the pan down button, the pan left button, the pan
right button, the recenter button, the zoom in button, the zoom out
button, the latitude box, and the longitude box. These buttons offer an
alternative way of accessing the map zoom, recenter and pan functions.

# Set Font {#set-font .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option allows the size of text shown on the MPE Editor map window
to be made larger or smaller. Selecting Set Font on the Tools menu leads
to the submenu shown in Figure 4. This submenu allows six font sizes to
be chosen. The font choices are **Miniscule**, **Very Small**,
**Small**, **Normal**, **Large**, and **Very Large**. The default font
size is Small.

# MPE Color Manager {#mpe-color-manager .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option displays the Color Scale Manger window as shown in
Figure 5. This window is described in Appendix A of the Hydroview User's
Guide.![](media/image6.png){width="4.097916666666666in"
height="3.942361111111111in"}

# Set Colors (deprecated) {#set-colors-deprecated .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this menu item launches the Color Thresholds window (Figure
6). This window has been replaced by the MPE Color Manager (described
above). It is recommended that the MPE Color Manager be used instead of
the Color Thresholds window. The Set Colors option will be removed in a
future AWIPS build.

The Color Threshold window allows the precipitation ranges and the
colors associated with them to be defined for each of the MPE fields and
mosaics. These colors are set on a user-by-user basis allowing color
schemes to be tailored to an individual's preferences and needs for each
MPE field and mosaic. This color information is stored in the ColorValue
table in the IHFS database. If a user does not have color information
setup, then the office color scheme is used. If there is no office color
scheme for the MPE product, then the default, hard-coded color scheme is
used.

![](media/image7.png){width="3.1840277777777777in"
height="5.486111111111111in"}

The large scrolled list which occupies the top half of the Color
Thresholds window displays the thresholds and the color data associated
with them for the currently selected product. This list box displays the
name of the product, the duration of the product, the numeric threshold,
and the color associated with that threshold. If a product has color
thresholds defined for multiple durations, then all of the color
thresholds defined for the product are displayed in the scrolled list
ordered by increasing duration and increasing threshold value.

The bottom half of the Color Thresholds GUI contains the options which
control which product is displayed in the selection list and allow the
setting of individual thresholds and the colors associated with them. An
MPE or DailyQC product may be selected from the ColorUse option menu.

The Hours text field specifies the number of hours the MPE product
spans. This text field can be used to define color thresholds of
differing durations for a MPE product such as defining different color
scales for different duration displays of multi-hour QPE. When
displaying a multi-hour QPE for a duration not specified in the
ColorValue table, the color scheme of the closest matching duration will
be used. For example, if a 9 hour multi-hour QPE product is displayed,
but there are color schemes defined for 3 and 12 hour accumulations,
then the 12 hour color scheme will be used.

The threshold may be Missing, \< Min Threshold or \>=Value. Each product
must have a Missing and a \< Min Threshold value defined for it.

The Value text box specifies the value associated with the threshold. A
value does not apply to the Missing and \< Min Threshold categories -
they are assigned internally by MPE Editor.

Below these options is the Color Name scrolled list. This list contains
the names of all the colors which may be used in defining the
thresholds. These are read in from the ColorName table in the IHFS
database. It reflects the list of available system colors specified in
file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb.txt.

For each MPE product, colors may be stored on a user-by-user basis or an
office-wide basis. For a given MPE product, a user's color set will take
precedence over an office-wide color set. If neither a user nor office
defined color set exists for the product, then a default color set
(defined in the MPE Editor program) is used.

The seven buttons at the bottom of the Color Thresholds window behave as
follows:

Save To User Set - Updates the user color scheme for the selected
product and duration. This includes adding a new color threshold and
associated color or modifying an existing color threshold and associated
value or deleting an entry.

Save To Office Set -- Updates the office-wide color scheme for the
selected product and duration.

Copy Default Set To User Set --Copies the default color set to the user
color set for the selected product and duration.

Copy Office Set To User Set -- Copies the office-wide color set to the
user color set for the selected product and duration.

Delete User Set -- Deletes the user color set for the selected product
and duration. If an office color set exists for this product and
duration, then it will be used to display the data. Otherwise, the
default color set will be used.

Delete Office Set -- Deletes the office-wide color set for the selected
product and duration. If a user-defined color set does not exist, then
the default color set will be used for the display of this product at
this duration.![](media/image8.png){width="3.7402777777777776in"
height="3.292361111111111in"}

Close -- Closes the Color Thresholds window.

# View {#view .hmap_mpe_header4}

Figure 7 shows the View submenu. It includes the Full Screen and Split
Screen options. Selecting Split Screen causes the MPE Editor map window
to split into two maps with one map occupying the top half of the MPE
Editor window and one map occupying the bottom half of the MPE Editor
window. Selecting Full Screen causes MPE Editor to display only one map.

The Split and Full Screen options are only available when MPE data are
displayed. When MPE data are first displayed, the token mpe_split_screen
controls whether the screen is full or split by default. The MPE Editor
Implementation Document explains the use of the mpe_split_screen token.

When in split screen mode, only MPE data in the top window may be
directly edited through the application of polygons and gage edits. The
bottom map window is view only, although it may be affected by edits to
the top window and a rerun of MPE Fieldgen. Specifically:

-   Zooming and panning operations in the top and bottom map windows are
    linked. Zooming and panning in either of the windows will cause the
    other window to also zoom and pan. The orientation of the geographic
    overlays (e.g. state boundaries) always looks the same in both
    windows.

-   Changing to a new projection under the Projections menu causes the
    map projection to change in both map windows.

-   Overlays selected from the Overlays menu are applied to both
    windows.

-   The options under the MPEcontrol menu apply to both windows. The
    MPEcontrol menu provides the option to save either the top or bottom
    window as the Best Estimate QPE through the Save Best Estimate Top
    and Save Best Estimate Bottom menu items, respectively.

-   The options under the PrecipFields menu only apply to the top
    window. The MPE field displayed in the bottom map window may be
    changed by right clicking on the bottom window and selecting a field
    from the popup menu.

-   With the exception of the Gage Triangles option, the options under
    the BaseFields menu only apply to the top window.

-   On the Gages menu, the Add Pseudo Gage and Display 7x7 options only
    work in the top window. The Show Gage Identifiers, Show Gage Values,
    Show Missing Gages, and Gage Color options work in both windows.

-   The options under the Polygons menu apply only the top window. Edit
    polygons may not be drawn on the bottom window.

-   The options under the Climo menu apply only to the top window.

-   The Misc menu options to time lapse and display the multi-hour QPE
    apply only to the top window. The Display Bias Table and Review
    Hourly Radar options are independent of the MPE Editor windows.

Possible uses of the split screen mode include but are not limited to:

-   Visually comparing two MPE fields

-   Displaying how gage, polygon and bias edits to a base field affect a
    derived field after a rerun of MPE Fieldgen.

-   For substitute polygon edits, split screen mode allows the field
    being substituted from to be displayed side by side with the field
    into which the substitution is being performed.

# Display Data As {#display-data-as .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option launches the submenu shown in Figure 8. The
options on this submenu allow the MPE fields and mosaics to be displayed
as a gridded image by selecting Image (which is the default), as a
contoured field by selecting Contour, or as a contoured field on top of
the gridded image by selecting both Image and Contour. If neither of
these toggle buttons is selected, then no MPE data will be displayed on
the screen.![](media/image9.png){width="3.1868055555555554in"
height="3.2597222222222224in"}

The contoured data uses the same color legend as the gridded data. Any
color changes made to a MPE field or mosaic are applied to both the
gridded image and the contoured field.

# Projections Menu Options {#projections-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The projections menu (see Figure 9) offers the Flat Lat/Lon, Polar
Stereographic and HRAP
projections.![](media/image10.png){width="1.9493055555555556in"
height="1.5909722222222222in"}

The Flat Lat/Lon projection treats latitude and longitude as a
rectangular grid in which latitude and longitude values are spaced
equally. This results in increasing amounts of distortion in map area
and with increasing distance from the equator.

The Polar Stereographic projection creates a more realistic map of the
earth's surface. The spacing between lines of longitude decreases
towards the north pole. This is also the projection that the HRAP grid
uses. This projection minimizes map distortion in the mid and high
latitudes.

The HRAP projection is a specialized case of the Polar Stereographic
projection in that it uses the 105 west longitude line as the reference
longitude. Because a site's MPE forecast area represents a section of
the national HRAP grid, it will always appear as a rectangle when using
the HRAP projection. MPE Editor takes advantage of this and attempts to
fit the site's MPE forecast area as best as possible to the viewing
area. ![](media/image11.png){width="3.0458333333333334in"
height="4.581944444444445in"}

The HRAP projection offers another convenience. Selecting Areal Zoom or
Ctrl+Z after any zooming, panning, or recentering operation will return
the map view to the initial view. This feature helps in cases where
consistent screen captures of several hours worth of precipitation data
are required.

When MPE Editor is first started, it uses the Flat Lat/Lon projection by
default. This default setting may be changed by altering the value of
the hv_map_projection token.

# Overlays Menu Options {#overlays-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The **Overlays** menu contains toggle buttons which can be used to
enable or disable the display of the overlays offered on the MPE Editor
application (Figure 10). The overlays are drawn on top of the spatial
data such as the precipitation fields and the FFG grids.

Overlays remain displayed when changing hours. Radar rings are a special
case where if MPE data are being viewed, then they will change colors
when changing hours to indicate the availability of radar data. A green
radar ring indicates that there is radar data. A red radar ring
indicates that there is no radar data. Note that radar ring colors do
not change during a time lapse.

The Streams/Lakes Overlays Menu option leads to a submenu which allows
the resolution and density of the displayed overlay to be chosen. Figure
11 shows the options on the Streams/Lakes submenu. These include All
Streams/Lakes, Major Streams/Lakes, No Streams/Lakes. Only one of these
options may be chosen at a time. The All Streams/Lakes overlay shows the
most detailed water body information. The Major Streams/Lakes overlay
shows only significant rivers and lakes. The No Streams/Lakes option
does not show any stream and lake
information.![](media/image12.png){width="3.2631944444444443in"
height="1.2694444444444444in"}

Figure 12 shows the options on the Topography submenu. These include
Image, Contour and None. The Image option draws a topography image on
the MPE Editor display. The Contour option draws a contoured topography
map with colored contour lines at 2400, 4800, 7200, 9600, and 12000
feet. The None option turns off the display of topographic information.
![](media/image13.png){width="3.0416666666666665in"
height="0.9895833333333334in"}

Figure 13 shows the options on the Highways/Roads submenu. These include
Highways/Roads, Highways, and None. Only one of these options may be
selected. The Highways/Roads option displays both interstates and
secondary roads. The Highways option displays only interstates, and the
None option does not display any interstate or road information.

The management of the overlays relies on the
**mpe_editor_overlay_configuration** file, located in hydroview's local
data apps directory, to specify the sources of overlay data and the
properties of the overlays. Each row contains information that controls
how a particular overlay is displayed, its default state upon startup of
the application, whether or not it is stored in memory, its color, its
line width (if applicable) and its
source.![](media/image14.jpeg){width="2.8895833333333334in"
height="0.8159722222222222in"}

The overlay configuration file does not have to contain an entry for
each overlay. If it does not contain an entry for an overlay, then that
overlay's name will appear grayed out on the Overlays menu. Also, the
overlays do not have to appear in any particular order in the overlay
configuration file. The overlay configuration file allows for up to 20
user-defined shapefile or bcd overlays.

The overlay configuration file defines the overlay sources and
properties. For example, the MPE Editor overlay configuration file may
be set up to use town and city data from the IHFS database City table or
the FSL cities and towns lpi files. In addition to this, RFCs may set up
the overlay configuration file so that city and town information are
plotted from their geodata files. The overlays used by MPE Editor come
from several different sources which in turn have multiple formats that
the program needs to be able to recognize and interpret. The overlay
configuration file provides the mechanism for informing the application
where it needs to retrieve its overlay information from. The specific
format of the overlay configuration file is covered in detail in the
***MPE Editor Implementation Document***.

# MPEcontrol Menu Options![](media/image15.png){width="2.5729166666666665in" height="2.5215277777777776in"} {#mpecontrol-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The MPEcontrol menu provides the options to choose the date and time for
which to display MPE data. It also provides options for both saving MPE
data and regenerating the MPE fields and mosaics. None of the
MPEcontrol, PrecipFields, BaseFields, Gages, Polygons, Climo, and Misc
menu items are accessible until an hour for displaying the MPE data has
been chosen from the "Choose Hour ..." menu item on the MPEcontrol menu.
Once an hour has been selected, the other MPEcontrol, PrecipFields,
BaseFields, Gages, Polygons, Climo, and Misc menu items are
automatically made selectable. Figure 14 shows the options available on
the MPEcontrol menu.

# Next Hour Option {#next-hour-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The next hour option selects and displays an MPE field or mosaic for the
next hour. The application keeps track of the specific data field being
viewed so that the same product can be properly loaded for the next
hour.

For the editable precipitation fields and mosaics, when the next hour
option is selected and the field currently being viewed has not been
saved, a warning dialog box is launched stating that the data has not
been saved. This dialog box provides the option to cancel the next hour
callback and save the data first or to discard any changes made and
continue to load the next hour's data.

If data for the most recent hour are being viewed, then the Next Hour
button will be grayed out and not selectable.

# Previous Hour Option {#previous-hour-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The previous hour option selects and displays an MPE Field or Mosaic for
the previous hour. Like the next hour option, the application keeps
track of the specific field being viewed so that the same product will
be properly loaded when showing the previous hour's data.

For the editable precipitation fields and mosaics, when the previous
hour option is selected and the field currently being viewed has not
been saved, a warning dialog box is launched stating that the
precipitation field or mosaic has not been saved. This dialog box
provides the option to cancel the previous hour callback and save the
data first or to discard any changes made and continue to load the
previous hour's data.

If data for the oldest hour are being viewed, then the Previous Hour
menu option will be grayed out and not selectable.

# Choose Data Period Option ... {#choose-data-period-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

![](media/image16.png){width="4.25in" height="4.0625in"}

The choose data period window provides the ability to select a date and
an hour for which to display MPE data (Figure 15). From left to right
across the top of this window are fields for entering the year, month,
and day of the date for which to retrieve MPE or DailyQC data. Selecting
the up and down arrow buttons next to the day field adjusts the day up
or down respectively. The selected date not only applies to the
displayed MPE data, but it also serves as the base date for 6/24 hour
DailyQC datasets. All dates and times displayed in this window are GMT.

By default, the initial date and hour displayed in the Choose Data
Period window are the current date and hour. This can be changed by
specifying the date/hour in the form yyyymmddhh (Z time) as an argument
to the "-t" option on the command line of the call to the MPE Editor
application in the start_mpe_editor script.

The MPE Options portion of the Choose Data Period window allows the hour
for which to view and edit MPE data to be selected. It does not apply to
the DailyQC datasets. The hour may be increased or decreased by
selecting the up or down arrow button next to the hour text field. Next
to the Hour field are three labels indicating the date and time when the
this hour's Best Estimate QPE was last saved ("Last Save"), the date and
time this hour's MPE data set was last regenerated by MPE Fieldgen
("Last Exec") and whether or not the Best Estimate QPE has been manually
saved. If "n/a" is displayed for Last Save, it means that the Best
Estimate QPE has not previously been saved for this hour. A value of
"n/a" for Last Exec indicates that MPE Fieldgen has not yet run for this
hour.

Once a date and hour have been selected, MPE data can be displayed by
pressing the Display MPE Data button.

The "6/24 hr gage edit options ..." portion of the Choose Data Period
window can be used to access the DailyQC precipitation, temperature and
freezing level gage editing tools. Up to 10 days worth of gage data can
be selected for editing. This is done by using the up and down arrows on
the Num of Days text box to adjust the day value. By default, a daily
DailyQC dataset runs from 12z to 12z. So, if 10 days are selected in the
Num of Days text box then 10 days worth of precipitation, temperature
and freezing level gage data will be retrieved, ending at 12z on the
selected year, month and day.

The DailyQC gage editing tools may be used to edit gages located over
the entire forecast area or to edit gages in just a particular portion
of the forecast area. The Select Area pull down menu allows the area for
which to edit gages to be chosen. This list always contains as the first
option the name of the office and represents the entire forecast area.
Selecting this option will load precipitation, temperature and freezing
level data for the entire forecast area. If a list of subareas is
supplied using the mpe_area_names token, then these subareas will also
be listed on the Select Area pull down menu. More information about
setting the mpe_area_names token and creating sub areas can be found in
the MPE Implementation Guide.

When the Precipitation, Temperature or Freezing button is pressed, MPE
Editor will load data for each of the three data types while performing
automated QC checks. Once the gage data are loaded and processed, the QC
Precipitation Options window will be launched if the Precipitation
button was presses, the QC Temp Options window will be launched if the
Temperature button was pressed, or QC Freeze Options window will be
launched if the Freezing button was pressed. These windows provide the
ability to manipulate the displayed gage data and the tools needed to
manually QC these data. More information about these three windows along
with screen shots are provided below in the sections about the QC
Precipitation, QC Temperatures, and QC Freezing Level options on the
Gages Menu.

Once the MPE or the DailyQC data have been loaded, the Choose Data
Period window closes. It can be launched again by selecting the Choose
Hour option on the MPE Control menu. If using the DailyQC gage editing
tools, a new gage dataset will be loaded if the ending date, number of
days or the area is changed and one of the precipitation, temperature,
or freezing buttons is pressed. If the ending date, number of days and
area are unchanged then selecting the precipitation, temperature or
freezing buttons will display gages of that data type for the gage
dataset currently in memory. DailyQC data are not reloaded in this case.

The "Close" button pops-down the "Choose Data Period" window.

# Save Best Estimate Top Option {#save-best-estimate-top-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

Choosing this option saves the currently displayed MPE precipitation
field as the "best estimate" precipitation field for the hour. When in
Split Screen mode, this option saves the field displayed in the top map
window as the Best Estimate QPE field.

The Best Estimate QPE is saved as an xmrg-formatted file. When a file is
saved, a record is written to the IHFS RWResult table containing the
filename, the id of the user running the MPE Editor application (as
indicated by the LOGNAME environmental variable) and the date/time that
the file was saved. Note that missing values are replaced by 0.0 in the
precipitation field before creating the xmrg file. This is done
specifically for MAPX, an OFS function which relies on these xmrg
precipitation estimates not containing any missing values.

The option to save the best estimate precipitation field only exists for
the editable precipitation fields and mosaics. Base data fields, which
include the "Radar Coverage", "Height", "Local Span", "Local Bias", and
"Prism" fields, cannot be saved as the best estimate QPE.

The "Save Best Estimate Top" option will also save the data in a netCDF
format, GIF format, JPEG format, and/or in a GRIB format depending on
the values of the "mpe_save_netcdf", "mpe_save_gif", "mpe_save_jpeg",
and "mpe_save_grib" tokens, respectively, in the apps defaults file(s)
or in MPE Editor's environment. When saving GIF and JPEG images, make
sure that no other windows are on top of the MPE main window. Failure to
do this will result in creation of an image with other windows obscuring
the main window.

Saving the Best Estimate QPE also sets the auto_save flag to 'F' in the
RWResult table for that hour. This prevents MPE FieldGen from
overwriting the best estimate precipitation field during a subsequent
cron or manual rerun, preserving manual edits.

# Save Best Estimate Bottom Option {#save-best-estimate-bottom-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option is only selectable when in split screen mode. Choosing this
option saves the MPE precipitation field displayed in the bottom map
window as the "best estimate" precipitation field for the hour. The same
file format and rules apply to the bottom window when it is saved as the
Best Estimate QPE as the top window when it is saved as the Best
Estimate QPE (see the previous section, Save Best Estimate Top Option).

# Regenerate Hour Fields (formerly Rerun Fieldgen\...) {#regenerate-hour-fields-formerly-rerun-fieldgen... .hmap_mpe_header4}

Edits to gage, radar and bias data made through MPE Editor are
incorporated into the MPE fields and mosaics by rerunning MPE Fieldgen.
This is done by selecting the Regenerate Hour Fields option. For
example, if a radar site is "ignored" (through the Single Site Radar
window) and two new gages are added using the "Add Pseudo Gage" option,
these changes will be applied to the MPE fields and mosaics by rerunning
MPE Fieldgen. MPE FieldGen will regenerate each of these fields with the
updated radar and rain gage data. If the "Best Estimate QPE" field has
not yet been manually saved for that hour, then it will be updated by
rerunning FieldGen. Otherwise, it will be left unchanged.

When the Regenerate Hour Fields option is selected, the "Regenerate Hour
Fields Dialog" pop-up window appears. Selecting the Yes button will
cause MPE Fieldgen to run and recreate the MPE fields and mosaics for
the current hour. This may take several seconds. Selecting the No button
will close the Regenerate Hour Fields Dialog and MPE Fieldgen will not
be run.

# Clear Data {#clear-data .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option clears MPE data from the MPE Editor display. If the display
is in split screen mode, then it will be returned to a full screen
display. Once the MPE data have been cleared from the display, they can
be redisplayed by selecting the Choose Hour option under the MPEcontrol
menu. This option does not clear the 6/24 hour precipitation,
temperature, and freezing level gage datasets.

# Transmit Best Estimate QPE {#transmit-best-estimate-qpe .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option was added to allow RFC's to send their Best Estimate QPE
fields over the NWS Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN). This option will
be selectable if the token mpe_send_qpe_to_sbn is set to ON as described
in the MPE Implementation Guide. When this option is selected, all of
the Best QPE fields which have been edited and saved since the last SBN
transmission will be processed and sent across the SBN. For an RFC, this
means that this option only has to be selected once per MPE Editor
session. For example, if twelve hours of QPE data have been edited in
MPE Editor, selecting Transmit Best Estimate QPE will send twelve hours
worth of Best QPE fields across the SBN.

WFOs will receive these RFC Best QPE products from the SBN. Only those
which provide QPE coverage for a portion of the WFO's MPE area will be
selected. If a WFO's MPE area straddles 2 or more RFC basins, the the
RFC Best QPE products will be mosaicked. The resulting product at the
WFO is called the RFC QPE Mosaic, and it can be viewed in MPE Editor. It
can also be viewed in D2D if the mpe_d2d_display_grib token is ON. The
MPE Editor Implementation Guide describes how to set this token.

# Transmit RFC Bias {#transmit-rfc-bias .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option allows an RFC to create and send a bias message across the
NWS WAN to collocated WFOs. This bias message contains mean field bias
information for 1 hour for each of the radars that the RFC uses in MPE.
The WFOs that receive this bias message can view the mean field bias
values in the MPE Editor bias table. The WFO can also have MPE apply
these RFC-generated mean field bias values to the Radar Mosaic to create
a RFC Field Bias Mosaic and an RFC Multisensor Mosaic. For the WFO's
radars of responsibility, these mean field biases can be sent to the
WFO's ORPG via the Biasmesgen process. There they can be used to unbias
the ORPG radar-estimated precipitation products. These products are
viewable in D2D and can be used in FFMP.

More information about setting up the transmit RFC bias option can be
found in the MPE Editor Implementation Guide. More information about
using Biasmesgen to send the RFC mean field biases to the ORPG can be
found in the Biasmesgen Operations Guide.

# PrecipFields Menu Options {#precipfields-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

![](media/image17.png){width="2.2708333333333335in"
height="4.665972222222222in"}

As shown in Figure 16, these menu options allow the display of the
different MPE precipitation mosaics and fields. The first 14 options
listed on the menu are the "Radar Mosaic", the "Average Radar Mosaic",
the "Max Radar Mosaic", the "Field Bias Radar Mosaic", the "Local Bias
Radar Mosaic", the "Gage Only Analysis", the "Multisensor Mosaic", the
"Local Bias Multisensor Mosaic", the "Satellite Precip" field, the
"Local Bias Satellite Precip" field, the "Satellite Radar Mosaic", the
"Satellite Gage Mosaic", the "Satellite Radar Gage Mosaic", and the
"Triangulated Local Bias Mosaic". These mosaics and fields are derived
from remotely sensed precipitation estimates (from radar and the
satellite autoestimator) and rain gage observations.

The next field on the PrecipFields menu is the "Best Estimate QPE". This
is the precipitation field selected by MPE Fieldgen or manually saved as
the best estimate for the hour.

The last three options on the PrecipFields menu are the "RFC Field Bias
Mosaic", the "RFC Multisensor Mosaic" and the "RFC QPE Mosaic". These
mosaics are derived from mean field bias and Best Estimate QPE data
received from RFCs at WFOs.

The availability of the precipitation mosaic and field options listed on
the PrecipFields Menu depends on the settings of the mpe_generate_list
and mpe_qpe_fieldtype tokens. The mpe_generate_list token allows the
forecast office to pick which MPE products it needs for its operations.
Only these products will be generated by MPE Fieldgen and be available
for viewing in MPE Editor. The fields which are not available will be
grayed out in the PrecipFields menu. The Best Estimate QPE option is
always available when displaying MPE data. The mpe_qpe_fieldtype token
specifies which of the available fields is saved as the Best Estimate
QPE field by MPE Fieldgen.

The mpe_generate_list token, the mpe_qpe_fieldtype token, and the
inter-product dependencies are discussed in the MPE Editor
Implementation Guide.

# Radar Mosaic Option {#radar-mosaic-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

This field represents the rainfall estimate as derived directly from the
mosaic of DPA grids for each of the individual radar sites that provide
coverage for the office's MPE area. It is the raw radar precipitation
estimate. No bias correction has been applied to it. Selecting this
option will cause the radar mosaic to be displayed on the MPE Editor
viewing area. For each HRAP grid bin in the raw radar mosaic, the radar
which provides coverage at the lowest height above sea level is selected
to fill that bin. If an HRAP bin is not covered by radar data, then it
is assigned a missing value. The "Height" and "Radar Coverage" fields
described below are used in determining the optimal radar value for each
of the grid bins.

If available, radar climatology is used in the creation of the Radar
Mosaic. Radar climatology files, also known as Misbin files, are created
on a per radar basis. They are 131 by 131 HRAP grid bins in size, the
number of grid bins covered by a radar's volume scan. Each grid bin in
the misbin file has a value indicating whether or not the radar produces
reliable precipitation estimates for it. If radar estimates for a
particular grid bin are climatologically not accurate, then that grid
bin is not used in the Radar Mosaic.

By default the Radar Mosaic is the base field for all of the
radar-derived MPE fields and mosaics. This setting is specified by token
mpe_base_radar_mosaic and is discussed in the MPE Implementation Guide

# Average Radar Mosaic Option {#average-radar-mosaic-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Average Radar Mosaic is derived from the mosaic of DPA grids for
each of the individual radar sites that provide coverage for the
office's MPE area. It is the raw radar precipitation estimate with no
bias corrections applied. The radar estimates have not been adjusted
using gage data.

During the creation of this radar mosaic, if an HRAP grid bin is covered
by more than one radar site, the radar estimated precipitation values
for that HRAP grid bin from each of the radar sites are averaged and
assigned to the grid bin. If there are no radar estimates for a grid
bin, then it is assigned a missing value. Like the Radar Mosaic, radar
climatologies are used in the creation of the Average Radar Mosaic.

The Average Radar Mosaic can be used as the base radar mosaic for all of
the radar-derived MPE fields and mosaics by setting the
mpe_base_radar_mosaic token to AVGRMOSAIC. The acceptable values of this
token are discussed in the MPE Implementation Guide.

# Max Radar Mosaic Option {#max-radar-mosaic-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Maximum Radar Mosaic is derived from the mosaic of DPA grids for
each of the individual radar sites that provide coverage over a portion
of the office's MPE area. It is the raw radar precipitation estimate
with no bias corrections applied. The radar estimates have not been
adjusted using gage data.

During the creation of this radar mosaic, if an HRAP grid bin is covered
by more than one radar site, the maximum radar value is assigned to the
grid bin. If there are no radar values for the grid bin, then it is
assigned a missing value. Like the Radar Mosaic, radar climatologies are
used in the creation of the Max Radar Mosaic.

The Maximum Radar Mosaic can be used as the base radar mosaic for all of
the radar-derived MPE fields and mosaics. This is done by setting the
value of the mpe_base_radar_mosaic token to MAXRMOSAIC. The acceptable
values of this token are discussed in the MPE Implementation Guide.

# Field Bias Radar Mosaic Option {#field-bias-radar-mosaic-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option displays the raw radar mosaic with mean field bias
corrections applied to it. MPE Fieldgen calculates a mean field bias
correction value for each radar used in the creation of the Radar
Mosaic. The mean field bias correction factor provides a way of
correcting radar estimated precipitation estimates using gage data. The
mean field bias values for each radar can be viewed in the Edit Bias
table, as discussed below in the section about the Misc menu options.

The mean field bias values are arrived at by comparing precipitation
observations from rain gages with radar-estimated rainfall amounts over
10 different spans of time (also known as memory spans) ranging from
under an hour to daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and period of record.
MPE Fieldgen determines the best bias to use by selecting the memory
span whose bias value has at least 10 contributing gage/radar pairs,
although this threshold value is configurable through the RWBiasStat
table in the IHFS database (see the MPE Implementation Guide). A mean
field bias value is applied to the entire coverage area of the radar
while a local bias, described in the Local Bias Radar Mosaic Option
section below, is applied to an HRAP grid bin. More information about
the mean field bias correction can be found in the MPE Fieldgen System
Document.

# Local Bias Radar Mosaic Option {#local-bias-radar-mosaic-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Local Bias Radar Mosaic is created by computing a bias correction
factor for each HRAP grid bin of an office's MPE area. The resulting
grid of local bias values is then applied to the raw radar mosaic to
produce the local bias corrected radar mosaic. By computing the bias for
each HRAP grid bin, local geographical and micro-climatological effects
on rainfall can be accounted for.

Like the mean field bias, local bias values are computed by comparing
gage values to radar values. They are also processed over 10 memory
spans, selecting the memory span whose bias value has at least 10
contributing gage/radar pairs. The 10 memory spans and their biases are
stored in state variables files for retrieval and processing by
subsequent runs of MPE Fieldgen. The local bias value and memory span
chosen for each HRAP grid bin in the office's MPE area can be displayed
in MPE Editor by selecting the Local Bias and Local Span fields
described below. More information about the local bias correction can be
found in the MPE Fieldgen System document.

# Gage Only Analysis Option {#gage-only-analysis-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Gage Only analysis represents the precipitation field as estimated
by gages only. In order to compensate for the sometimes large spacing
between gages, an attempt is made to spatially smooth the precipitation
around a gage point when there are other non-missing gage reports
nearby. This spatial smoothing is distance weighted and enhanced by
Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)
monthly precipitation means (see the MPE Fieldgen System document).

The mpe_del_gage_zeros token controls the handling of gages reporting
values of zero. If this token is set to "ON", then a gage reporting zero
is not considered in the Gage Only analysis if radar is reporting
precipitation over that gage's location. If the mpe_del_gage_zeros token
is set to "OFF", the default value, then a gage reporting zero is used
regardless of whether or not radar is indicating precipitation over its
location.

The radius of influence of a gage report is 15 HRAP grid bins or
approximately 60 km. This means if an HRAP grid bin is more than 60 km
from the nearest gage site, then it will be assigned a missing value and
will be displayed grayed out. If the grid bin is within 60 km of several
gages, then the gage values are weighted based on their distance and the
climatology of the surrounding gages is compared to that of the grid
bin. The mean weighted, PRISM corrected value is assigned to the HRAP
grid bin.

# Multisensor Mosaic Option {#multisensor-mosaic-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Multisensor Mosaic is derived from a combination of the Field Bias
Radar Mosaic (described above) and gage values. Each grid bin in the MPE
forecast area is assigned a value based on neighboring gage and bias
corrected radar values. If the grid bin contains a gage site reporting a
non missing value, then it is assigned the gage's value. Otherwise, it
is assigned a value based on its radar estimated precipitation value,
the distance weighed values of the nearby gages, and the PRISM
precipitation climatology. PRISM data have the most effect on the
multisensor analysis in mountainous areas where the gage network is
sparse and there is little or no radar data.

Using these data sources, the Multisensor Mosaic attempts to estimate
precipitation for as much of the office's MPE area as it can. For this
reason, the Multisensor Mosaic is the field chosen by MPE Fieldgen by
default as the Best Estimate QPE. The MPE Implementation guide describes
how the mpe_qpe_fieldtype token can be set so that MPE Fieldgen chooses
another one of the MPE fields or mosaics as the default Best Estimate
QPE.

# Local Bias Multisensor Mosaic {#local-bias-multisensor-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Local Bias Multisensor Mosaic is based on the Local Bias Radar
Mosaic (described above). The local bias value used for each grid bin
can be seen by displaying the Local Bias Field. The memory spans used to
compute these local biases can be viewed by displaying the Local Span
Field. The local bias multisensor mosaic is the result of combining
local bias corrected radar estimates with gage data. The effect of this
is to fill in areas of poor radar coverage using spatially smoothed and
climatologically (PRISM) weighted radar and rain gage data.

# Satellite Precip Option  {#satellite-precip-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The satellite precipitation option allows satellite estimated
precipitation amounts to be viewed in the MPE Editor display.

The SPE product may be time lapsed just like any of the other products.
Also, it may be saved as the best estimate QPE. Unlike the other MPE
precipitation products, the satellite precipitation field is not created
by MPE Fieldgen. It is read from the D2D National Auto Satellite
Precipitation Estimate (Auto SPE) product. Each time the Satellite
Precipitation option is chosen, the portion of the National Auto SPE
product corresponding to the office's MPE area is cropped and displayed
in MPE Editor.

Satellite precipitation estimates can provide rainfall data in areas
without adequate radar or rain gage coverage. These data void areas
appear as grayed-out regions on the MPE Multisensor Mosaic (discussed
below). However, like all remote sensing techniques used to determine
rainfall, satellite rainfall estimates are prone to error.

# Local Bias Satellite Precip Option {#local-bias-satellite-precip-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

For this product, a bias value is computed for each HRAP grid bin in the
site's MPE forecast area using collocated rain gage and satellite
estimated precipitation amounts. These biases are then applied to each
HRAP grid bin within the satellite precipitation field. The net effect
of this is to "correct" or "unbias" the satellite precipitation
estimates. Note that the Local Span Field and Local Bias Field do not
apply to this product. They apply only to the Local Bias Radar Mosaic.
The local span and local bias information for the Local Bias Satellite
Precip field are not displayable in MPE Editor. However, this
information is stored in state variable files for use by subsequent runs
of MPE Fieldgen.

# Satellite Radar Mosaic {#satellite-radar-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Satellite Radar Mosaic is generated by combining the Local Bias
Radar Mosaic with the Local Bias Satellite Precipitation Field to
automatically fill in areas in which the radar is blocked or which are
not covered by radar. Previously, this field had to be manually created
through the MPE Editor GUI by drawing polygons on the LMOSAIC field and
substituting the LSATPRE field. The algorithm used to create this field
is described in the MPE Fieldgen System Document.

# Satellite Gage Mosaic {#satellite-gage-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Satellite Gage Mosaic is created by performing a multi-sensor
analysis of the Local Bias Satellite Precipitation Field using rain gage
and PRISM data. As in the Multisensor Mosaic, gage data are considered
ground truth, and HRAP grid bins which contain a gage are assigned that
gage's value. HRAP grid bins which do not contain gage data are assigned
a distance and PRISM weighted combination of local bias corrected
satellite data and gage data.

# Satellite Radar Gage Mosaic {#satellite-radar-gage-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Satellite Radar Gage Mosaic is created by performing a multi-sensor
analysis of the Satellite Radar Mosaic using rain gage data and PRISM
data. As in the Multisensor Mosaic, gage data are considered ground
truth, and HRAP grid bins which contain a gage are assigned that gage's
value. HRAP grid bins which do not contain gage data are assigned a
distance and PRISM weighted combination of satellite, radar and gage
data.

# Triangulated Local Bias Mosaic {#triangulated-local-bias-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The triangulated local bias mosaic uses the radar precipitation
unbiasing algorithm found in the P3 application developed at ABRFC. This
algorithm uses the rain gage data to create a Triangular Irregular
Network (TIN). This network is used to distance weight the gage and
radar values used in the creation of the local bias corrected
precipitation field.

The rain gage TIN can be displayed by selecting the Gage Triangles
option on the BaseFields menu (described below). The shape and nature of
the gage TIN changes based upon the availability of gage data. The more
gage data there is, the denser the TIN is. Pseudo gages can be created
to modify the shape of the TIN. Gages can also be set to missing to
eliminate them from the TIN.

PRISM climatology and radar climatology (MISBIN) data are not used in
the creation of the Triangulated Local Bias Mosaic.

# Best Estimate QPE Option {#best-estimate-qpe-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Best Estimate QPE field is set to the field indicated by the
"mpe_qpe_fieldtype" token when MPE FieldGen is initially run. The Best
Estimate QPE Field can be modified by substituting precipitation areas
using edit polygons (through the "Draw Polygons" menu item on the
Polygons menu), editing gage values (through the Display 7x7 window and
the Gage Table on the Gages menu), and adding gages (through the Add
Pseudo Gage Option on the Gages menu). The Save Best Estimate Top and
Save Best Estimate Bottom options on the MPEcontrol menu allow the field
currently being edited to be saved as the Best Estimate QPE field. Once
the Best Estimate QPE field has been manually saved, MPE Fieldgen will
no longer overwrite it.

By default, MPE Fieldgen chooses the Multisensor Mosaic as the Best
Estimate QPE. The MPE Implementation Guide describes how the
mpe_qpe_fieldtype apps defaults token can be set so that MPE Fieldgen
chooses one of the other MPE fields or mosaics as the default Best
Estimate QPE.

# RFC Field Bias Mosaic {#rfc-field-bias-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The RFC Field Bias Mosaic is created using available RFC mean field bias
information. Each radar used in the Radar Mosaic is checked to determine
if there is an RFC mean field bias correction value available for it. If
there is an RFC bias correction value available for it, then it is used
to correct the radar's precipitation estimates in the Radar Mosaic. If
there is not an RFC bias correction value available for it, then the WFO
generated mean field bias value is used for that radar in the Radar
Mosaic. In the case where there are not any RFC mean field bias
correction values available for any of the radars in the Radar Mosaic,
then the WFO mean field bias values will be used for all of the radars
in the Radar Mosaic. In this case the RFC Field Bias Mosaic will be the
same as the Field Bias Mosaic. Like the other MPE fields and mosaics,
the RFC Field Bias Mosaic may be chosen as the Best Estimate QPE.

# RFC Multisensor Mosaic {#rfc-multisensor-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The RFC Multisensor Mosaic is derived from a combination of the RFC
Field Bias Mosaic (described above) and gage values. Each grid bin in
the MPE forecast area is assigned a value based on neighboring gage and
bias corrected radar values. If the grid bin contains a gage site
reporting a non-missing value, then it is assigned the gage's value.
Otherwise, it is assigned a value based on its radar estimated
precipitation value, the distance weighed values of the nearby gages,
and the PRISM precipitation climatology. PRISM data have the most effect
on the multisensor analysis in mountainous areas where the gage network
is sparse and there is little or no radar data.

Using these data sources, the RFC Multisensor Mosaic attempts to
estimate precipitation for as much of the office's MPE area as it can.
Since this product uses RFC bias information and RFCs tend to put more
time into the quality control of their MPE grids, it may be a better
choice then the WFO-generated Multisensor Mosaic. Like the other MPE
fields and mosaics, the RFC multisensor mosaic can be chosen as the Best
Estimate QPE.

# RFC QPE Mosaic {#rfc-qpe-mosaic .hmap_mpe_header4}

The RFC QPE Mosaic is a mosaic of the Best Estimate QPEs received at a
WFO from its surrounding RFCs. This mosaic is produced by the generate
areal qpe process and is available only if the mpe_generate_areal_qpe
token is set to ON. The number of RFCs which contribute to the RFC QPE
Mosaic depends on how many RFC basins the WFO's MPE area intersects.
This end to end process depends on the RFCs sending their Best Estimate
QPEs over the SBN and on the WFO having the generate areal qpe process
turned on. If a WFO's MPE area straddles two RFC basins and only one of
these RFCs is sending its QPE data, then only this RFC's portion of the
RFC QPE Mosaic will have data. Like the other MPE fields and mosaics,
the RFC QPE Mosaic may be chosen as the Best Estimate QPE.

# BaseFields Menu Options {#basefields-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The "Local Span", "Local Bias", "Height Field", "Radar Coverage Field",
and "Gage Triangles" options on the BaseFields menu are reference fields
(Figure 17). They describe radar height and coverage characteristics.
They also show the local bias elements used to correct radar
precipitation
estimates.![](media/image18.png){width="2.9270833333333335in"
height="1.8229166666666667in"}

# Local Span Option {#local-span-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Local Span Field displays the memory span value that is used for
computing the local bias of each of the HRAP grid bins. Just as the
local bias can be different for each of the grid bins, so too can the
memory span value be different for each of the grid bins. There are 10
different memory spans which represent different durations of time.
These range from under an hour to daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and
period of record. For an HRAP grid bin, the shortest duration memory
span which has at least 10 gage/radar pairs contributing to the
computation of the local bias is chosen. This local bias value is used
to correct the radar precipitation estimate in this grid bin.

The "Local Span" and "Local Bias" fields are used together to compute
the Local Bias Mosaic.

# Local Bias Option {#local-bias-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The "Local Bias" field reflects the local bias correction value applied
to each of the grid bins in the HRAP grid. The span of time (the memory
span) over which the local bias was calculated is represented by the
corresponding HRAP grid bin in the "Local Span" field described above.

# Height Field Option {#height-field-option .hmap_mpe_header4}

The height field displays the lowest available radar height that
provides coverage for a given HRAP grid bin. If a low elevation radar
beam is blocked relatively close to the radar transceiver, then the next
higher elevation radar beam is selected in hope that it will be high
enough to "see" over the obstacle. If, because of missing radars or
ground obstacles, the grid bin has no coverage from any radar, then it
is assigned a missing value. For each HRAP grid bin, the height field
shows the height of the beam of the radar which was chosen to provide
reflectivity-derived precipitation estimates. The height field does not
apply to the average and maximum radar mosaics. These use different
methods for mosaicking radars (see above).

# Radar Coverage Field {#radar-coverage-field .hmap_mpe_header4}

The radar coverage field displays which radar site is providing
precipitation information for each HRAP grid bin. The "Height Field"
(see above) is used in determining which radar location provides the
lowest coverage for each of the bins. If no radar is providing coverage
for a grid bin, then the grid bin receives a missing value. Ultimately,
this field is used in determining the mean field radar biases that are
applied to each of the grid bins when computing the "Field Bias" radar
mosaic. The radar coverage field does not apply to the maximum and
average radar mosaics. These use different methods for mosaicking radars
(see above).

# Gage Triangles {#gage-triangles .hmap_mpe_header4}

The creation of the Triangulated Local Bias Mosaic involves creating a
gage-based Triangular Irregular Network (TIN). The Gage Triangles option
shows the TIN that was used in the creation of the current hour's
Triangulated Local Bias Mosaic. The appearance of the gage TIN can be
modified by setting gages to missing and/or adding pseudo gages. MPE
Fieldgen must be rerun for gage edits to be applied to the TIN and to
the MPE fields and mosaics.

# Gages Menu Options![](media/image19.png){width="2.3645833333333335in" height="3.292361111111111in"} {#gages-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The Gages menu, shown in Figure 18 contains the "QC Precipitation", "QC
Temperature", "QC Freezing Level" "Save Level 2 Data", "Add Pseudo
Gage", "Gage Table \...", "Display 7x7...", "Show Bad Gages", "Show Gage
Identifiers", "Show Gage Values", "Show Missing Gages", and "Gage Color"
options.

The QC Precipitation, QC Temperature, QC Freezing Level, and Save Level
2 Data options are only available after the 6/24 hour precipitation,
temperature and freezing level data have been loaded. These data are
loaded when the Precipitation, Temperature, or Freezing button is
pressed on the Choose Data Period window

The Add Pseudo Gage, Gage Table, Display 7x7, Show Bad Gages, Show Gage
Identifiers, Show Gage Values, Show Missing Gages, and Gage Color
options apply to 1 hour gage values and are only available after MPE
data have been loaded. These data are loaded when the Display MPE Data
button is selected on the Choose Data Period window.

# QC Precipitation {#qc-precipitation .hmap_mpe_header4}

The DailyQC application provides tools for editing three separate data
sets:

-   6/24 hour observed and estimated precipitation

> (this tool is accessed by selecting the QC Precipitation option)

-   6 hour observed temperature, 24 hour maximum/minimum temperature

> (this tool is accessed by selecting the QC Temperatures option)

-   6 hour RUC80 freezing level data points.

> (this tool is accessed by selecting the QC Freezing Level option)

The goal of DailyQC is to produce a set of 6 hour observed and estimated
precipitation values for use in the NWSRFS. The temperature information
can be supplied to the NWSRFS through a mod for computing such
parameters as snow melt and evapotranspiration. The DailyQC portion of
MPE Editor performs automated checks of gage data. A spatial test is
performed by comparing gage values with those of their nearby neighbors.
A temporal test is also performed by comparing a gage's value against
its other 6 and 24 hour values for the day. A gage whose value is more
than a specified number of standard deviations different than the values
of its neighbors is flagged as questionable. A gage whose 6 hour values
do not add up to an observed 24 hour value is also flagged as
questionable. DailyQC does not eliminate gages. It flags questionable
gage values which can then either be edited or eliminated by the
forecaster.

Selecting the QC Precipitation option launches the QC Precipitation
Options window shown in Figure 19. This window is also launched when the
Precipitation button is pressed on the Choose Data Period window.

**6/24 Data Period
Selection**![](media/image20.png){width="2.4743055555555555in"
height="9.015277777777778in"}

The QC Precipitation Options window contains the tools to manipulate the
display of the 6/24 hour precipitation gage dataset on the MPE Editor
map. The data options section of this window contains an option button
menu which allows toggling back and forth between the 6 and 24 hour
precipitation datasets. The forecaster edits one day of 6/24 hour
precipitation data at a time. The 24 hour gage values span 12z to 12z.
The 6 hour gage values are valid for the following 6 hour periods:
12z-18z, 18z-00z, 00z-06z, and 06z-12z. Selecting the up arrow next to
the 6/24 hour option button menu causes the next period of gage data to
be displayed on the MPE Editor map. Selecting the down arrow causes the
previous period of gage data to be displayed. When the upper or lower
bounding date of the 6/24 gage precipitation data set is reached (as
specified by the year, month, day and number of days fields in the
Choose Data Period window) the up or down arrow will become
desensitized, respectively.

**Precipitation Data Display Options**

Below the 6/24 hour option menu is the data display option menu. The
options on this menu are Points, Grids, MAPs, Points+Grids, Points+MAPs,
and None:

-   Points -- Display the precipitation gage data as point values.

-   Grids -- Display the precipitation gage data as an HRAP gridded
    field.

-   MAPs -- Display the precipitation gage data as basin averaged
    values.

-   Points+Grids -- Display the precipitation gage data as an HRAP
    gridded field overlain with point values.

-   Points+MAPs -- Display the precipitation gage data as basin average
    values overlain with point values.

-   Contours -- Displays a contoured field of the precipitation gage
    data.

-   Points + Contours -- Displays a contoured field of the precipitation
    gage data along with the gage values.

-   None -- Do not display precipitation gage data.

Initially, only the Points and None options are selectable. The other
options become selectable once the gridded and MAP precipitation fields
have been created.

**Generating Gridded Precipitation and MAPs**

The Render Grids+Maps button will generate four 6 hour and one 24 hour
HRAP gridded precipitation fields for the 12z-12z gage QC day currently
being edited. It will also create four 6 hour basin averaged fields and
one 24 hour basin averaged field for the current 12z-12z gage QC period.
These data sets can then be viewed by selecting Grids or MAPs from the
precipitation data display option menu.

The grids and MAPs do not use gage values that have been set to bad.

Once the grids and MAPs have been created, the Render Grids+MAPs button
becomes unselectable (grayed out). It will remain unselectable until the
QC flag or value of a gage is modified.

**Group Edit
Option**![](media/image21.jpeg){width="3.2083333333333335in"
height="2.4375in"}

Pressing the Group Edit button causes the Group Edit Stations window to
appear (Figure 20). MPE Editor enters the Group Edit mode. This window
allows the QC flags of a group of gages to be quickly modified. The
Verified, Screened or Bad options may be selected from this window.
Then, as long as this window is open the QC flag of the gages can be set
to the selected state by placing the mouse pointer over each gage and
right clicking. Note that the gages may not be set to Questionable.
Questionable is a state set only by the automated gage QC checks adopted
from DailyQC.

Pressing the OK button closes the Group Edit Stations window and exits
the Group Edit mode.

**Precipitation Data Display Filter Options**

The remaining options on the QC Precipitation Options window allow the
precipitation gage points to be displayed according to type source,
quality flag, the precipitation gage mechanism (tipping or weighing),
precipitation value, station elevation, and the spatial/temporal
consistency of the gage's value. In addition to this, an option exists
to control the type of information displayed (e.g. precipitation value,
station identifier, station name, parameter code, or the standard
deviation departure from neighboring gages). An option also exists to
control the threshold standard deviation above which gages are declared
questionable by the buddy check.

**Point Type**

In the Point Type section of the QC Precipitation Options window, the
Alert, SNOTEL, COOP, GOES, LARC, and ALL buttons allow precipitation
gage data to be selectively displayed based on type source. The value
and number of these buttons are based on the mpe_type_source token. More
information about setting the mpe_type_source token can be found in the
MPE Editor Implementation Guide.

**Point Quality**

The Verified, Screened, Time Dist, Manual, Questionable, Partial,
Estimated, Bad, Missing, and All check boxes under the Point Quality
section allow precipitation gages to be selectively displayed according
to their QC flag.

**Point Character**

This option menu allows precipitation gages to be selectively displayed
based on the mechanism that they use for measuring precipitation. The
options are Tip, Weight and Tip+Weigh. Selecting Tip causes only the
tipping bucket gages to be displayed. Selecting Weight causes only the
weighing gages to be displayed. Selecting Tip+Weigh causes both tipping
and weighing gages to be displayed.

**Point Display**

The Point Display option menu controls the type of information displayed
at each gage point. The following display options are available:

-   Handbook 5 -- The Handbook 5 identifier of the station

-   PC -- The source code of the precipitation datum being displayed

-   Name -- The name of the station

-   Data -- The precipitation value

-   Dev -- The standard deviation of the value determined during the
    buddy check

Only one of these items may be displayed at a time.

**Point Screening**

This option allows the standard deviation threshold to be set above
which precipitation values are flagged as questionable. The choices are
Coarse, Medium and Fine. Selecting Course results in the fewest
questionable gages. Selection Fine results in the most questionable
gages.

**Point Tconsistency**

This option allows precipitation gages to be selectively displayed based
whether or not they are temporally consistent. The options are
Consistent, Inconsistent and All. The Consistent option displays only
those gages whose 6 hour amounts add up to the 24 hour amount. The
Inconsistent option displays only those gages whose 6 hour amounts do
not add up to the 24 hour amount. The All option displays all gages
regardless of their temporal consistency.

**Point Sconsistency**

The option allows precipitation gages to be selectively displayed based
on whether or not they are spatially consistent. This applies to
stations which are closely located or collocated. It checks to make sure
that the values of these stations are consistent. If they are not, then
the station is flagged as spatially inconsistent. The available display
options are Consistent, Inconsistent and All. The Consistent option
displays only those gages whose value passes the spatial consistency
check. The Inconsistent option displays only those gages whose value did
not pass the spatial consistency check. The All option displays all
gages, regardless of whether or not their values pass the spatial
consistency check.

**Point Filter**![](media/image22.png){width="3.2194444444444446in"
height="6.551388888888889in"}

The point filter slider bar option allows gages to be selectively
displayed based on their values. The slider ranges from 0 to 5 inches.
By default the slider bar is set to 0.00. Moving the slider with the
mouse (or the left/right arrow keys to achieve greater precision)
increases or decreases the minimum precipitation amount displayed on the
MPE Editor map. For example, if the point filter slider bar is set to
0.25, then only gages whose values are greater than or equal to 0.25
will be displayed.

**Point Reverse Filter**

The point reverse filter slider bar option allows gages to be
selectively displayed based on their values. The slider ranges from 20
inches on the left to 0 inches on the right. The default value of the
slider bar is set to 20 inches. This means that all gages with values
less than 20.00 inches are displayed. Sliding the bar to the right
decreases this value. Sliding the bar all the way to the right sets the
value to 0. For example, if the point reverse filter is set to 1.00,
then only gages whose values are less than or equal to 1.00 are
displayed.

**Point Elevation**

The point elevation slider bar allows precipitation gages to be
selectively displayed based on their elevation. The slider ranges from 0
feet on the left to 15000 feet on the right. For example, setting the
value of the slider to 1000 feet displays only those stations whose
elevation is greater than or equal to 1000 feet.

**Pixtemp**

The Pixtemp slider controls the flagging of tipping bucket gages which
may be below freezing or where the precipitation may have fallen as
snow. The value of this slider ranges from -1.00 C to 3 C. The freezing
level data are used in combination with the station elevations to
determine which stations are at or below freezing. Since snow can fall
at temperatures warmer than freezing, the pixtemp slider allows the
threshold temperature at which tipping bucket gages are flagged to be
adjusted. For example, if the pixtemp slider is set to 3 C, then gages
whose elevations are greater than or equal to the freezing level minus
1800 feet will be flagged (using the standard 5 C / 1000 m lapse rate).
Setting the slider to -1 C will cause gages whose elevations are greater
than or equal to the freezing level plus 600 feet are flagged.

**Editing Single Station Values**

![](media/image23.png){width="3.1486111111111112in"
height="3.745138888888889in"}

When 6/24 hour precipitation gage data are displayed in MPE Editor and
the Group Edit mode is not active, then right clicking on a gage value
will launch the Edit Precipitation Station window (Figure 21). This
window allows the value, quality flag and label position to be set for a
single gage. Information describing the gage is displayed in the top of
the Edit Precipitation Station window. This includes the gage's id, the
PEDTSEP of its data, its name, its elevation, its measuring mechanism
(weighing or tipping bucket), the monthly normal precipitation, the
source of the monthly normal precipitation value, its DailyQC estimated
value, the number of standard deviations of the estimate from the
observed value, the snow water change if applicable, and the observed
value.

The observed value is shown in an editable text box. It can be modified
by typing in another value. Below the text box is the Station Quality
section containing four toggle buttons: Verified, Questionable,
Screened, and Bad. Initially, the button representing the current QC
state of the gage is toggled 'on'. The QC state can be manually set to
Verified, Screened, or Bad. The QC state cannot be set to Questionable.
This is a state that can only be assigned by the automated DailyQC QC
algorithms.

Below the Station Quality section of the Edit Precipitation Station
window is the Station Location section. It contains four toggle button
options: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. This
controls which of the four quadrants relative to the gage location that
the gage value, id, name, typesource, or deviation label is displayed
in. This allows the labels for nearby gages to be set so that they do
not interfere/overlap with each other. Changes made to label positions
are saved to a file and retrieved each time DailyQC is started.

The Station Consistency portion of the Edit Precipitation Stations
window has five editable text fields containing the four 6 hour
precipitation values and the 24 hour precipitation value for the
selected station. Edits made to the gage value in the text box at the
top of the Edit Precipitation Stations window are reflected in the
appropriate 6 or 24 hour text field in the Station Consistency area.
Edits can be made to the 6 hour text fields and the 24 hour text field
to make sure the 6 hour totals add up to the 24 hour total.

When the Apply button at the bottom of the Edit Precipitation Station
window is pressed, edited precipitation values are saved. The window
remains open. Right-clicking on another station refreshes the Edit
Precipitation Stations window to display information for the new
station. If another station is selected before pressing the Apply
Button, any edits made to the current station are
lost.![](media/image24.png){width="2.748611111111111in"
height="8.522916666666667in"}

Pressing Close closes the Edit Precipitation Station window. If Close is
selected without first selecting Apply, then any edits made to the
current station are lost.

Pressing the Graph button produces a timeseries graph of the
precipitation at the selected station (Figure 22). The top of this graph
shows the identifier, name, the elevation of the selected station, the
PEDTSEP(s) of the graphed precipitation data, the maximum precipitation
value, the minimum precipitation value, and the time of the last
reported precipitation value. Below this, data from each source of
precipitation data are graphed.

# QC Temp Options {#qc-temp-options .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting the QC Temperatures option launches the QC Temp Options window
shown in Figure 23. This window is also launched when the Temperature
button is pressed on the Choose Data Period window.

**6 hourly/ Maximum/Minimum Selection**

The QC Temp Options window contains the tools to manipulate the display
of 6 hourly temperatures, maximum temperatures and minimum temperatures.
The data options section of this window contains an option button menu
which allows the 6 hourly temperature, maximum temperature or minimum
temperature datasets to be selected. The forecaster edits one day of
temperature data at a time. The maximum and minimum temperatures are 24
hour values spanning from 12z to 12z. The 6 hourly temperature values
are valid for the 12z-18z, 18z-00z, 00z-06z, and 06z-12z 6 hour periods.
Selecting the up arrow next to the 6 hourly/maximum/minimum option menu
causes the next period of temperature data to be displayed on the MPE
Editor map. Selecting the down arrow causes the previous period of
temperature data to be displayed. When the upper or lower bounding date
(as specified by the ending year, month, day, and number of days fields
in the Choose Data Period window) of the temperature data set is reached
the up or down arrow will become desensitized, respectively.

**Temperature Data Display Options**

Below the 6 hourly/maximum/minimum option menu is the data display
option menu. The options on this menu are Points, Grids, MATs,
Points+Grids, Points+MATs, and None:

-   Points -- Display the temperature data as point values.

-   Grids -- Display the temperature data as an HRAP gridded field.

-   MATs -- Display the temperature data as basin averaged values.

-   Points+Grids -- Display the temperature data as an HRAP gridded
    field overlain with point values.

-   Points+MATs -- Display the temperature data as basin average values
    overlain with point values.

-   Contours -- Displays a contoured field of the temperature data.

-   Points + Contours -- Displays a contoured field of the temperature
    data along with the temperature point values.

-   None -- Do not display temperature data.

Initially, only the Points and None options are selectable. The other
options become selectable once the gridded and MAT temperature fields
have been created.

**Generating Gridded Temperature and MATs**

The Render Grids+MATs button will generate four 6 hourly temperature
HRAP gridded fields, a maximum temperature HRAP gridded field and a
minimum temperature HRAP gridded field for the 12z to 12z gage QC day
currently being edited. It will also create four 6 hour basin averaged
temperature fields (MATs) for the current 12z to 12z gage QC period.
(Note that MATs are not generated for the maximum or minimum temperature
fields.) These data sets can then be viewed by selecting Grids or MATs
from the temperature data display option menu. The temperature grids and
MATs do not use gage values that have been set to bad.

Once the grids and MATs have been created, the Render Grids+MATs button
becomes unselectable (grayed out). It will remain unselectable until the
QC flag or value of a temperature station is modified.

**Group Edit Option**

Pressing the Group Edit button causes the Group Edit Stations window to
appear (Figure 20). MPE Editor enters the Group Edit mode. This window
allows the QC flags of a group of gages to be quickly modified.
Verified, Screened or Bad is selected from this window. Then, as long as
this window is open the QC flag of the temperature values can be set to
the selected state by placing the mouse pointer over each gage and right
clicking. Note that the gages may not be set to Questionable.
Questionable is a state set only by the automated DailyQC checks.

Pressing the OK button closes the Group Edit Stations window and exits
the Group Edit mode.

**Temperature Display Filter Options**

The remaining options on the QC Temp Options window allow the
temperature gage points to be selectively displayed according to their
type source, quality flag, value, and elevation. Options also exist to
control the type of information displayed (e.g. temperature value,
station identifier, station name, parameter code, RFS, or partial) and
the threshold standard deviation above which the temperature values are
declared questionable by the neighboring stations check.

**Point Type**

In the Point Type section of the QC Temp Options window, the Alert,
SNOTEL, COOP, GOES, LARC, and ALL buttons allow temperature data to be
selectively displayed based on type source. The value and number of
these buttons are based on the mpe_type_source token. More information
about setting the mpe_type_source token can be found in the MPE Editor
Implementation Guide.

**Point Quality**

The Verified, Screened, Time Dist, Manual, Questionable, Estimated, Bad,
Missing, and All check boxes under the Point Quality section allow
temperature gages to be selectively displayed according to their QC
flags.

**Point Display**

The Point Display option menu controls the type of information displayed
at each gage point. The following display options are available:

-   Handbook 5 -- The Handbook 5 identifier of the station

-   PC -- The source code of the temperature datum being displayed

-   Name -- The name of the station

-   Data -- The temperature value

-   RFS --

Only one of these items may be displayed at a time.

**Point Screening**

This option allows the standard deviation threshold to be set above
which temperature values are flagged as questionable. The choices are
Coarse, Medium and Fine. Selecting Course results in the fewest
questionable gages. Selection Fine results in the most questionable
gages.

**Point Filter**

The point filter slider bar option allows gages to be selectively
displayed based on their values. The slider ranges from -50 to 110 F. By
default the slider bar is set to -50 F. Moving the slider with the mouse
(or the left/right arrow keys to achieve greater precision) increases or
decreases the minimum temperature value displayed on the MPE Editor map.
For example, if the point filter slider bar is set to 25 F, then only
gages whose temperature values are greater than or equal to 25 F will be
displayed.

**Point Reverse Filter**

The point reverse filter slider bar option allows gages to be
selectively displayed based on their values. The slider ranges from 110
F on the left to -50 F on the right. The default value of the slider bar
is set to 110 F. This means that all gages with temperature values less
than 110 F are displayed. Sliding the bar to the right decreases this
value. Sliding the bar all the way to the right sets the value to -50 F.
For example, if the point reverse filter is set to 80 F, then only gages
whose values are less than or equal to 80 F are displayed.

**Point Elevation**

The point elevation slider bar allows temperature values to be
selectively displayed based on their elevation. The slider ranges from 0
feet on the left to 15000 feet on the right. For example, setting the
value of the slider to 1000 feet displays only those stations whose
elevation is greater than or equal to 1000 feet.

**Editing Single Station Values**

When temperature data are displayed in MPE Editor and the Group Edit
mode is not active, a single temperature station's value can be edited
by right clicking on it. This causes the Edit Temperature Station window
to appear (Figure 24). The top portion of this window contains the
following information about the station: the station identifier, the
PEDTSEP of the observed temperature data, the name of the station, the
elevation of the station, the monthly average high and low temperature
for the station, the source of the climatological high/low temperature,
and the DailyQC estimated temperature based on neighboring temperature
stations. Below this information is an editable text field containing
the observed temperature for the station. It can be modified by entering
a new value.![](media/image25.png){width="3.2069444444444444in"
height="6.684027777777778in"}

The Station Quality section of the Edit Temperature Station window
consists of four toggle buttons: Verified, Questionable, Screened, and
Bad. The button corresponding to the initial QC flag of the station is
toggled 'on'. The station's QC state can be manually changed to
verified, screened or bad. The QC state cannot be manually set to
questionable. This is a state that can only be assigned by the DailyQC
automated QC algorithms.

The Station Location section of the Edit Temperature Station window
consists of four toggle buttons: upper left, upper right, lower left,
and lower right. These buttons control the quadrant relative to the
station location a label is displayed. The label location can be changed
by selecting the button for the desired quadrant. This information is
stored in a file and reloaded every time DailyQC is started.

The station consistency portion of the Edit Temperature Stations window
consists of six editable text fields. The first four text fields contain
the 6 hour observed temperature values. The last two text fields contain
the 24 hour maximum and minimum temperature value.

Selecting the Apply button causes any edited values to be saved. The
Edit Temperature Station window remains open. Right clicking on another
temperature value on the MPE Editor display will update the Edit
Temperature Stations window to contain information for the newly
selected station. If a new station is selected before pressing the Apply
button, then any edits to the currently selected station will be lost.
Selecting the Close button closes the window without saving any
changes.![](media/image26.png){width="3.222916666666667in"
height="3.520138888888889in"}

Selecting the Graph button produces a timeseries graph of the
temperature data at the station (Figure 25). The top of this graph shows
the id of the selected station, the name of the station, the station's
elevation, the PEDTSEP of the graphed temperature data, the maximum
temperature and date/time of this max, the minimum temperature and
date/time of this min, and the last observed temperature value. Below
this is a graph of the temperature data.

# QC Freezing Level {#qc-freezing-level .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting the QC Freezing Level option launches the QC Freeze Options
window shown in Figure 26. This window is also launched when the
Freezing button is pressed on the Choose Data Period window. The
freezing level stations are not actual stations like the precipitation
and temperature stations are. Instead, they are the RUC80 model grid
points which fall within the office's MPE forecast area.

The freezing level data are derived from the RUC80 model via a cron job.
See the MPE Implementation Guide for information about setting this up.

**6 Hour Data Selection**

The QC Freeze Options window contains the tools to manipulate the
display of 6 hour freezing level values. The data options section of
this window contains an option button menu which allows the 6 hour
freezing level datasets to be selected. Up to one day of freezing level
data are edited at a time. Selecting the up arrow next to the 6 hour
option menu causes the next 6 hour period of freezing level data to be
displayed on the MPE Editor map. Selecting the down arrow causes the
previous 6 hour period of freezing level data to be displayed. When the
upper or lower bounding date (as specified by the ending year, month,
day, and number of days fields in the Choose Data Period window) of the
freezing level data set is reached the up or down arrow will become
desensitized, respectively.

**Freezing Level Data Display Options**

Below the 6 hour option menu is the data display option menu. The
options on this menu are Points, Grids, MAZs, Points+Grids, Points+MAZs,
and None:

-   Points -- Display the freezing level data as point values.

-   Grids -- Display the freezing level data as an HRAP gridded field.

-   MAZs -- Display the freezing level data as basin averaged values.

-   Points+Grids -- Display the freezing level data as an HRAP gridded
    field overlain with point values.

-   Points+MAZs -- Display the freezing level data as basin average
    values overlain with point values.

-   Contours -- Displays a contoured field of the freezing level data.

-   Points + Contours -- Displays a contoured field of the freezing
    level along with the freezing level point values.

-   None -- Do not display the freezing level
    data.![](media/image27.png){width="2.582638888888889in"
    height="5.684027777777778in"}

Initially, only the Points and None options are selectable. The other
options become selectable once the gridded and MAZ freezing level fields
have been created.

**Generating Gridded Freezing Level Data and MAZs**

The Render Grids+MAZs button will generate four 6 hour freezing level
HRAP gridded fields for the 12z to 12z gage QC day currently being
edited. It will also create four 6 hour basin averaged freezing level
fields (MAZs) for the current 12z to 12z DailyQC QC period. These data
sets can be viewed by selecting Grids or MAZs from the freezing level
data display option menu.

The freezing level grids and MAZs do not use gage values that have been
set to bad.

Once the grids and MAZs have been created, the Render Grids+MAZs button
becomes unselectable (grayed out). It will remain unselectable until the
QC flag or value of a gage is modified.

**Filter Z**

This option controls the appearance of the HRAP gridded freezing level
fields on the MPE Editor map display. It works in conjunction with the
Pxtemp slider bar. The choices on the Filter Z option menu are Above,
Below and All. Based on the freezing level data and the elevations of
the HRAP grid bins, the Above option shows the freezing level grid for
only the portions of the MPE forecast area which are warmer than the
temperature shown on the Pxtemp slider bar. The Below option shows the
freezing level grid for only the portions of the MPE forecast area which
are colder than the temperature shown on the Pxtemp slider bar. The All
option displays the entire freezing level data HRAP grid. These options
provide a way of determining where in the forecast area precipitation is
liquid or frozen.

**Freezing Level Data Display Filter Options**

The remaining options on the QC Freeze Options window allow the type of
point freezing level information displayed on the MPE Editor map to be
chosen. They also control filtering based on elevation and allow the
threshold temperature used by the Filter Z option to be set.

**Point Display**

The Point Display option menu controls the type of information displayed
at each gage point. The following display options are available:

-   Handbook 5 -- The Handbook 5 identifier of the station

-   PC -- The source code of the freezing level datum being displayed

-   Name -- The name assigned to the freezing level RUC model point by
    the freezing level data preprocessor

-   Data -- The freezing level height value

Only one of these items may be displayed at a time.

**Point Filter**

The pointer filter slider bar sets the lowest displayed freezing level
height. For example, if the slider is set to 5.0, then freezing level
points under 5000 feet will not be displayed.

**Point Reverse Filter**

The point reverse filter sets the largest displayed freezing level
height. For example, if the slider is set to 10.0, then freezing level
points over 10000 feet will not be displayed.

**Pxtemp**![](media/image28.png){width="3.2083333333333335in"
height="3.592361111111111in"}

The Pxtemp slider bar controls the threshold temperature used by the
Filter Z option in determining which parts of the forecast area may be
receiving snow and which parts may be receiving rain. The pxtemp slider
values range from -1 C on the left to 3 C on the right. Changing the
value on the pxtemp slider also changes the value on the Pxtemp slider
on the QC Precip Options window.

**Editing Single Station Values**

Like the precipitation and temperature data sets, individual freezing
level stations can be edited by right clicking on them. Each time this
is done, the Edit Freezing Level Station appears (Figure 27). The top
portion of this window contains the following information about the
freezing level data point: the data point id, the PEDTSEP of the
freezing level data, and the name of the freezing level data point.
Below this is an editable text field with the value of the selected
freezing level point. A new value can be entered in this text field.

The Station Quality portion of the Edit Freezing Level Station window
contains a toggle button labeled 'Verified' and a toggle button labeled
'Bad'. The qc flag of the freezing level data point may be set to either
one of these. The Station Location portion of the of the Edit Freezing
Level Station window has four toggle buttons labeled 'upper left',
'upper right', 'lower right', and 'lower left'. These buttons control
which quadrant relative to the freezing level datum point the station
id, name, value, or parameter code is displayed in. Changes to the label
position are stored to a file on a station by station basis. This file
is read each time DailyQC is started.

Selecting the Apply button on the bottom of the Edit Freezing Level
Station window saves the edited freezing level values. The Edit Freezing
Level Station window remains open. Right clicking on another station on
the MPE Editor map will update the information displayed in the Edit
Freezing Level Station window for the selected station. The values for
this station can then be edited. If a new station is selected before the
Apply button is pressed, any edits will be lost. Selecting the Close
button closes the Edit Freezing Level Station. If the Close button is
selected before the Apply button is pressed, any edits made to the
currently selected station will be lost. The Graph button is not
available.

# Save Level 2 Data {#save-level-2-data .hmap_mpe_header4}

Precipitation, temperature and freezing level data are assigned to
different levels before and after they have been QC'd with the 6/24 hour
DailyQC editing tools. The gage QC levels are raw data, level 1 data and
level 2 data. Raw data are those data which have not had any QC applied
to them. Level 1 data are those which have had rough range checks
applied to the values. The data which comes from the SHEF Decoder are
Level 1 because Data Limits range checks have been applied to them. Once
precipitation, temperature and freezing level data have been QC'd with
the 6/24 hour Gage QC tools in MPE Editor and saved, they are considered
to be Level 2 data.

![](media/image29.jpeg){width="3.4791666666666665in" height="3.125in"}

Once the 6/24 hour precipitation, temperature and freezing level data
have been edited, the Save Level 2 data option should be selected to
save these level 2 QC'd data. When these data sets are saved station
values are estimated and estimates are created for stations with missing
values. Also gridded and areal averaged data are generated and saved.
Point and basin averaged (MAP, MAT, MAZ) data are saved in SHEF format.
The gridded data fields are stored in ASCII files. The locations of
these files are given in the MPE Editor Implementation Guide.

In addition to this, if the mpe_disagg_execute token is set to 'ON',
then 6 hour DailyQC precipitation gage values will be disaggregated to
one hour gage values. The method used to do this is user configurable
through a set of tokens. More information about the DailyQC disagg
operation can be found in the MPE Implementation Guide.

When the Save Level 2 Data option is selected, the Send to Database
dialog box is displayed (Figure 28). This box lists the daily 6/24 gage
datasets to be saved. These will be the datasets which have edited data
and/or rendered precipitation grids and areal basin estimates. Selecting
OK saves the data. Selecting NO cancels the save operation. The Send to
Database operation can take an appreciable amount of time, depending on
the size of the office's MPE area and the amount of gages being used in
DailyQC. For this reason, it is recommended that this operation be saved
until the end of the DailyQC editing session.

# Add Pseudo Gage {#add-pseudo-gage .hmap_mpe_header4}

This option allows for the creation of a temporary gage report in any
portion of the office's MPE area. This "pseudo gage" is treated like any
other gage in the MPE analysis. Once created, it can be edited using the
Display 7x7 or Gage Table tools. The pseudo gage applies only for the
hour it was created.

When this option is selected, the mouse pointer temporarily turns into a
leftward pointing hand to indicate that the application is in "pseudo
gage mode". Left clicking on the portion of the MPE Editor map area to
insert the new gage brings up the "Add Pseudo Gage" window. This
sub-window consists of a slider bar to set the gage's value and option
buttons which allow the value to be set or to cancel the operation. Once
the slider bar is set to the desired value and the "OK" button is
selected, the new gage report is created in the database by inserting a
new record into the PseudoGageVal IHFS database table. In order for the
new gage value to be used in the generated fields, the "Regenerate Hour
Fields" option must be selected from the MPEcontrol menu. After MPE
FieldGen has been rerun, the MPE fields and mosaics will reflect the new
gage. If displaying the gage identifiers, then once MPE FieldGen is
rerun, the pseudo gage will have a name with the format "PSEUDONN" where
NN is the number of pseudo gages created for the hour, starting with the
number "00\".

The pseudo gage values are not used in mean field bias computations or
local bias computations.

# Gage Table \... {#gage-table-... .hmap_mpe_header4}

The gage table provides a tabular display of all of the gages contained
within the forecast area's HRAP grid (Figure 29). The window consists of
a menu bar with the submenu headings "Control" and "Sort Gages".
"Control" provides the option to quit the gage table. "Sort Gages"
provides the ability to sort gages by gage value, by gage identifier,
and by radar identifier.

The main portion of the gage table consists of a large matrix. Each row
in this matrix corresponds to one gage location. Each row has 11
columns. These are "GageID", "Gage", "BestQPE", "MultiSensor",
"RadarID", "RadarMosaic", "FieldBias", "LocalBias", "GageOnly",
"Satellite", and "Edit". The "Gage ID" column displays the gage
identifier. The "Gage" column displays the gage value. The "BestQPE"
column displays the best estimate QPE value for the HRAP bin containing
the gage. The "MultiSensor" column displays the multi-sensor
precipitation estimate for the gage's HRAP bin. The "RadarID" column
indicates which radar umbrella the gage is covered by. The "RadarMosaic"
column shows the radar estimated rainfall for the HRAP grid bin
containing the gage. The "FieldBias" and "LocalBias" columns display the
field bias radar mosaic and local bias radar mosaic values,
respectively, for the HRAP bin containing the gage. The "GageOnly"
column displays the value from the Gage Only Analysis field
corresponding to the gage's location. The "Satellite" column displays
the value from the Satellite Precip field corresponding to the gage's
location. An 'M' in any of the columns means that the value is
missing.![](media/image30.png){width="6.496527777777778in"
height="4.516666666666667in"}

A new value for the gage may be entered under the "Edit" column. A
missing value must be represented as either an "M" or an "m". When
"quit" is selected from the gage table Control menu, edited gage values
will be saved. These edited gage values will be applied to the MPE
products when MPE Fieldgen is rerun.

# Display 7 x 7 {#display-7-x-7 .hmap_mpe_header4}

The "Display 7 x 7\" option provides the ability to view a 7 x 7 grid of
HRAP bins centered on a precipitation gage. This feature gives the
forecaster the capability of analyzing the precipitation distribution at
a very detailed scale of resolution around a gage site. It also provides
the ability to modify the gage's value. For example, the gage's
precipitation amount may be lowered or raised to make it more consistent
with the estimated precipitation amounts in the HRAP bins surrounding
it.![](media/image31.png){width="4.770138888888889in"
height="3.5840277777777776in"}

When the "Display 7 x 7\" option is chosen from the Gages menu, the
mouse pointer changes to a leftward pointing hand indicating that MPE
Editor is now in Display 7x7 mode. A gage is selected by positioning the
hand over it and performing a single click of the left mouse button. If
a gage is not directly under the clicked point on the map, then the gage
that is closest to the click point is selected as the center of the 7 x
7 display. After clicking on or near a precipitation gage the 7 x 7
Window appears (Figure 30). This simple window contains the identifier
of the gage the grid is centered on, the value of the gage, and a 7
column by 7 row table where each element represents the estimated
precipitation value of one of the HRAP bins in the vicinity of the gage.

The values displayed in the grid reflect the field or mosaic being
viewed in the MPE Editor window. For example, if the best estimate QPE
field is being viewed in the main window, then the values inserted into
the 7 x 7 grid will be from the best estimate QPE. The colors assigned
to the values in the 7 x 7 HRAP grid follow the legend displayed with
the MPE product being viewed in the main window.

The 7 x 7 window does not have to be closed between successive gage
edits. The 7 x 7 window display automatically updates each time a new
gage is selected in the MPE Editor display. If the slider bar was used
to set the gage's value the Set Value button must be pressed to save the
new value before clicking on the next gage to edit.

The 7 x 7 window has five buttons arranged down its left side. The Set
Value button applies the value specified by the Edit Gage Value slider
bar to the gage being edited. Value changes made using the slider bar
will be lost unless the Set Value button is pressed. The Undo Missing
button returns the gage to the value it had before the most recent edit.
The Set Missing button sets the gage's value to missing and saves the
new value. The Close button closes the 7 x 7 Window and MPE Editor is no
longer in Display 7 x 7 mode. The Set Bad button adds the gage to the
Bad Gage List.![](media/image32.png){width="1.7291666666666667in"
height="2.3958333333333335in"}

When the Set Bad button is selected, the value of the gage shown in the
upper left corner of the Display 7x7 window is shown as "bad" and the
label on the Set Bad button changes to Set Not Bad. Pressing the Set Not
Bad button removes the gage from the Bad Gage List, restoring its
original value.

Edited gage values are applied to the MPE analysis when MPE Fieldgen is
rerun. Gages with missing values or gages set to bad are not used in the
MPE analysis.

# Show Bad Gages {#show-bad-gages .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option launches the Bad Gage List Window shown in Figure
31 . This window lists the ids of all of the gages that have been set to
bad. Gages which have been set to bad are not used in the MPE analysis
until they are removed from the bad gage list. Gages can be removed from
the bad gage list by selecting them in the Bad Gage List Window and
pressing the Delete Selected Item button at the bottom of this window.
Selecting OK closes the Bad Gage List Window.

# Show Gage Identifiers {#show-gage-identifiers .hmap_mpe_header4}

The show gage identifiers option toggles on and off the display of the
gage ids on the MPE Editor display. The exact location of the gage is
given by the decimal point in the gage's value.

# Show Gage Values {#show-gage-values .hmap_mpe_header4}

The **Show Gage Values** option toggles on and off the display of the
gage values on the MPE Editor display. A missing gage value is signified
by the character "m". The exact location of the gage is given by the
decimal point in the gage's value.

# Show Missing Gages ![](media/image33.png){width="3.542361111111111in" height="3.645138888888889in"} {#show-missing-gages .hmap_mpe_header4}

The **Show Missing Gages** submenu provides three options for
controlling how missing MPE gage data are displayed. As shown in Figure
32 these are: All Missing, Reported Missing, and No Missing.

There are two categories of missing MPE gage data. The first includes
hourly precipitation totals that are incomplete because a precipitation
report has not been received for the hour. The second, the reported
missing category, includes hourly precipitation totals either manually
set to missing by the forecaster or reported missing (-9999) by the gage
station. When viewing MPE gage values for the most recent hour some gage
reports may not have been received yet. These gage reports may
eventually arrive. The ability to view the reported missing gage values
separately from the reports which are missing because a lack of data
gives an indication of which gage data still may still be received.

Missing gage values are displayed as "m". When the All Missing option is
selected then missing gages are displayed regardless of whether or not
they are reported missing. When the Reported Missing option is selected,
then only the missing gages which were either manually set to missing or
reported with a value of -9999 are displayed. If the No Missing option
is selected, then no missing gages are displayed.

# Gage Color {#gage-color .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Gage Color item launches the submenu shown in Figure 33. The options
are as follows:

# Solid Color {#solid-color .hmap_mpe_header5}

Gage values and identifiers are displayed in a single color. This color
is "Sandy Brown".![](media/image34.png){width="3.4069444444444446in"
height="4.021527777777778in"}

# Contrast Color {#contrast-color .hmap_mpe_header5}

The gage value and identifier colors are selected in such a way that
they remain visible against their background. This eliminates the
problem where a gage may be the same color as its background, rendering
it hard to see or invisible.

# Color By QC {#color-by-qc .hmap_mpe_header5}

Gage values and identifiers are colored according to whether or not they
have passed MPE Fieldgen's spatial consistency and multi-sensor quality
control checks. The gage identifier and value will be colored red if the
gage did not pass the spatial consistency check. The gage identifier and
value will be colored yellow if the gage did not pass the multi-sensor
check. If the gage has passed these QC checks, then it will be colored
sandy brown.

# Color By Value {#color-by-value .hmap_mpe_header5}

Using this color option, gage data which are overlain on a MPE
precipitation or gage mosaic will be colored according to their values.
The gages are colored according to the color bar associate with the MPE
field they are drawn on top of. For non-precipitation MPE fields (PRISM,
Height Field, Radar Coverage Field, Local Span Field, Local Bias Field,
Gage Triangle Field), the gages are drawn using the color sandy brown.

# Polygons Menu Options {#polygons-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The Polygons Menu, shown in Figure 34 has two options, "Draw Polygons"
and "Delete Polygons". These allow specific portions of the MPE
precipitation fields and mosaics to be edited. They also allow areas of
precipitation to be created or removed. A polygon can be drawn around
the part of the field which needs to be modified. The chosen
modification is applied to each HRAP grid bin contained within the drawn
polygon. The modification options include setting all HRAP grid bins
within the polygon to the same value, setting a minimum value limit for
all bins within the polygon, setting a maximum value limit for all bins
within the polygon, scaling the values of the grid bins by a
multiplicative factor, or substituting a portion of one MPE field into
another MPE field.![](media/image35.jpeg){width="2.0208333333333335in"
height="1.6819444444444445in"}

# Draw Polygons {#draw-polygons .hmap_mpe_header4}

The Draw Polygons option allows precipitation areas to be manually drawn
on the main MPE Editor window. Once the polygon is drawn, there are
several choices of how the values of the HRAP grid bins within the
polygon can be changed.

Edit polygons are drawn on the MPE Editor display as follows:

1\) Select the Draw Polygons options on the Polygons menu. MPE Editor
enters the draw polygon mode.

2\) A polygon may now be drawn using the mouse and left clicking
wherever a polygon point is desired. To close the polygon, the right
mouse button needs to be clicked once. There is no limit on the number
of points a polygon may contain.

3\) Once the polygon is closed, the "Edit Precipitation" GUI will appear
as shown in Figure 35. At the top of this GUI, there is a check box
labeled "Make Persistent". Setting this check box will make the drawn
polygon persistent. By default, Polygons are saved on a per product per
hour basis. Unless set to persistent, a polygon is only applied to the
MPE product for the hour it was created. If the polygon is set to
persistent, then it is applied to the MPE product every hour until the
polygon is deleted. By default the files containing the non-persistent 1
hour polygons are deleted after the amount of time specified in the
purge_mpe_files script. Persistent polygons are not automatically
deleted. They must be manually deleted.

4\) The "Edit Precipitation" GUI also contains options for modifying the
data contained within the polygon. The top part of the GUI contains a
slider bar with five buttons, "Set", "Raise", "Lower", "Scale", and
"Snow" located below it. The slider bar acts in conjunction with each of
these buttons as follows:

**Set** - This button sets all grid boxes contained within the polygon
to the value specified by the slider bar.

**Raise** - This feature sets the minimum value a grid bin contained
within the polygon may have. This threshold value is specified by the
slider bar. All grid bins with values lower than this threshold are
raised to it. All grid bins with values equal to or higher than this
threshold are left unchanged.

**Lower** - This feature sets the maximum value a grid bin contained
within the polygon may have. This threshold value is set by the slider
bar. All grid bins with values higher than this threshold are lower to
it. All grid bins with values equal to or lower than this threshold are
left unchanged.![](media/image36.png){width="3.207638888888889in"
height="8.376388888888888in"}

**Scale** - This feature takes the value of each grid bin contained
within the polygon and multiplies it by the value specified on the
slider bar.

**Snow** -- This feature sets all grid boxes contained within the
polygon to the value specified by the slider bar. Gages located within
the polygon whose values are lesser than the value on the slider bar are
eliminated from the MPE analysis. Gages within the polygon whose values
are greater than or equal to the value on the slider bar are kept.

In addition to these options, values from the other precipitation fields
and mosaics may be substituted into the polygon. The bottom part of the
Edit Precipitation window contains a list of fields and mosaics which
correspond to those listed on the MPE Editor PrecipFields menu. One
field or mosaic can be selected from this list at a time. The Substitute
button positioned below this list will fill the polygon with data from
the currently selected precipitation product.

5\) Steps 2 through 4 may be repeated several times to draw multiple
polygons.

The first polygon point must be placed within the bounds of the MPE
forecast area. If it is not, then an error dialog will be displayed
stating that the cursor is out of range. Subsequent points in the
polygon may be drawn inside or outside of the forecast area. If a point
is placed outside of the forecast area's bounds, then it will be
"snapped" back so that it is positioned just inside of the boundary.

Edit polygons are saved to disk. The polygons are stored on a per
product per hour basis. So, polygons drawn on a field are remembered and
redrawn on that field whenever it is displayed in MPE Editor.

During a run of MPE Fieldgen, any polygons are first applied to the base
fields and mosaics. The base field with the modifications resulting from
the polygon edit is then processed to produce the derived field or
mosaic. For example, suppose an edit polygon is drawn on the Radar
Mosaic to eliminate areas of AP. When MPE Fieldgen is rerun, it first
applies the polygon to the Radar Mosaic to remove the AP. Then the Radar
Mosaic is used in the computation of the derived fields. The MPE
Implementation Document lists the field dependencies.

# Delete Polygons {#delete-polygons .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting the delete polygons option displays the Delete Polygons window
shown in Figure 36. This window displays the date and hour and name of
the MPE product currently displayed in the MPE Editor window. In the
large list box in the middle of the window, a row of information is
shown for each edit polygon drawn on the MPE product for the given date
and hour. This information includes the polygon number, a true/false
flag indicating if the polygon is currently displayed on the screen, a
true/false flag indicating whether or not the polygon is persistent, how
the grid bins within the polygon where modified, and the value used to
modify the grid bins.![](media/image37.png){width="4.177083333333333in"
height="2.8020833333333335in"}

Polygons are stored in the order in which they are drawn. The first
polygon receives the number 1. The second polygon drawn receives the
number 2, and so on. Selecting the Display/Undisplay buttons below the
list of polygons will display or undisplay the selected polygon,
respectively. Undisplaying the polygon does not permanently delete it.
It does remove it from the MPE Editor display. It also prevents it from
being used by MPE Fieldgen in the case where the polygon was drawn on a
MPE Product from which other MPE products are derived. When a polygon is
undisplayed, it will have an entry of 'F' in the Displayed column. When
a polygon is displayed, it will have an entry of 'T' in the Displayed
column.

If a persistent polygon was created, then it will have an entry of 'T'
in the Persistent column. If the polygon is not persistent, then it will
have an entry of 'F' in the Persistent column.

The Action column indicates how the values of the HRAP grid bins
contained within the polygon were modified. The possible values in the
Action column are: Set, Raise, Lower, Scale, Snow, and Sub. These
actions correspond to the Set, Raise, Lower, Scale, Snow, and Substitute
buttons on the Edit Precipitation window in Figure 35.

The Value column contains the value used to modify the HRAP grid bins
contained within the polygon. For the Set, Raise, Lower, Scale, and Snow
actions, this will be a floating point numeric value to two decimal
places. For the Sub action, this will be the name of the field from
which data was substituted into the polygon.

Selecting a polygon in the polygon list and then pressing the Delete
button will cause that polygon to be permanently deleted. Clicking on
the Delete All button will permanently delete all polygons (both
persistent and non-persistent) drawn on that MPE product.

# Climo Menu Options {#climo-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) data
is climatological data. MPE Editor can display monthly mean
precipitation, average monthly maximum temperature and average monthly
minimum temperature PRISM data. The multisensor precipitation and
gage-only estimates are scaled by the precipitation PRISM climatology to
improve estimates especially in mountainous regions which tend not to
have good gage or radar coverage. The average monthly maximum and
minimum temperature PRISM climatologies are used by DailyQC when
estimating temperature values and when producing the gridded temperature
fields.![](media/image38.png){width="1.90625in"
height="1.3020833333333333in"}

The Climo (Figure 37) Menu has the following options: "Monthly Prism
Precip", "Monthly Prism Max Temp" and "Monthly Prism Min Temp". The
display of these PRISM datasets can be toggled on and off much like the
overlays on the Overlays menu. Only one PRISM data set may be displayed
at a time.

# Monthly Prism Precip {#monthly-prism-precip .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option will display the average precipitation PRISM data
for the month specified in the legend in the MPE Editor window. Like the
MPE fields and mosaics, the colors of the PRISM data can be modified
using the Set Colors option under the Tools menu (described above).

# Monthly Prism Max Temp {#monthly-prism-max-temp .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option will display the average monthly maximum
temperature PRISM data in the MPE Editor window if these files have been
installed. The MPE Editor Implementation Guide describes how to obtain
and install these files.

# Monthly Prism Min Temp {#monthly-prism-min-temp .hmap_mpe_header4}

Selecting this option will display the average monthly minimum
temperature PRISM data in the MPE Editor window if these files have been
installed. The MPE Editor Implementation Guide describes how to obtain
and install these files.

# Misc Menu Options {#misc-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The Misc menu (Figure 38) contains options to display the mean field
bias correction factors calculated for each of the radars, to display
the DPA products for the individual radars used in the creation of the
radar mosaic, to time lapse the currently displayed MPE product over a
specified period of time, and to the sum and display the Best Estimate
QPE products over a specified duration of time.

# Display Bias Table  {#display-bias-table .hmap_mpe_header4}

The "Display Bias Table" option launches the "Edit Bias Table" window
(Figure 39). From here, the radar-specific biases for the radar sites
which provide coverage for the WFO or RFC area can be viewed. The two
buttons across the top of this window, "Close" and "Apply" provide the
means for closing the application and applying bias changes. There are
seven columns of data in this table. From left to right these columns
are labeled 'Radar', 'Bias', 'Manually Specified', 'A', 'B', 'Bias', and
'Other Office'. Each row in this table provides bias information
specific to a particular radar site. For each row in the bias table, the
Radar column gives the three-letter radar identifier; the Bias column
gives the mean field bias computed for this radar; the Manually
Specified column contains either YES if the bias value has been edited
or NO if it has not been edited; the A and B columns contain the A/B
coefficients, respectively, used in the Z-R relationship by the Radar
Product Generator when producing the DPA product; the 'Bias' column
contains the bias value, if any, received from another office; and the
'Other Office' column contains the identifier of the office which sent
the bias value. The last two columns will contain the string 'N/A' if a
bias was not received from another
office.![](media/image39.jpeg){width="2.7381944444444444in"
height="1.9041666666666666in"}

The value in the Bias column is editable. When this value is edited, the
label in the Manually Specified column changed from 'NO' to 'YES'. The
Apply button must be pressed to save modified bias values. If the table
is closed before selecting Apply, then all changes will be lost.

Selecting any one of the radars listed in the Radar column of the Edit
Bias Table window will cause a window displaying the memory span
information for that radar to appear (Figure 40). This title of this
window is the 3-letter identifier of the radar it applies to. The close
button closes this window. In the upper right corner of this window is
the date and hour that this bias information applies to. Below the Close
button is the NPairs Threshold box. This box shows the minimum number of
non-zero gage/radar pairs used in selecting a mean field bias value to
apply to that hour's MPE products. Below is a table consisting of five
columns and ten rows. From left to right the columns are 'Memory Span',
'NPairs', 'Mean Gage', 'Mean Radar', and 'Bias'. Each of the rows in the
table represents one of the ten memory spans.

![](media/image40.png){width="6.497916666666667in" height="3.50625in"}

The values in the Memory Span column are the memory span durations in
hours. These range from the current MPE Fieldgen run (0.001 hours) to
period of record or the amount of time that has elapsed since the very
first time MPE Fieldgen ran at the office (10000000.000 hours). For each
memory span row, the value in the NPairs column represents the number of
non-zero gage/radar pairs found for this radar over the memory span
duration. For example, a value of 5 in the NPairs column in the 3 hour
memory span row means that over the last 3 hours, 5 gage/radar pairs
were found. The values in the Mean Gage column represent the mean gage
value for each memory span. The values in the Mean Radar column
represent the mean radar value for each memory span. The Bias column
contains the mean field bias computed for each memory span. Note that
the Mean Gage, Mean Radar, and Bias columns can have values even if
NPairs is 0. These values are time weighted, so that even if it has not
recently rained mean field bias values are still available.

After computing and updating the mean field bias information for a given
hour, MPE Fieldgen selects a mean field bias to use for each radar used
in the Radar Mosaic. It selects a mean field bias by examining the ten
memory spans for each radar and finding the shortest duration memory
span that has an NPairs value equal to or greater than the NPairs
Threshold value (in this case 10). By examining memory spans of shorter
and longer duration, trends in the mean field bias over a week or a
season can be seen.![](media/image41.png){width="4.875694444444444in"
height="5.457638888888889in"}

# Review Hourly Radar \... {#review-hourly-radar-... .hmap_mpe_header4}

![](media/image42.png){width="2.3020833333333335in"
height="5.395833333333333in"}

The review hourly radar option initially brings up the "Radar Sites"
window (Figure 41). This window allows the selection of a specific radar
site whose DPA is a part of the MPE Radar Mosaic. By highlighting a site
and selecting the "Ok" button, the "Single Radar Site" subwindow is
launched (Figure 42). This window has four panes or panels. Going
clockwise starting in the upper left hand corner of the window the panes
are "Raw Radar", "Radar Climatology", "Radar Coverage Map", and "Mean
Field Bias Corrected Radar". At the bottom of the Single Radar Site
window are three text fields. From left to right these text fields show
the name of the radar, the date and hour the radar precipitation data
are valid at and the mean field bias correction value.

The "Raw Radar" map is the radar based Digital Precipitation Array (DPA)
product which has not had a bias correction applied to it. It is a 131
by 131 HRAP grid centered on the specific radar site. The "Radar
Climatology Grid" is currently unused. The "Radar Coverage Map" is a map
of the radar beam blockages. It is displayed using black and red colors.
The black boxes are the HRAP grid bins for which there is no radar
coverage available due to radar beam blockages. The red HRAP grid bins
do have radar coverage available. This information is read from a file
in the missing bin "MISBIN" directory. If the file is not available,
then the circle will be drawn all filled in with red. The MPE Editor
Implementation Guide has more information about obtaining MISBIN files.
The default red and black colors used to represent the MISBIN file can
be modified using the Set Colors option on the Tools menu (described
above).

The "Mean Field Bias Corrected Radar" is the raw radar field data values
multiplied by the mean field bias correction value (which is displayed
at the bottom of the window). If data are not available for the selected
radar site, then the text "Missing Radar" is displayed within the "Raw
Radar" and the "Mean Field Bias Corrected Radar" panes.

The menubar across the top of the "Single Radar Site" window contains
the "Control", "Options", and "Overlays" submenus. The "Control" menu
contains the "Close" button. This simply closes the single site window.

The "Options" menu contains the "Edit Bias Value", "Ignore Radar",
"Display Adaptable Param", and "Display Supplemental Data" items. The
"Edit Bias Value" option allows the radar mean field bias value to be
edited. It launches the "Edit Bias Value" popup slider bar window
through which the mean field bias value can be changed. The "Ignore
Radar" option provides a way of excluding a radar's data from the
derived MPE precipitation products. When this option is selected, the
radar's data will not be used in the MPE analysis when MPE Fieldgen is
rerun. The text on this menu option also changes to Unignore Radar.
Selecting it again will allow the radar's data to be used in the MPE
analysis when MPE Fieldgen is rerun.

Note that for both the "Edit Bias Value" and the "Ignore Radar" options,
MPE Fieldgen must be rerun so that the MPE fields can be recomputed
using the edited bias value or excluding radar data.
![](media/image43.png){width="4.377083333333333in"
height="4.909722222222222in"}

The "Display Adaptable Param" option displays the radar-specific
adaptable parameters which include preprocessing algorithm parameters,
rate parameters, accumulation parameters, and adjustment parameters. The
"Display Supplemental Data" option displays data derived from the radar
field. This information includes the product generation time, the volume
coverage pattern, the operational weather mode, the maximum data value,
and whether or not precipitation was detected during the hour leading up
to this product.

The "Overlays" submenu contains the following options: "RFC boundaries",
"States", "County", "Cities/Towns", "Basin boundaries", "Rivers",
"Precip Gages", and "Radar Umbrella". Each of these overlays provides a
way of toggling on and off a specific overlay. Depending on the
overlay's initial state, the overlay selected is displayed or cleared in
each of the four panes of the "Single Radar Site" window. The MPE Editor
overlay configuration file controls which overlays are initially
displayed. More information about the overlay configuration file is in
the MPE Editor Implementation Guide.

More than one Single Site Radar Window may be displayed at a time. One
window may be opened for each of the radars in the Radar Mosaic.

# Time Lapse Submenu {#time-lapse-submenu .hmap_mpe_header4}

As shown in Figure 43 the time lapse submenu contains the following
options: "6hr", "12hr", "24hr", "Other \...", and "End Loop". The first
four options specify the duration of the time lapse. All time lapse
durations end with the current hour of data being examined. So, if the 6
hour time lapse is chosen, then MPE data for the last five hours plus
the current hour are displayed in the time lapse. By default, when a
time lapse is started, it begins with the oldest data field and loops to
the most recent data field. It then resets back to the oldest data field
and loops again to the most recent data field. This process continues
until the time lapse is stopped by selecting the "End Loop" menu item,
selecting manual loop frame stepping, or performing a zoom, pan or
recenter operation.![](media/image44.jpeg){width="3.529861111111111in"
height="2.5854166666666667in"}

When the "End Loop" option is selected, the image displayed in MPE
Editor is the one being viewed before the time lapse was started.

To select manual loop frame stepping, the left or right key on the
keyboard needs to be selected. The left arrow is for reverse looping
while the right arrow key is for normal looping. Pressing the left arrow
key will set the display to the current hour's data field. Subsequent
left arrow key presses will loop backward in time from there. Pressing
the right arrow keyboard button will set the display to the oldest
hour's worth of data within the selected time lapse range. Subsequent
right arrow key presses will loop forward in time from there. To resume
automatic time lapsing, press the up or down arrow key.

In addition to the "End Loop" menu option, the time lapse may be stopped
by performing a zooming, panning or recentering action on the time
lapsing image. By placing the mouse cursor over the image and clicking
the middle mouse button, the time lapse will stop on that frame and
recenter and zoom into that image. If a left mouse click was performed
instead, then the time lapse would stop on the frame and recenter on the
click point and zoom out.

The time lag between the successive image displays in the time lapse is
specified by the token "hydroview_mpe_timelapse". It is a value in
milliseconds. If the token is not set, then the default duration is 1
second (1000 milliseconds).

A time lapse with a duration other than those explicitly shown on the
time lapse submenu can be set by selecting the "Other \..." option. This
launches a window with a slider bar that allows the duration of the time
lapse to be set to any value from 1 hour to 24 hours.

# Multi-Hour QPE {#multi-hour-qpe .hmap_mpe_header4}

This provides the ability to display multi-hour precipitation estimates.
These rainfall totals are derived by summing together the hourly best
estimate QPE products.![](media/image45.png){width="3.825in"
height="4.136111111111111in"}

This feature is accessed by selecting the "Multi-Hour QPE" item on the
MPE Editor "Misc" menu. This displays the "Multi-Hour Precipitation
Accumulation" window (Figure 44). This interface is divided into two
distinct frames, the Accumulation Interval Setup frame and the
Accumulation Display Control frame. The Accumulation Interval Setup
frame has a drop down menu labeled "Duration:" which allows the interval
over which to sum the rainfall amounts to be set. If the desired
duration is not on the option menu, then the Other button at the bottom
of the option menu can be selected. This will create the "Accumulation
Interval" slider bar which allows any accumulation interval from 1 to 72
hours to be chosen.

Just below the duration option menu is the ending time text field. This
text field specifies the end time of the interval that multi-hour
rainfall totals are being computed over. By default this text field
displays the time of the MPE data field currently being viewed in the
main window. However, it may be modified through the use of the
incrementing and decrementing arrow buttons at either end of the
end-time text field. The arrow buttons to the left of the text field,
labeled "Day Adjust", allow the day portion of the date to be modified.
The arrows buttons to the right of the text field, labeled "Hour
Adjust", allow the hour portion of the date to be modified. A date
cannot be entered directly in the text field.

The "Accumulation Display Control" provides the "Display As" option menu
which allows multi-hour precipitation totals to be displayed as HRAP
grid values, basin averages, county averages, or zone averages. The
"Show Data" button triggers the display of the multi-hour precipitation
estimate based on the selected duration, ending time, and display
resolution (HRAP grid, basins, counties, or zones). The basin, county or
zone identifiers and mean areal precipitation value labels may be shown
using the "Values" and "Ids" toggle buttons. The Values and Ids toggle
buttons are only selectable when Basin, County or Zone is selected from
the Display As option menu.

Below the Accumulation Display Control frame is the "Close" button which
destroys the window.

The multi-hour precipitation field cannot be saved as the best estimate
QPE, time lapsed, have polygons drawn on it, or have pseudo gages
plotted on it. Most of the options on the MPEcontrol menu are not
selectable when the multi-hour precipitation field is displayed. In
order to regain access to the MPEcontrol menu items, one of the 1 hour
MPE mosaics or fields must be selected for display from the MPEfields
menu. Missing values encountered during the accumulation of hourly
precipitation totals are not reported. Missing values may be present on
a grid bin by grid bin basis or as entire missing fields. Thus, because
of missing data, a displayed multi-hour precipitation estimate for a
given number of hours may not have been able to find data for all of the
hours.

When viewing basin-averaged multi-hour rainfall estimates, each basin
must be covered by a minimum percentage of valid, non-missing values in
order to be assigned an average rainfall estimate. If this minimum
percentage is not met, then the basin is assigned a value of missing and
colored as light gray. This minimum percentage is given by token
whfs_min_area_covered. The MPE Implementation Guide describes the
default value of this token and how it can be manually changed.

# Help Menu Options {#help-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header3}

The Help menu displays the item "About"(Figure 45). The "About" item
provides the version and release of the MPE Editor application.
![](media/image46.png){width="0.71875in" height="0.6875in"}

# Mouse Controls and Hot Keys {#mouse-controls-and-hot-keys .hmap_mpe_header1}

Mouse controls and hot keys are provided to speed up the use of the MPE
Editor application. Table 4-1 shows the behaviors associated with a
standard three-button mouse.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Mouse Button**                    **Functionality that Results**

  **Single Left Button Click**        **Zoom out and recenter at the
                                      click point**

  **Single Middle Button Click**      **Zoom in and recenter at the click
                                      point**

  **Single Right Button Click**       **Displays a "pop up" menu near the
                                      click point with additional options
                                      (see below)**

  **Left Mouse Button Press and       **Draw a zoom rectangle. The
  Drag**                              rectangle is completed when the
                                      left mouse button is released. To
                                      zoom into the area defined by the
                                      rectangle, press CTRL + Z. To zoom
                                      out, press CTRL+Z again.**

  **Right Mouse Button Press**        **Displays a "pop up" menu with
                                      additional options (see below). A
                                      release of the right mouse button
                                      pops down the menu.**
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc189280095 .anchor}Table 4- MPE Editor Mouse
Functionality

# Exceptions to Mouse Functionality {#exceptions-to-mouse-functionality .hmap_mpe_header2}

There are several cases in MPE Editor when the default mouse behavior is
temporarily overridden.

When adding a pseudo gage ( reached from the **Add Pseudo Gage** item
under the **Gages** submenu on the  **Gages** menu), a left mouse click
will select the location on the map to place the pseudo gage. To
indicate that the mouse is in "add pseudo gage mode", the mouse pointer
changes from an arrow to a hand until the location of the new gage is
selected.

When drawing a new polygon (reached from the **Draw Polygons** item
under the **Polygons** menu), a left mouse click draws the vertices of
the polygon. A middle or right mouse button click closes the polygon

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #  {#section .hmap_mpe_table_header}                                  |
+=======================================================================+
| **In** - Zoom the map in.                                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Out** - Zoom the map out.                                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Recenter** - Recenter the map on the point where the mouse was      |
| clicked.                                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Up** - Pan the map up.                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Down** - Pan the map down.                                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Left** - Pan the map left.                                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Right** - Pan the map right.                                        |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Lat/Lon** - Turn on or off the latitude / longitude information     |
| that chases the cursor.                                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **MPE Info** - Turn on or off the MPE legend                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Zoom mode is disabled when the **Polygons-\>Draw Polygons** or
**Gages-\>AddPseudoGage** menu item is chosen.
**Gages-\>ShowGageIdentifiers/Values** menu options are available in
regular or zoom mode.

When the Display 7x7 option is selected from the Gages menu, a click of
the left mouse button will select the gage closest to the click point on
the MPE Editor display and launch the Display 7 X 7 Gage Editing Utility
GUI.

When any of the 6/24 hour precipitation, temperature or freezing level
options is selected, clicking the right mouse button on the MPE Editor
map will launch the Edit Precipitation Station window for precipitation
data, the Edit Temperature Station window option for temperature data or
the Edit Freezing Level Station window for the freezing level data. When
6/24 hour precipitation, temperature and freezing level data are not
displayed, right clicking on the MPE Editor map will show the standard
MPE Editor Pop Up Menu.

When the Group Edit option is selected from the QC Precipitation Options
or QC Temp Options window and a QC flag is chosen from the Group Edit
Stations popup window, right clicking on a station on the MPE Editor
display will set its QC flag. When the Group Edit Stations popup window
is closed, right clicking on the MPE Editor map will show the standard
MPE Editor Pop Up menu.

# Pop Up Menu Options {#pop-up-menu-options .hmap_mpe_header2}

![](media/image47.png){width="1.2291666666666667in"
height="2.4791666666666665in"}

A single click of the right mouse button or holding down the right mouse
button while the mouse cursor is over the main viewing area will cause a
"pop up" menu to be displayed at the click point (Figure 46). This popup
menu contains the options shown in Table 4- .

# Hot Keys {#hot-keys .hmap_mpe_header2}

MPE Editor offers several hot keys for accessing some of the more
heavily used features. These are shown in Table 4-3.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Hot Key**                         **Action**

  **Alt +C**                          **Close the MPE Editor
                                      Application**

  **Alt+R**                           **Show a single radar site**

  **Alt+S**                           **Save the MPE Editor screen as a
                                      GIF**

  **Alt+U**                           **Draw the radar rings**

  **Ctrl+B**                          **Display the basins overlay**

  **Ctrl+D**                          **Pan down the display**

  **Ctrl+I**                          **Zoom in the display**

  **Ctrl+L**                          **Pan left the display**

  **Ctrl+N**                          **Show the next hour's data field**

  **Ctrl+O**                          **Zoom out the display**

  **Ctrl+P**                          **Show the previous hour's data
                                      field**

  **Ctrl+R**                          **Pan right the display**

  **Ctrl+S**                          **Save the displayed MPE field as
                                      the best estimate field**

  **Ctrl+T**                          **Toggle the toolbar on and off**

  **Ctrl+U**                          **Pan up the display**

  **Ctrl+Z**                          **Zoom in or out of a zoom
                                      rectangle. This hot key can also be
                                      used to undo the previous zoom,
                                      pan, or recenter operation.**
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

# Table 4- MPE Editor Hot Keys {#table-4--mpe-editor-hot-keys .hmap_mpe_table_header}

#  {#section-1 .hmap_mpe_table_header}

# MPE Editor Legends {#mpe-editor-legends .hmap_mpe_header1}

![](media/image48.png){width="1.7708333333333333in"
height="1.5208333333333333in"}

The 6/24 hour Daily QC tools use separate legends from the MPE mosaics
and fields. For 6/24 precipitation, temperature and freezing level point
data, the legend is displayed in the upper left corner of the MPE Editor
display. These point data are colored according to their QC flags.
Figure 47 shows the legend for the 6/24 point precipitation data. Figure
48 shows the legend for the 6/24 point temperature data. Figure 49 shows
the legend for the 6/24 hour point freezing level data. Note that the
possible QC flags for each of these datasets are slightly different. The
colors associated with these QC levels cannot be changed. For the
gridded and basin averaged 6/24 precipitation, temperature and freezing
level datasets, a legend is displayed across the bottom of the MPE
Editor display. It is displayed in the same area as the legend for the
MPE fields and mosaics. If both MPE data and 6/24 gage QC data are being
displayed, then both the MPE and gage QC legends will be
displayed.![](media/image49.png){width="1.7465277777777777in"
height="1.7604166666666667in"}![](media/image50.png){width="1.8020833333333333in"
height="1.03125in"}

The legend used for the 6/24 hour gridded and basin averaged
precipitation is show in Figure 50. This legend is interactive. The
white rectangle drawn around the 0.01-0.1 box in the legend indicates
which legend level is currently selected. A different legend level can
be selected by left clicking on it. At the right hand end of the legend
are three boxes labeled "down", "up" and "off". Left clicking on down
will remove all gridded or basin averaged data whose value is below that
of the currently selected legend level. Left clicking on up will color
all gridded or basin averaged data whose value is greater than that of
the currently selected legend level the same color as the currently
selected legend level. Left clicking on "off" will turn off legend
filtering.![](media/image51.png){width="6.754861111111111in"
height="0.7048611111111112in"}

![](media/image52.png){width="6.751388888888889in"
height="0.6180555555555556in"}

![](media/image53.png){width="6.7555555555555555in"
height="0.5347222222222222in"}

The legend used for the 6 hour / 24 hour maximum or minimum gridded and
basin averaged temperature data is shown in Figure 51. This legend is
also interactive. The currently selected color level is outlined in a
white rectangle. The selected color level can be changed by left
clicking on a different legend color level. The "down", "up" and "off"
options operate the same as on the 6/24 point precipitation legend.
![](media/image54.png){width="6.752083333333333in"
height="0.7041666666666667in"}

The legend used for the 6 hour gridded and basin averaged freezing level
data is shown in Figure 52. Like the precipitation and temperature
legends, it is interactive. The currently selected color level is
outlined in a white rectangle. The selected color level can be changed
by left clicking on a different legend color level box.

Figure 53 shows the appearance of the MPE Editor legend when both MPE
and 6/24 precipitation data are displayed. Figure 54 shows the
appearance of the MPE Editor legend when MPE and DailyQC 6 hour / 24
hour maximum or minimum temperature data are being displayed along with
the MPE Information Legend. The MPE Information
![](media/image55.png){width="6.507638888888889in"
height="1.3604166666666666in"}

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc189280151 .anchor}Figure 54 MPE, MPE Information
and 6/24 Hour GageQC Legends

legend is launched from the MPE Info option on the right click popup
menu.

#   {#section-2 .hmap_mpe_header1 .unnumbered}