摘要 |
A weathercasting system for displaying dynamic real time photo-realistic three-dimensional pictorial representations of weather conditions created from meteorological data combined with geographical and topographical data. Geographical and topographical data is retrieved, digitized, and processed to produce a simulated three-dimensional volumetric image and stored in memory for later retrieval. Meteorological data including precipitation, cloud cover data, the bottom and top of cloud formations, and reflectivity and velocity of rain droplets in real-time are acquired from C-band and/or K-band Doppler radar, or non-Doppler K-band and Doppler X-band radar installations which ameliorate S-band radar data and the data is digitized and processed to produce a simulated three-dimensional image of the meteorological data. The meteorological data is combined with the geographical and topographical data to produce a digital signal capable of being transmitted to a computer, displayed on a computer display screen, and manipulated by peripheral devices connected with the computer. The combined data is displayed as a photo-realistic three-dimensional pictorial representation of weather conditions from a selective observation point and relative to a selective geographical area. The pictorial representation can be manipulated to give the visual effect of moving through a weather system to allow the viewer to visualize the effects of the weather system at various geographical locations.
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