MCH User Manual 2012 en

Meteorology, Climatology and Hydrology Information
System (database)
MCH DB 2009

User manual

2009

Carlos Cervantes

Version August 2012
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Contents
List of figures....................................................................................................................................v
List of acronyms .............................................................................................................................. ix
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................1
Structure of the manual....................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1.Getting started.................................................................................................................3
Scope and physical operating limits .........................................................................................3
1.1. System installation....................................................................................................................4
System requirements ................................................................................................................4
1.2. Common tasks ..........................................................................................................................4
Data capture..............................................................................................................................4
Querying data on graphs ..........................................................................................................4
Querying data on maps ............................................................................................................6
Importing and exporting data....................................................................................................7
Performing calculations and editing data .................................................................................7
Exporting data to text files and spreadsheets ..........................................................................8
DefinitionsGeneral tables..........................................................................................................8
Chapter2.Usingthesystem.................................................................................................11
2.1. Main menu...............................................................................................................................11
Using the system menus ........................................................................................................11
Accessing the system.............................................................................................................13
2.2. File menu.................................................................................................................................13
2.2.1. Printer set up.................................................................................................................13
2.2.2. Exit ................................................................................................................................14
2.3. Maps menu..............................................................................................................................14
2.3.1. Maps by geographical position.....................................................................................15
2.3.2. Maps.Sketches or diagrams .........................................................................................19
2.3.3. Zone maps ....................................................................................................................20
2.3.4. Isolines on maps ...........................................................................................................23
2.3.5. Maps by geographical projection..................................................................................27
2.4. Graphs menu...........................................................................................................................27
2.4.1 Graphs of daily, detailed, weekly, dekadal, monthly and annual data..........................28
2.4.2 Graphs comparing several variables for daily, detailed, weekly, dekadal, monthly and
annual data .............................................................................................................................33
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2.4.3 Graphs comparing several stations for daily, detailed, weekly, dekadal, monthly and
annual data .............................................................................................................................35
2.4.4 General queries. Graphs. ..............................................................................................37
2.5. Capture menu..........................................................................................................................43
2.5.1 Capturing daily data.......................................................................................................43
2.5.2 Capturing detailed data .................................................................................................45
2.5.3 Capturing SYNOP messages in FM12 format ..............................................................47
2.5.4 Capturing SYNOP messages in CREX format .............................................................50
2.5.5 Exporting data from tables.............................................................................................51
2.5.6 Importing data to tables .................................................................................................53
2.5.7 Updating data between servers.....................................................................................54
2.6. Data editing and calculation menu..........................................................................................55
2.6.1 Editing daily data in listings ...........................................................................................56
2.6.2 Editing data using graphs. .............................................................................................58
2.6.3 Availability of daily data .................................................................................................60
2.6.4 Detailed calculations on daily data. ...............................................................................63
2.6.5 Calculating by station, station group and zones on maps ............................................64
2.6.6 Queries decoding SYNOP FM12 messages..............................................................68
2.6.7 Queries decoding SYNOP CREX messages.............................................................69
2.6.8 Query decoding METAR / SPECI messages.............................................................70
2.7. Definitions................................................................................................................................71
2.7.1 Stations ..........................................................................................................................74
2.7.2 Automatic stations by satellite identifier ........................................................................78
2.7.3 Station groups................................................................................................................79
2.7.4 Groups of automatic stations.........................................................................................80
2.7.5 Station types ..................................................................................................................80
2.7.6 Instruments by station....................................................................................................81
2.7.7 Defining maps by geographical position using two points ............................................82
2.7.8 Defining maps by geographical position using quadrilaterals.......................................83
2.7.9 Defining stations on sketches or diagrams ...................................................................84
2.7.10 Defining MCH and general maps ................................................................................85
2.7.11 Station metadata..........................................................................................................88
2.7.12 Station locator ..............................................................................................................89
2.7.13 Variables ......................................................................................................................91
2.7.14 Acceptable values........................................................................................................92
2.7.15 Checks by formula .......................................................................................................93
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2.7.16 Checks by proximity.....................................................................................................94
2.7.17 Conversion tables ........................................................................................................95
2.7.18 Conversion formulae for derived variables..................................................................97
2.7.19 Variables for automatic stations by satellite identifier .................................................98
2.7.20 Acceptable values for automatic variables..................................................................99
2.7.21 Derived variables .......................................................................................................100
2.7.22 Data in SYNOP-CREX messages.............................................................................101
2.7.23 SYNOP-CREX message templates ..........................................................................102
2.7.24 FTP transmission options ..........................................................................................102
2.7.25 FTP transmission addresses.....................................................................................103
2.7.26 Users..........................................................................................................................104
2.7.27 Access levels .............................................................................................................104
2.7.28 General database operation......................................................................................105
2.7.29 Variables from automatic stations for web page.......................................................105
2.7.30 Map options for web ..................................................................................................105
2.7.31 Data sources..............................................................................................................106
2.7.32 Time zones ................................................................................................................106
2.7.33 Units ...........................................................................................................................107
2.7.34 Catchments................................................................................................................107
2.7.35 Sub-catchments .........................................................................................................108
2.5.36 Hydrological regions ..................................................................................................108
2.5.37 States / Departments / Provinces..............................................................................109
2.7.38 Municipalities / Boroughs / Parishes .........................................................................109
2.7.39 Regional management / offices.................................................................................110
2.8 Window menu.........................................................................................................................110
2.9. Help menu.............................................................................................................................111
Annexes................................................................................................................................... 113
Annex A - System installation......................................................................................................115
Annex B Obtaining MCH database information from Excel spreadsheets ..............................135
Annex C Preparing a map in DXF to load into MCH for presenting information in zone maps
......................................................................................................................................................143
Annex D Tools for exchanging MCH information with other systems and between MCH
locations .......................................................................................................................................147
The EnviarMCH.exe command ............................................................................................149
The CargMCHftpctl.exe command .......................................................................................149
The CargFtpMCH.exe command..........................................................................................150
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The CargaSynopMetarB.exe command...............................................................................150
The DXFaBinGeogr.exe command ......................................................................................152
Digitizing tapes with DigitBan.exe ........................................................................................153
To digitize rectangular type tapes: ...............................................................................154
To digitize rectangular-circular type tapes ..................................................................156
To digitize sun tapes, rectangular and rectangular-circular......................................158
Scheduled tasks....................................................................................................................159
Annex E Calculating daily data from detailed data...................................................................161
Calculation types..........................................................................................................................163
LAST .....................................................................................................................................164
CUMULAT.............................................................................................................................164
MEANLAST...........................................................................................................................165
FREQUENC..........................................................................................................................165

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Listoffigures
Figure 1: Main menu ................................................................................................................................................ 11
Figure 2: Map of system menus............................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 3: Entering the user ID and password ...................................................................................................... 13
Figure 4: File menu................................................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 5: Printer configuration window................................................................................................................ 14
Figure 6: Maps menu ................................................................................................................................................ 14
Figure 7: Maps by geographical position 1. ......................................................................................................... 15
Figure 8: Maps by geographical position 2. ......................................................................................................... 16
Figure 9: Maps by geographical position 3.Colour ranges................................................................................ 17
Figure 10: Maps by geographical position 4.Colour selection.......................................................................... 17
Figure 11: Maps by geographical position 5.Exporting data and printing. .................................................... 18
Figure 12: Maps by geographical position 6.Map exported to a graphics file............................................... 18
Figure 13: Maps by geographical position 7. Data exported to a text file ...................................................... 19
Figure 14: Maps by geographical position 8. Data exported to a spreadsheet............................................... 19
Figure 15:Maps.Diagrams or sketches .................................................................................................................. 20
Figure 16: Zone maps 1............................................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 17: Zone maps 2.Defining colours and fills ............................................................................................. 21
Figure 18: Zone maps 1.Defining stations or station groups by zone............................................................... 22
Figure 19: Zone maps 1.Defining stations or station groups by zone............................................................... 22
Figure 20: Isoline maps 1. ....................................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 21: Isoline maps 2.Query 2 tab. ................................................................................................................. 24
Figure 22: Isoline maps 3.Isoline data 1 tab. ....................................................................................................... 24
Figure 23: Isoline maps 4.Isoline data 2 tab. ....................................................................................................... 25
Figure 24:Isoline maps 5.Isoline data 3 tab.......................................................................................................... 26
Figure 25: Isoline maps 6.Area option. ................................................................................................................. 27
Figure 26:Graphs menu ........................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 27:Graphs 1................................................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 28: Graphs menu .......................................................................................................................................... 30
Figure 29:Graphs menu ........................................................................................................................................... 30
Figure 34: Graphs several variables 1 .................................................................................................................. 34
Figure 35: Graphs several variables 2 .................................................................................................................. 35
Figure 36: Graphs several stations 1 ..................................................................................................................... 36
Figure 37: General query 1. .................................................................................................................................... 37
Figure 38: General query 3.Select by example options....................................................................................... 37
Figure 39: General query 3.By station. ................................................................................................................. 39
Figure 40 :General query 4.By station group. ...................................................................................................... 40
Figure 41: General query 5.Stations near to a point. .......................................................................................... 41
Figure 42: Capture menu ......................................................................................................................................... 43
Figure 43: Capturing daily data 1. ......................................................................................................................... 44
Figure 44: Capturing daily data 2. ......................................................................................................................... 45
Figure 45: Capturing detailed data.Manned and automatic stations ............................................................... 46
Figure 46: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages. 1. .............................................................................................. 48
Figure 47: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages.2................................................................................................. 49
Figure 48: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages.3................................................................................................. 49
Figure 49: Capturing SYNOP CREX messages 1. ............................................................................................... 50
Figure 50 :Capturing SYNOP CREX messages 2. ............................................................................................... 51
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Figure 51: Exporting data 1. ................................................................................................................................... 52
Figure 52: Exporting data 2. ................................................................................................................................... 53
Figure 53: Importing data 1. ................................................................................................................................... 54
Figure 54: Importing data 2. ................................................................................................................................... 54
Figure 55: Updating data between servers. .......................................................................................................... 55
Figure 56: Data editing and calculation menu..................................................................................................... 56
Figure 57: Editing data in listings. ......................................................................................................................... 57
Figure 58: Editing data in listings 2....................................................................................................................... 57
Figure 59: Reviewing data using graphs 1............................................................................................................ 58
Figure 62: Availability of daily data 1. .................................................................................................................. 61
Figure 67: Calculating data by station, station group and zones on maps, 1. ................................................ 66
Figure 70: Querying SYNOP FM12 messages. .................................................................................................... 69
Figure 71: Querying SYNOP CREX messages. .................................................................................................... 70
Figure 72: Query decoding METAR / SPECI messages .................................................................................. 71
Figure 73: Definitions menu .................................................................................................................................... 72
Figure 74: Capture form.......................................................................................................................................... 72
Figure 75: Capture form 2....................................................................................................................................... 73
Figure 76: Capture form 3....................................................................................................................................... 73
Figure 77: Stations 1................................................................................................................................................. 75
Figure 78: Stations 2................................................................................................................................................. 76
Figure 79: Stations 3.Data from dams ................................................................................................................... 77
Figure 80: Stations 4.Data from hydrometrics. .................................................................................................... 78
Figure 81: Station groups 1. .................................................................................................................................... 79
Figure 82: Station groups 1. .................................................................................................................................... 80
Figure 83: Station types............................................................................................................................................ 81
Figure 84: Instruments by station ........................................................................................................................... 82
Figure 85: Two-point geo-referencing................................................................................................................... 83
Figure 86: Geo-referencing by quadrilaterals...................................................................................................... 84
Figure 87: Defining stations on sketches or diagrams ........................................................................................ 85
Figure 88: Vector maps by geographical position 1............................................................................................ 86
Figure 91: Station metadata .................................................................................................................................... 89
Figure 92: Station locator 2..................................................................................................................................... 89
Figure 95: Variables 1.............................................................................................................................................. 92
Figure 96: Acceptable values per variable............................................................................................................ 93
Figure 97:Checks by formula .................................................................................................................................. 94
Figure 98: Checks by proximity.............................................................................................................................. 95
Figure 99: Conversion tables 1............................................................................................................................... 96
Figure 100: Conversion tables 2............................................................................................................................. 96
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Figure 103: Variables for automatic stations by satellite identifier.................................................................. 99
Figure 104: Acceptable values for automatic stations ...................................................................................... 100
Figure 105: Acceptable values for automatic stations ...................................................................................... 101
Figure 106:Data in SYNOP-CREX messages ..................................................................................................... 101
Figure 107: SYNOP-CREX message templates .................................................................................................. 102
Figure 108: FTP transmission options ............................................................................................................... 103
Figure 109: FTP transmission options ................................................................................................................ 103
Figure 110: Defining users .................................................................................................................................... 104
Figure 111: User access levels.............................................................................................................................. 104
Figure 112: Automatic variables for web ............................................................................................................ 105
Figure 114: Data sources....................................................................................................................................... 106
Figure 116: Units .................................................................................................................................................... 107
Figure 117: Catchments ......................................................................................................................................... 108
Figure 118: Sub-catchments .................................................................................................................................. 108
Figure 119: Hydrological regions ........................................................................................................................ 109
Figure 123:Installing MCH.Server step 1 ........................................................................................................... 117
Figure 132:Installing MCH.Server step 10 ......................................................................................................... 128
Figure 135:Installing MCH.User step 1 .............................................................................................................. 131
Figure 139:Excel Tools ....................................................................................................................................... 137
Figure 140:Excel Tools Add-ins..................................................................................................................... 137
Figure 141:Excel Tools ....................................................................................................................................... 138
Figure 142:Excel Tools Add-ins..................................................................................................................... 138
Figure 143:ODBC definition for MySQL5 1....................................................................................................... 138
Figure 143:Installing MySQL ODBC................................................................................................................... 139
Figure 145:SQL.REQUEST function in Excel .................................................................................................... 139
Figure 146:DXFaMCH.exe routine...................................................................................................................... 145
Figure 147:Loading SYNOP, METAR / SPECI and SYNOP-CREX messages 1 .......................................... 151
Figure 151:Converting DXF maps to binary for MCH..................................................................................... 153
Figure 152:Digitizing tapes. 1............................................................................................................................... 154
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Listofacronyms
Acronym Description
English Spanish English Spanish
DAPS DAPS
Data CollectionSystem Automatic Processing
System
Sistema de Procesamiento Automtico para
Recoleccin de Datos
DCP PCD Data CollectionPlatform Plataforma de Coleccin de Datos
DRGS ETRD
Direct Readout Ground Station (satellite
receiver)
EstacinTerrena de RecepcinDirecta (de
datos desatlite)
ERIC ERIC
Climatalogical DataBank for Mexico on CD-
ROM
Extractor Rpido de Informacin
Climatolgica (enDisco Compacto)
FTP FTP File Transfer Protocol Protocolo para Transmisin deArchivos
GMT GMT GreenwichMean Time (time zone) Hora segn el meridiano de Greenwich
GOES GOES
Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite
Satlite Geoestacionario de Alta Resolucin
LAN LAN
Local AreaNetwork (for computer
connections)
Red de rea Local (para conexiones de
computadoras)
NESDIS NESDIS
National Environmental Satellite, Dataand
InformationService(USA)
Servicio Nacional de Informacin y Datos
Satelitales del Medio Ambiente, delos EUA
NOAA NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (USA)
Administracin Nacional de Ocenos y
Atmsfera, EUA
PDT PDT Platform DescriptionTable (at NESDIS)
Tabla para Descripcin dePlataforma (en el
NESDIS)
SHEF SHEF Standard Hydrological Exchange Format
Formato Estndar de Intercambio
Hidrometeorolgico
SQL SQL Standard Query Language (for databases)
Lenguaje Estndar Interactivo (parabases de
datos)
WAN WAN Wide Area Network Red de rea Extendida
WMO OMM
World Meteorological Organization (of the
UN)
OrganizacinMeteorolgica Mundial (de
Naciones Unidas)
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Introduction
MCHBD is a system for managing meteorology, climatology and hydrology data,storingdata in a
database (MySQL). It works in clientserver mode on a LAN/WAN, has a web intranet module for
somedatacapturefunctions,queries,graphsandmaps.Thenetworkcommunicationprotocolmust
beTCP/IP.
ODBCtechnologyoriented,itallowsthedatabasetobequeriedbyexternaltoolsusingthatprotocol.
The variables to be managed can be defined. Each variable can handle detailed data (data with a
frequencyoflessthanoneday,withanaccuracyofuptooneminute)innativeform,anddailydata.
Dailydatacanbecalculatedfromdetaileddata.Dailydatacanbeusedtocalculatecumulativedaily,
weekly, dekadal (three times a month), monthly and annual data. Normals or means can be
calculatedforvariousperiodsfordaily,weekly,dekadal,monthlyandannualdata.
Information can be presented on maps (images, vector maps and sketches).More than 40 types of
geographical projections are available for vector maps), graphs and tables. Query output can be
exportedtovarioustypesofgraphsandtextfilesandspreadsheets.
Information from automatic stations can be uploaded if needed using additional functions. There
aregenericimportfunctionstoloadhistoricalinformationfromtabseparatedtextfiles.
MCHBD09isanapplicationrunningintheWindowsgraphicalenvironment.
Structureofthemanual
This manualisstructured asfollows:Chapter1,Getting started, gives ageneralexplanationof the
systemsobjectivesandscope,adescriptionofthemanagementofsomepartsandasummaryofthe
most common operatingsequences of the system. Chapter 2,Using the system, offers a detailed
explanationof everyfunctionin the system,intheorderthat theyappearinthesystem menus. We
recommend using the Simplified Guide for an alternative way of operating the system. Annex A
explains how to install the system on a new computer and a new computer network. Annex B
explains how to obtain MCH data from Excel spreadsheets. Annex C contains information on
preparingandloading mapsinDXFformatintoMCHtorepresentdataby mapzones.AnnexDsets
out the formats of the various MCH tools for scheduled tasks and interchanging information
betweenMCHservers,whileAnnexEdocumentsthemethodforcalculatingdailydatafromdetailed
data.
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Chapter1.Gettingstarted
The Meteorology, Climatology and Hydrology Information System is written in Delphi 2006 and
uses the freely available MySQL 5 database. It comprises (a) a clientserver module used for
operatingandadministrationfunctions,(b)anumberofutilitiesforcertaininformationloadingand
management functions and (c) an executable module for various tasks, also writtenin Delphi, for
data capture anddynamic queriesviathe web ofdata, graphs and maps. The webmodule operates
underApache whichis an opensource server. It also uses a numberof opensourceinformation
managementtoolsanddata:GMTTools,ImageMagick,GhostScript,NetCDF,Proj4.
Thesystem candefine anynumber ofvariables tobe managed.Thedataofthevariablesarestored
as doubleprecision numbers (15 significant figures).Each variable can handle detailed data (data
with a frequency of lessthan one day, with an accuracy of upto one minute) innative form, and
daily data. Daily data can be calculated from detailed data. Daily data can be used to calculate
cumulative daily, weekly, dekadal (three times a month), monthly and annual data. Normals or
meanscanbecalculatedforvariousperiodsfordaily,weekly,dekadal,monthlyandannualdata.
Information can be presented on maps (images, vector maps and sketches).More than 40 types of
geographical projections are available for vector maps), graphs and tables. Query output can be
exportedtovarioustypesofgraphsandtextfilesandspreadsheets.
Thesystemisadministeredwithfourlevelsofsecurity:administrator,fulluser,userandcapture.It
isalsopossibletoconsultthesystemwithoutauserIDinclientserverorwebmode.
Clientserver mode works over a LAN/WAN using the TCP/IPprotocol. Datacanbe synchronized
between several servers under MsSQL functions and with special tasks under FTP and manually
withintheusermodule.
MCHisaconfigurablesysteminwhichitispossibletodefinevariables(morethan50aredefinedby
default), measuringstations,conditions forverifying inputdata, maps andsketchesonto which the
information is displayed. There is a whole set of tables of information relating to the measuring
stationsandthedata.
Informationfromautomaticstationscanbeuploadedifneededusingadditionalfunctions.
Therearegenericimportfunctionstoloadhistoricalinformationfromtabseparatedtextfiles.
MCHBD09 is an application running in the Windows graphical environment. The functions
programmed for operation by users are grouped under menus and submenus. There are some
shortcutbuttonsforthemostfrequentlyusedfunctions.
Asin anyWindows application,therearetwo waysof activatinga functionin thesystem:using the
mousepointerorkeystrokes.
Chapter 2, Using the system, describes allthe functions in the system inlocal mode (LAN/WAN)
andhowtousethem,followingtheordertheyappearinthesystemmenus.
Scopeandphysicaloperatinglimits
Variables. Limitedonlybythesize ofthedatabase,limitedinturnonlybythe availablediskspace.
Eachvariableis associated with asetoftables forthedetailed,daily, weekly,dekadal, monthly and
annualdataandtheirrespectivenormals/means.
Maps. Maps in image form are always processed in .bmp format, but many image types can be
convertedintothis format. Thepositionofstations on mapsisindicated withobjects fordisplaying
the individual information of each station when the mouse pointer rolls over them and we have
foundthatitworksevenwith1,500stationsonamap(thisislimitedbythewayinwhichWindows
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handles graphicobjects, andfunctionalitydeclines when the operating systemhastocontrolmany
objects
Graphics. Toenable a graphtobe enlarged, there mustbeupto 300,000datapoints,but wehave
testedgraphswithupto1.6millionpoints.
Users.Limitedbythedatabasemanager,dependingontheparameterssetwhenitissetup.
Openwindows. Thefunctionsfor queryingdatainmapsand graphs allow multiple windowstobe
opened.
1.1.Systeminstallation
The system distribution diskcontains an automated procedure for installing the MCH system. The
system canbeinstalledinserveranduser modes. Amoredetaileddescriptionofinstallationcanbe
foundinAnnexA.
Systemrequirements
Running the system as a work station for querying and processing data (clientserver) requires a
computerpreferably withaprocessorspeedof1.5GHzor faster,avideoresolutionofatleast1024
x 768, a network connection to the computer serving the central database, and 1 GB of RAM.
OperatingsystemWindows2000,WindowsXPorlater.Diskspace5GB.Localornetworkedcolour
ormonochromeprinter.Ifgraphsaretobeprintedinwideformat,alocalornetworkedplotter.
Torunthesystemasadatabaseserver,acomputerwithaprocessorspeedof2GHzorfaster,video
resolution of at least1024 x 768, 2GB of RAM, a 250GBhard disk, 100 GBof freespace for the
database, operating system Windows 2000 professional, Windows XP, Windows 2000 server or
Windows2003serverorlater.Ifpossible,acolourtabloidsizeorlargerprinteroracolourplotter.
ThesystemoperatormustbefamiliarwiththeWindowsoperatingsystem.
1.2.Commontasks
Mostofthesystemfunctionsarebrieflydescribedbysubject withreferencestohowtoaccess each
functionandtheuserlevelrequiredtodoso.
Datacapture
Datacanbeenteredintothesystemviatheusermoduleorintranetwebfunctions.
Capture requires user level 4 and restrictions can be applied to determine what each user can
capture.
Daily data can be captured under menu option Capture / Capture daily data and detailed data
undermenu optionCapture/Capture detailed data. Captureof SYNOP messagesinFM12 format
under menu option Capture / Capture SYNOP messages / Capture SYNOP FM12 messages and
capture of SYNOP messages in CREX format under menu option Capture / Capture SYNOP
messages/CaptureSYNOPFM12messages.
Capture via the web module takes place in the MCH server http://servidormch/mch under the
Capturemenuoption.Thisoptioncanbeusedtocapturedetailedanddailydata.
Queryingdataongraphs
Queriesintablesandgraphsintheusermodulearetobefoundunderthesamefunction.
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Anyuserwithaccesstothesystemcanperformqueries.
FordailydatathereismenuoptionGraphs/Graphsdailydata,fordetaileddatathereisGraphs/
Graphs detailed data, for weekly data there is Graphs / Graphs weekly data, for dekadal data
thereis Graphs / Graphs dekadal data, for monthlydata there isGraphs/ Graphsmonthlydata
andforannualdatathereisGraphs/Graphsannualdata.
Comparativequeriescanbecarriedoutonuptosixvariablesperstationfor:
daily data several variables menu option Graphs / Comparative graphs several
variables/dailydataseveralvariables,
Comparativequeriescanbecarriedoutofupto6stationsforonevariablefor:
dailydataseveralstations menuoptionGraphs/Comparativegraphsseveral stations/
dailydataseveralstations,
Thereisalso ageneraltypeofquerythatcanbe appliedtoothertablesinthesystem orfor making
composite queries. The query graph can be exported to a graphics file and the query data can be
exportedtotextorspreadsheetfiles.
Allthedata queryfunctionshavetheoptiontoexport thedatato text files,commaseparatedvalue
(CSV)filesandspreadsheetfiles(upto65,535lines),intheformofthequeryoutput.Thereisalsoa
general way of exportingdata fromthetables in the system under menu option Capture / Export
datafromtables.
Thereis a function for locating stationsusing key combination <CtrlF2> and under menu option
Definitions/Stations/Stationlocator.
Dataqueriesinthewebmoduleareavailableinthe MCHserverhttp://servidormch/mchunder
menu option Data queries. This offers options for daily, detailed, monthly, annual, weekly and
dekadaldata.
Data graphsin the web module are availablein the MCH serverhttp://servidormch/mch under
menu option Graphs. This offers options for querying daily, detailed, monthly, annual, weekly and
dekadaldataingraphsandtables.
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Queryingdataonmaps
Thereare five type of queries on maps. To query data on maps on which the information is to be
displayed,mapshavetobepreparedbeforehand.
Queries on mapscanbe exported to a graphicsfileof the mapbeing represented. The data can be
exportedtotextorspreadsheetfiles.
Anyuserwithaccesstothesystemcanperformqueries.
Queryingdataonmapsbygeographicalpositiononimages.Thisisavailablefor:
dailydataundermenuoptionMaps/Dailydatamaps/Dailymapsbygeog.posn.,
detailed data under menu option Maps / Detailed data maps / Detailed maps by geog.
posn.,
weeklydataundermenuoptionMaps/Weeklydatamaps/Weeklymapsbygeog.posn.,
dekadal data under menu option Maps / Dekadal data maps / Dekadal maps by geog.
posn.,
monthly data under menu option Maps / Monthly data maps / Monthly maps by geog.
posn.and
annualdataundermenuoptionMaps/Annualdatamaps/Annualmapsbygeog.posn.
You first have to prepare an image that is georeferenced by means of two points or a set of
quadrilaterals.Thestationstoberepresentedhavetobedefinedasastationgroup.
Queryingdataonsketchesanddiagrams.Thisisavailablefor:
dailydataundermenuoptionMaps/Dailydatamaps/Dailymapssketch,
detaileddataundermenuoptionMaps/Detaileddatamaps/Detailedmapssketch,
weeklydataundermenuoptionMaps/Weeklydatamaps/Weeklymapssketch,
dekadaldataundermenuoptionMaps/Dekadaldatamaps/Dekadalmapssketch,
monthlydataundermenuoptionMaps/Monthlydatamaps/Monthlymapssketch,and
annualdataundermenuoptionMaps/Annualdatamaps/Annualmapssketch.
Whererepresentationonamapisinconvenientforsomereason,e.g.someofthemeasuringstations
are positioned very close together, a diagram or sketch can be prepared in an image file, with a
manual definition ofeach station onthemap. This optioncanbe usedwhenfor somereasonmaps
areavailableinmosaicsections.
Queryingdataonzonemaps.Thisisavailablefor:
dailydataundermenuoptionMaps/Dailydatamaps/Dailyzonemaps,
weeklydataundermenuoptionMaps/Weeklydatamaps/Weeklyzonemaps,
dekadaldataundermenuoptionMaps/Dekadaldatamaps/Dekadalzonemaps,
monthlydataundermenuoptionMaps/Monthlydatamaps/Monthlyzonemaps,and
annualdataundermenuoptionMaps/Annualdatamaps/Annualzonemaps.
Thisrequiresa DXF formatfile (nivel 12) tohavebeenpreparedbeforehand with a differentlayer
for eachzone(states,regions,departments,municipalities,etc.)andloaded using theDXFaMCH.exe
routine. Eachzone of the map can be associated with a station or a station group. The fill value of
eachzoneis thevalue ofthestationorstation group andisrepresented witha filltypeand colour
thatcanbedefinedforeachvaluerange.
Queryingdata on isoline maps. This is available for daily data under menu option Maps /Daily
datamaps/Dailyisolinemaps.Itworksbysummingadaterange,sothatitcanbeusedingeneral
for any period and summing can also be done by month or year to make averaged monthly and
annual isolines over a given period. The stations tobe represented have to be defined as a station
group.
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Querying data on maps by geographical position on vector maps (includes more than 40
geographicalprojectiontypes).MapsmaybetakenfromtheWorldDataBankWDBIIloadedas.mhc
files,special mapsin.mhcformat ormapsloadedusing theDXFaMCH.exeroutine. Thisisavailable
for:
dailydataundermenuoptionMaps/Dailydatamaps/Dailygeog.projnmaps.
detaileddataundermenuoptionMaps/Detaileddatamaps/Detailedgeog.projnmaps,
weeklydataundermenuoptionMaps/Weeklydatamaps/Weeklygeog.projnmaps,
dekadaldataundermenuoptionMaps/Dekadaldatamaps/Dekadalgeog.projnmaps,
monthlydataunder menu optionMaps /Monthly datamaps / Monthlygeog.projnmaps
and
annualdataundermenuoptionMaps/Annualdatamaps/Annualgeog.projnmaps.
Map queriesin webmode areavailable in the MCH server http://servidormch/mch under menu
option Maps. This offers optionsfor querying daily, detailed, monthly,annual, weekly and dekadal
datainmapsandtables.Mapsmustbedefinedasimagesgeoreferencedbytwopoints.
general way of exporting data fromthetables in the system under menuoption Capture / Export
datafromtables.
Importingandexportingdata
Thesefunctionsrequireuserlevel2or3.
There is a special data export function under menu option Capture / Export data tables for
generatingtextfilesfortransferringinformationtoothersystemsfrommostofthesystemtables.It
has options that canbe used toimportdata as a data backup facility. There is also a data import
function under menu option Capture / Import data from tables which can be used as an
alternative way of loading data from legacy sources or for interchanging information with other
institutionsthatisintherequiredformat.
Data can be updated between MCH servers using menu option Capture / Update data between
servers.
Performingcalculationsandeditingdata
Thesefunctionsrequireuserlevel2or3.
Detaileddataarethosewithafrequencyoflessthanoneday.Calculationofdailydatafromdetailed
data is used when data are available at regular intervals during the day, either from manual
procedures orfrom measurementsinautomaticstations. Theoption for calculatingdailydatafrom
detailed data is under menu option Edit and Calculations / Calculations / Calculate daily data
from detailed data. This calculation option is mainly designed for calculations of daily data from
automaticstationsandalsoforsomecasesofconventionalstations.
Usingdaily data it ispossible to calculate cumulative dailydata from the start of theyear; weekly,
dekadal, monthly and annual data can also be calculated. Daily, weekly, dekadal, monthly and
annual data can be used to calculate normals (or means if not all the conditions for normality
definedbyWMOaresatisfied)foranydesirednumberofperiods.Theoptiontocalculatebystation,
stationgroupsandzonesisundermenuoptionEditandCalculations/Calculations/Calculations
bystation,groupsandzones.
There are several mechanisms for editing data during capture. There are other mechanisms for
editing and displaying coded messages. To editdaily data using graphs, use menu optionEdit and
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Calculations / Edit data / Edit daily data with graphs. To edit data using alisting there is menu
optionEditandCalculations/Editdata/Editdailytextdata.
Consult SYNOP FM12 format messages under menu option Edit and Calculations / SYNOP
messages / SYNOP FM12 messages. Consult SYNOP CREX format messages under menu option
Edit and Calculations / SYNOP messages / SYNOP CREX messages. Consult METAR / SPECI
messagesundermenuoptionEditandCalculations/METAR/SPECImessages.
Exportingdatatotextfilesandspreadsheets
general way of exporting data from thetables in the system under menu option Capture / Export
datafromtables.
DefinitionsGeneraltables
Within the user module, the system administrator has several facilities for configuring the MCH
workingenvironment.
Thesefunctionsrequireuserlevel2.
Definingstations
General station data can be defined and edited under menu option Definitions /
Stations/Stations.
Automatic stations are defined by satellite identifier under menu option
Definitions/Stations/AutomaticstationsbysatelliteID.
Station groups are defined under menu option Definitions / Stations / Station
groups.
Definition of variable types associated with station types under menu option
Definitions/Stations/Stationtypes.
Capturefrom instruments bystationunder menuoptionDefinitions/Stations/
Instrumentsbystation.
Capture of metadata from stations under menu option Definitions / Stations /
Stationmetadata.
StationlocatorundermenuoptionDefinitions/Stations/Stationlocator.
Stationsonmaps.Thesefunctionsdefinehowstationsarelocatedonmaps,georeferencemapsor
defineprojectionsofvectormaps.
Defining the position of stations on sketches, diagrams or maps by direct location under
menuoptionDefinitions/Stations/Stationsonsketchmapordiagram.
Georeferencing northoriented maps, in orthogonal projections and linear proportions by
axisorlinearapproximations, menuoptionDefinitions/Stations/Stnsonmaps bygeog.
posn2point.
Georeferencing maps as an approximation by quadrilaterals, menu option Definitions /
Stations/Stnsonmapsbygeog.posnquadrilaterals.
Definingmapsbygeographicalprojection,menuoptionDefinitions/Stations/DefineMCH
andgeneralmaps.
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Definingvariables
Definingvariables and creatingdatatables associated withthenewvariables,menu option
Definitions/Variables/Variables.
Defining acceptable values for daily and detailed data, by station variable or generic by
variable,menuoptionDefinitions/Variables/Acceptablevalues.
Definingacceptablevalues for automatic stations,bystationvariableorgenericbyvariable,
menuoptionDefinitions/Variables/Acceptableautomaticvalues.
Definingchecksbyformulabyvariable,menuoptionDefinitions/Variables/Checks.
Definingchecksbyproximityof other stationsbyvariablestation,menuoptionDefinitions
/Variables/Proximitychecks.
Capturing conversion tables for derivedor converted variables, menuoptionDefinitions /
Variables/Conversiontables.
Defining derived variables by tables, menu option Definitions / Variables / Derived
variables.
Definingderivedvariablesby formulae,menuoptionDefinitions/Variables/Conversion
formulae.
Automatic stations are defined by satellite identifier under menu option Definitions /
Stations/AutomaticstationsbysatelliteID.
Defining automatic station variables for displayingon the web, menuoption Definitions /
Definitionsforweb/Variablesforautomaticstations.
DefiningdataforSYNOPCREX messages, menuoptionDefinitions/SYNOPCREX /SYNOP
CREXdata.
DefiningdatatemplatesforSYNOPCREXmessages,menuoptionDefinitions/SYNOPCREX
/SYNOPCREXtemplates.
Othertables
Defining Regional Management / Offices, menu options Definitions / Other tables /
Regionalmanagement.
Definingstates/provinces/departments,menuoptionsDefinitions/Othertables/States
departmentsprovinces.
Defining Municipalities / boroughs / parishes, menu option Definitions / Other tables /
Municipalities.
Definingcatchments,menuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/Catchments.
Definingsubcatchments,menuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/Subcatchments.
Defining hydrological regions, menu option Definitions / Other tables / Hydrological
regions.
Definingtimezones,menuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/Timezones.
Definingdataoriginsorsources,menuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/Datasources.
Definingunits,menuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/Units.
Transmissionandwebmanagement
Defining map options for presenting station information on the web, menu option
Definitions/Definitionsforweb/Intxxnetmapoptions.
Defining FTPtransmission options for station groups and daily and detailed datavariables
for transmission to other servers or sites, menu option Definitions /Transmissions /FTP
transmissionoptions.
Defining web addresses of FTP servers for data transmission, menu optionDefinitions
/Transmissions/FTPtransmissionaddresses.
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Chapter2.Usingthesystem
Thischapterexplainshowtousetheusermoduleintheclientserverenvironment.
2.1.Mainmenu
MCHBDisoperatedby means of asystem menuandanumberofsubmenustosendandexecutequeries
on maps, queries on graphs, capture and export / import of data, editing and calculation, and general
systemdatadefinitions.
Depending on the levelof the user, one or two toolbars are displayed with icons for directly accessing
someofthefunctionsavailableinthemenus.
Figure 1: Main menu

SystemfunctionsaremadeavailabletousersaccordingtothepermissionsleveloftheiruserID.
Usingthesystemmenus
Menus are used in line with the general rules common to all Windows applications. They are used by
pointing and clicking (clicking means pressing the left button of the pointing device in most cases a
mouse)overthedesiredoption.
The menus can also be used via the keyboard. When the menu options have an underlined letter (e.g.
File),this optioncanbeselected directlyby typingAltplusthatletter.Whenyou arein a submenu,type
theunderlinedletteraloneandthecursorwillgototheselectedsubmenuoption.
Thesystemhasthefollowingmenus:File,Maps,Graphs,Capture,Editandcalculations,Definitionsof
generalsystemtables,WindowandHelp.
Themainmenumapofthesystemfunctionsisasfollows:
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Figure 2: Map of system menus

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Accessingthesystem
Figure 3: Entering the user ID and password

When entering the system, the user is asked for an ID and password. The system can also be used in
consultationmodeonly.Accesstosystemfunctionsdependsontheleveloftheuser.
2.2.Filemenu
Figure 4: File menu

2.2.1.Printersetup
This function is used tosetup the main properties ofthe printer that the system will use for functions
requiringprintingfacilities.Thisoptionmakesuseoftheoperatingsystemsprintmanager.
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Figure 5: Printer configuration window

2.2.2.Exit
Exitthesystembyclickingonthe icononthemainsystemscreenorusingmenuoptionFile/Exit.
2.3.Mapsmenu
Figure 6: Maps menu

Queries in maps are similar for allperiods. The differences are slight in terms of the way in which the
dates are entered and thedefaultvalues for the colours oftherangesrepresentingthe measured values
fromthestations.
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Each query can be called manytimes by selectingthe menu option the desired number of times for the
samequery indifferentsituations.Whentoo manyscreens are opentheycanbeminimized;rollingover
themwiththemouseforafewsecondsdisplaysatooltipshowingfulldetailsofthequeryoption,station
and variable. The various open query windows can also be managed under the Window option of the
main menu. The Close all option closes all open windows. The number of queries is limited by the
operatingsystemmemoryandthephysicalmemoryinstalledinthecomputeronwhichyouareworking.
Maps are processed by building summaries between dates supplied, which means that this option can
offercalculationsthatarenotavailableelsewhereinMCH.
2.3.1.Mapsbygeographicalposition
Thisfunctionissimilarforqueryingdaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,monthlyandannualdata.Weexplain
ithere fordailydata,but theonlydifferencesforthe otherperiodslieinthewayinwhich thedates are
entered.
To represent something here you first have to prepare an image and define its georeferencing
coordinates.If itis an orthogonal projection and each axis is linear or approximately so, two points are
sufficient to georeference it under menu option Definitions / Stations / Stations on map by
geographical position,twopoints. Otherprojection types canbe approximatedusing quadrilaterals for
georeferencingunder menuoptionDefinitions/Stations/Stationsonmapbygeographicalposition,
fourpoints.
YoualsoneedtodefinethestationgroupunderDefinitions/Stations/Stationgroups.
Figure 7: Maps by geographical position 1.

Tomakeaqueryonamap,intheQuerytab:
1. IntheMapcombobox,selectthemaponwhichyouwanttorepresentdata.
2. IntheVariablecombobox,selectthevariabletoberepresented.
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3. Select the station group in the Station group combo box. When the map has been defined
previously, the station group associated with the map scrolls down when you leave the Map
combobox.
4. Ifyouwanttorepresentonlyonedate,enteronlyenddate.
5. Ifyouwanttorepresentaperiod,check thestartdate option andenterstartandend dates.
Ifyou want thedata tobe summed(oraveraged,dependinghowthevariablehasbeendefined),
checkthesummeddataoption.
6. When thevariable is of a typethatallowsextremedatasuch as temperature,mean, maximum or
minimumvaluescanberepresented.
7. Clickthequerybutton.
Figure 8: Maps by geographical position 2.

DisplayingstationdataAsyourollthe mousepointeroverthelocationofeachstation,thestationcode,
valueofthevariable,stationnameandgeographicalpositionaredisplayed.
Using the zoom. Inthemain map pane, clickdrag to draw adotted rectangle and show the zone in the
secondary map pane. To move to another place outside the secondary pane, clickdrag in the pane to
movethe position ofthe mapin thepane;thisredraws thedottedpanein the main map panetodisplay
thepartbeingshown.
Whenthedataarenotsummed, apair ofbuttons are activetomoveforwardandbackwardbetweentwo
consecutive periods, so that a single querycan contain many maps, for eachof the periods in the range.
Thesecontrolbuttonsaremarkedwiththe<and>symbols.
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Figure 9: Maps by geographical position 3.Colour ranges

DefiningcoloursandotherdataTheDefinitionstabintheupperpaneisusedtodefinethelimitvalues
of the ranges. For each defined range, the circle representing the position of the station on the map is
filledwith the colourcorresponding totherangein whichit falls.Sixrangescanbedefined.Ifyou want
fewerranges,forcethelimitofthelastdesiredrangewithaveryhighvalue.Doubleclickingonthecolour
box displaysthecolourselection palette of the operatingsystem.When selecting a colour, the colour is
showninaboxanditsvalueinhexadecimal.
Figure 10: Maps by geographical position 4.Colour selection

Exporting data. The Print and export data tab has options for exporting the map as a graphics file,
printingthescreeninitscurrentstateandforexportingdatatoa commaseparatedvalues(CSV)textfile
orspreadsheetfile.
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Figure 11: Maps by geographical position 5.Exporting data and printing.

Whenthe mapis tobe exported asa graphicsfile,accountis taken oftheHeading1 and "Heading2
data supplied and the header includes the variable data and the date of the data, and the codes of the
stations on the image are included.You have to provide the file extension to determinewhich format it
willbeconvertedinto.The.bmpformatisofferedbydefault.
Figure 12: Maps by geographical position 6.Map exported to a graphics file

When exporting to a text file, enter the name of the file in which you want to export the data.When
exportingtoa spreadsheet,youneedtohave Excelinstalled. The spreadsheetofthe exporteddataopens
inawindowandtheuserhastosaveit.
Precipitation 2003/07/27
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Figure 13: Maps by geographical position 7. Data exported to a text file
Figure 14: Maps by geographical position 8. Data exported to a spreadsheet

2.3.2.Maps.Sketchesordiagrams
Thisfunctionissimilarforqueryingdaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,monthlyandannualdata.Weexplain
ithere fordailydata,but theonlydifferencesforthe otherperiodslieinthewayinwhich thedates are
entered.
To represent somethinghere you first have toprepare an image anddefinetheposition ofeach station
usingmenuoptionDefinitions/Stations/Stationsonmaps,sketchesordiagrams.
Themapworksinasimilarwaytothegeographicalposition.
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Figure 15:Maps.Diagrams or sketches

2.3.3.Zonemaps
This functionis similarfor queryingdaily, weekly,dekadal, monthly and annualdata.We explainithere
fordailydata,buttheonlydifferencesfortheotherperiodslieinthewayinwhichthedatesareentered.
A zone is a closed polygon shaded with a fill type and colour.The map has to be loadedinto the system
from a DXF level 12 file using the DXFaMCH.exe routine. The value of a station or station group is
associatedwitheachzone.
Inthetoppanetherearethreetabsdefiningthequerycriteria.
IntheQuerytab:
1. IntheMapcombobox,selectthemaponwhichyouwanttorepresentdata.
3. Ifyouwanttorepresentonlyonedate,enteronlyenddate.
4. Ifyouwanttorepresentaperiod,checkthestartdateoptionandenterstartandenddates.If
you want the data to be summed (or averaged, depending how the variable has been defined),
checkthesummeddataoption.
5. Whenthevariableisofatypethatallowsextremedatasuchastemperature,themean,maximum
orminimumvaluescanberepresented.
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Figure 1: Zone maps 1.

IntheDefinitionstab:
6. Selecttheranges,fillcolours(doubleclickoneachcolourbox)andthefilltype.
Figure 2: Zone maps 2.Defining colours and fills

IntheDefinitionstab:
7. Selectthe associatedzoneorstation foreachzoneofthe map. Toassociate adatumwith azone,
click on the zone intheZones / Station groups pane, then doubleclick on the station group in
oneoftheStationgrouporStationspanes.
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Figure 3: Zone maps 1.Defining stations or station groups by zone

8. IntheQuerytab,clicktheQrybutton.
Figure 4: Zone maps 1.Defining stations or station groups by zone

Using the zoom.In the main map pane, clickdrag to draw a dotted rectangle and show the zone in the
secondarymappane.Tomovetoanotherplaceoutsidethesecondarypane,clickdraginthepanetomove
thepositionofthemapinthepane;thisredrawsthedottedpaneinthemainmappanetodisplaythepart
beingshown.
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Exporting data. The Print and export data tab has options for exporting the map as a graphics file,
printingthescreeninitscurrentstateandforexportingdatatoa commaseparatedvalues(CSV)textfile
orspreadsheetfile.
2.3.4.Isolinesonmaps
Thisfunctionisavailablefordailydata.Themapisbuiltonthebasisoftheglobalcartographyavailablein
NetCDF format, using the Generic Mapping Tools and GhostScript routines. A detailed explanation of
someof theparametersforgeneratingmaps canbe foundinthedocumentationoftheGeneric Mapping
Toolsroutines.
YoualsoneedtodefinethestationgroupunderDefinitions/Stations/Stationgroups.
Figure 5: Isoline maps 1.
Inthetoppanetherearethreetabsdefiningthequerycriteria.
IntheQuerytab:
1. SelectthenameofthemapintheMapcombobox.Thefirsttimeyouuseit,youhavetokeyinthe
mapname.Inthiscase,thedefinition willbe constructedonthebasisof theparameterssupplied
later.
3. IntheStationgroup combobox,selectthestationgroup tobeusedtogenerate theisolinesmap
(isohyets,isotherms,isobars,etc.).
4. Enterthestartandend datesandcheckthestartdateoption.Ifthedataaretorelate to one
dayonly,justentertheenddateanddonotcheckthestartdateoption.
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Figure 21: Isoline maps 2.Query 2 tab.

IntheQuery2tab:
5. SelectthedesiredcoloursetoptionfromtheColourscombobox.
6. IntheJPGresolutioncombobox,selectthedesirednumberofdotsperinchinthefinalmap.
7. SelectthedesiredisolinemaptypefromtheMaptypecombobox.
8. KeyinHeading1toidentifythemap.
Figure 6: Isoline maps 3.Isoline data 1 tab.

ThedefaultdataintheIsolinedata1tabwillsuitmanycases,butcanbeeditedasrequired.
9. TheDegreeformatoptionoffersfivealternativesforidentifyingthegeographicalcoordinateson
themap.
10. Thefontoptionsaremeasuredinpoints;type anumber followedbyp(nospace),e.g."10p for
10point.Apointis1/72ndofaninch.TheoptionsareLabelfont,HeadingfontandAnnotations
font.
11. The mean values cell is a fraction of a degree. If you want any value tobe properly preserved,
without being averaged fordrawing isolines, 0.001 is recommended. Since the cell of values for
areadependsonthesizeofthegeographicalarea,asuitablevaluemaybe0.01or0.001.
12. Line thickness is measured in points. The options are International boundaries, State
boundariesandRivers.
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13. The smoothing level of plotted lines is the polynomial degree of the curves. A value of 4 is
recommended.
14. Annotationspacingismeasuredininches.Thevalue2i/4isrecommended.
15. Colours are defined as three numbers between 0 and 255 separated by slashes, in which each
elementdefinespartofthecolourinRGB(red/green/blue)format.Youcanuseadrawing toolto
checkthe composition of adesiredcolour(e.g.inPaint,doubleclickonacolour andthenDefine
customcolours).TheoptionsareRivercolourandSeacolour.
Figure 23: Isoline maps 4.Isoline data 2 tab.

ThedefaultdataintheIsolinedata2tabwillsuitmanycases,butcanbeeditedasrequired.
16. TheGeographicalregion isdefinedbyfourpointsboundingthezone tobecoveredbythemap
and separated by / without spaces in between. Data are to be supplied in the form
minimum_longitude/maximum_longitude/minimumlatitude/maximum_latitude.Examples:
118/86/14/33 (meaning 188W/86W/14N/33N) and 58.5/53/35/30 (meaning
58.5W/53W/35S/30S).
17. Linethicknessismeasuredin points. The options are Annotatedisolines,Standardisolines and
Plottingline.
18. Colours are defined as three numbers between 0 and 255 separated by slashes, in which each
elementdefinespartofthecolourinRGB(red/green/blue)format.Youcanuseadrawing toolto
check thecompositionof a desiredcolour(e.g.inPaint,doubleclick on acolourandthenDefine
customcolours).TheoptionsareAnnotatedisolinescolourandStandardisolinescolour.
19. Plottingaxesdefineshowmanystepsthereareonthelinesandhowoftentheyaremarkedonthe
axes.Examplesare1d1foreverydegreeand5d5foreveryfivedegrees.
20. Theselectedplottingvaluedeterminesthespacing oftheisolines. The main oneisthevaluethat
will be annotated on the isoline, while the secondary one is plotted but without the associated
values.Itisanumber. The optionsareAnnotatedspacing andStandard spacing: Examples are
20and10.
21. Headingdataareconstanttodefinethepositionoftheheadingsonthemap.Itisrecommendedto
change only thefirst two entries toadjustthepositionasrequired. ThefirstpositionisX and the
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secondis Y (positions are measuredininches onthe paper withthe axisat thebottomleft). The
thirdentryisthefontsizeinpoints, e.g.3.07.2180.016. TheoptionsareHeading1 dataand
Heading2data.
22. TheValuecomboboxdetermineswhetherthevalue(ormean),maximumorminimumisshown.
23. Afterselecting the perspective map typein the Query tab,theoptions Projection angle and
Projectionheightappear.Werecommendvaluesof180/70and4respectively.
Figure 24:Isoline maps 5.Isoline data 3 tab

IntheIsolinedata3tab:
24. The paper and size are defined as P (portrait) or L (landscape).The paper size should not
exceed9inches,astheroutinesalwaysleaveamarginatthebottomleft ofthepaper.The mapis
scaled inaccordance with the value set here. Since the proportion ofthe maps varies depending
on the selected geographical region, we recommended adjusting the map bytrial and error. The
mapdefinitionisstoredinthedatabase.
25. IntheQuerytab,clicktheQrybutton.
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Figure 25: Isoline maps 6.Area option.

As the mapsarebeing prepared, a file oftypexxx.batiscreated,containing the commandsrequired to
produce the map, where xxx isthename of the map. You can use itto generate special editions of the
mapsproducedthatarebeyondthescopeofMCHbutcanbemadewithinGMTTools.
2.3.5.Mapsbygeographicalprojection
This function is similar for querying daily, detailed, weekly, dekadal, monthly and annual data by
geographicalposition.
Torepresentsomethinghereyoufirsthavetodefineamapbygeographicalprojectionusingmenuoption
Definitions/Stations/DefineMCHandgeneralmaps.
Inthe mapcombobox, maps withtheprefixGrefertomapsin the globaldatabase and those withprefix
HrefertothespecialMCHtype.Otherwise,mapsworksinasimilarwaytothegeographicalposition.
2.4.Graphsmenu
Queries on graphs also produce data tables. Queries work in a similar way for all period types: daily,
detailed,weekly,dekadal, monthly andannualdata. Thedifferenceslie onlyinthe wayin whichthedata
areentered.
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Figure 26:Graphs menu

2.4.1Graphsofdaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,monthlyandannualdata
There are two types of daily data. Daily data with a single value for the day, such as precipitation or
evaporation, and daily data with extreme values for each day, plus the mean value such as air
temperature. This latter category also includes other variables such as barometric pressure, and a few
others where whenreported manuallyprobablyonlya singlevalueiskeptbutifmeasuredby automatic
stationstheextremevalues,suchasthelevelofariverordam,areavailable.
The detailed data are entered into the system by capture, capture of SYNOP data, loading data from
automaticstationsordigitizingtapes.
Dailydataareenteredintothesystembycaptureoraregeneratedbycalculationsfromdetaileddata.
Monthly,annual,weekly anddekadaldataarecalculatedfromdailydataunderthe optionCalculationof
databystation,grouporzone.
This type of query shows only existingdata. When queries are by station group and one station has no
data,itappearsinthedatatableonlyonce.
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Figure 27:Graphs 1.
Inthetoppaneofthewindowthereisacontrolwithseveraltabswhereyoudefinethedataquery.
Torunaquery,intheQuerytab:
1. IntheVariablecombobox,selectthevariabletobeplotted.
2. In the Station group combo box, select the station group for which you want to plot one or all
stations. Stationgroupsare a simple list of stations identifiedbyname and defined under menu
optionDefinitions/Stations/Stationgroups.
3. Ifallstationsinthegrouparetobeplotted,checktheoptionAllstationsingroup.Usethisoption
withcareasif the group isverylargeorifdatais suppliedby automaticstations, the querymay
generate a large amount of data and may exceed the memory available in the computer for
displaying information,andmaytake alongtime. Aslongas the query producesno more than 2
milliondata,plottingwilltakeareasonabletime.
4. Key the start and end dates into the boxes provided for year, month and day of each date. For
detaileddata,timeanddatearealsotobeentered.
5. ClicktheQrybutton.
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Figure 28: Graphs menu

IntheGraphoptionstab,youcanalsoselecttheBarchartoptionforabarchartratherthanalinegraph.
Othergraphtypescanbeselectedfromthegraphscontextualmenu.
Normalvaluescanalsobeincludediftheyhavebeencalculated.Wherethereismorethanonecalculated
normal,thefirstavailableoneisshown.
Two reference constants can also be included, for example to define a maximum and minimum value,
whichcanbeused,forexampleinthecaseofwaterstoredindams.
Figure 29:Graphs menu

The Cumulative graphoption, specially designedforvariables such as precipitation, allows you to plot
thecumulativevalue.
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You canalsoplot onlyvaluesbetweentheextremevaluesdefinedbytheMinimumvalue and Maximum
valueoptions,bycheckingtheoptionnexttotheminimumvalue.

The Export data tab contains options for exporting data to commaseparated value (CSV) text files and
spreadsheetfiles,whichworksonlyifExcelisinstalledonthecomputerrunningthesoftware.
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Usinggraphs.Clickdraginthegraphpanetozoomthegraph.
Rightclickinginthebodyofthegraphdisplaysacontextualmenuthatoffersawiderangeofadjustments
totheappearanceofthegraphandallowsthegraphtobeexportedtoavarietyoffiletypes.

The Viewing Style option is used to change the general appearance and colours of the graph. The
BorderStyle optionisused to adjustthetype ofborderof the graph. The FontSizeoptionisused to
alter the size of the characters. Since the graphing library automatically adjusts the appearance of the
graph depending on the area available, this option allows only ageneric selection of small, medium or
largecharacters. The NumericPrecisionoptionallows youto define from 0 to 3 decimal places. The
DataShadowscanbeusedtoshadowthedata.Thisoptionisusefulwhentherearefewdataonthegraph
anditcanbedonewithoutshadows,withshadowsor3Dlook.ThePlottingMethodoptionallowsyouto
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selectthe overallplottingtype.Wherethereare severaldata series,you can adjusteachoneindividually
using the Customization dialogue option. The Grid Options allowyou todefine various kinds of XY
grid.WiththePointLabelOrientationoptionyoucansettheorientationofthelabellingofthepointson
the horizontal axis to vertical, horizontal or inclined, and automatic, selected by the library. Using the
Graph/Tableoptionyoucandisplayeitherthegraphorthetableorboth.
The Maximize optionshows the graphinfullscreen mode.TheCustomizationDialog...optionallows
adjustmentofmanymoreaspectsofthegraph.WiththeExportDialogoptionyoucanprintthegraphor
exportittoagraphicsfileoftypebmp,jpg,pngormetafile.
2.4.2Graphscomparingseveralvariablesfordaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,
monthlyandannualdata
Graphscomparingseveralvariablescanshowuptosixvariablesfromastationbetweenthestartandend
datessupplied,forthevarioustypesofdataperiodsavailableintheMCHsystem.
otherswhere,whenreportedmanually,probablyonlyasinglevalueiskept,butifmeasuredbyautomatic
The generation of the table of data and their representation on the graph covers all the time defined
betweenthestartand enddates withincrementsof oneperiod, depending on thetype of queryselected
(daily,detailed,monthly,annual,weekly,dekadal)andintheperiodsinwhichthereisnodataareshown
inthedatatablewithvalue9999andnodataareshownonthegraph.
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Figure 34: Graphs several variables 1

1. IntheStngroupcomboboxselectthestationgroupcontainingthestationtobeplotted.Station
groupsareasimplelistofstationsidentifiedbynameanddefinedundermenuoptionDefinitions
/Stations/Stationgroups.
2. IntheStationscombobox,selectthestationtobeplotted.
3. In the Station type combo box, select the station type. This defines the list of stations to be
plottedandinsertsthemintotherighthandlistofVariablesforplotting.Iftherearemorethan
sixvariables,onlythefirstsixwillbeplotted.
4. Ifnecessary,selectedthevariablestobeincludedinthequeryfromthelistsunderVariablesfor
plotting.Usethecommandbuttons>toselectavariable,<todeselectavariable,<<toclear
theselectedvariablesordoubleclickontheliststotransferthevariabletotheotherlist.
In the Graph options tab,you can also select the Bar chart option for a bar chart rather than a line
graph.Othergraphtypescanbeselectedfromthegraphscontextualmenu.
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Figure 35: Graphs several variables 2

thecumulativevalue.
2.4.3Graphscomparingseveralstationsfordaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,
monthlyandannualdata
Graphscomparingseveralvariablescanshowuptosixvariablesfromastationbetweenthestartandend
datessupplied,forthevarioustypesofdataperiodsavailableintheMCHsystem.
otherswhere,whenreportedmanually,probablyonlyasinglevalueiskept,butifmeasuredbyautomatic
The generation of the table of data and their representation on the graph covers all the time defined
betweenthestartand enddates withincrementsof oneperiod, depending on thetype of queryselected
(daily,detailed,monthly,annual,weekly,dekadal)andintheperiodsinwhichthereisnodataareshown
inthedatatablewithvalue9999andnodataareshownonthegraph.
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Figure 36: Graphs several stations 1

1. Select the station group in the Station group combo box. Station groups are a simple list of
stations identified by name and defined under menu option Definitions / Stations / Station
groups.
2. SelectthestationstobeincludedinthequeryinthelistsundertheoptionStationsforplotting.
Iftherearemorethansixvariables,onlythefirstsixwillbeplotted.Usethecommandbuttons>
to selecta station, < to deselect a station, << to clear the selectedstations or doubleclick on
theliststotransferthestationtotheotherlist.
3. IntheVariablecombobox,selectthevariabletobeplotted.
IntheGraphoptionstab,youcanalsoselecttheBarchartoptionforabarchartratherthanalinegraph.
Othergraphtypescanbeselectedfromthegraphscontextualmenu.
thecumulativevalue.
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2.4.4Generalqueries.Graphs.
Thegeneral queryinMCHisdesignedtoproducerelationshipsbetweenthedataandtheperformanceof
some simple calculations that are not specifically programmed into the system. It is a general tool for
plotting those data and exporting them to another application or study to be conducted onthebasis of
dataintheMCH,withtheaimofsimplifyingdatapreparation.
General queries can be run on any database table. The function offers a simplified way of building the
query. If you need to build a special query, see the MySQL database documentation, notably the Select
statementandthefunctionsthatcanbeusedwithit.
Figure 37: General query 1.

You build the query in the box Select instruction to the database. The Select instruction is built by
selectingitemsfromtheVariable,Stationgroup,StationandSelectbyexamplecomboboxesand
theGraphtypeandDatatypesoptionboxes,andcanbeediteddirectlyafterwardsifneeded.
Figure 38: General query 3.Select by example options

The Select by example combo box offers ten alternatives. Three queries by station group (Group
Variable, GroupMaximumminimum and GroupSummean), six queries by station (StationVariable,
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StationMaximumminimum, StationSummean, StationLeveldamarea, StationLevelstoredvolume and
StationLevelriverflow)andonequeryforlocatingstationsneartoapoint.
Tomakeaquerybystation.
TheSelectinstructiontodatabasepanewilladapttoyourselections.
SelectthevariableintheVariablecombobox.
SelectthestationgroupcontainingthestationfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
SelectthestationfromtheStationcombobox.
SelectoneoftheoptionsforqueryingbystationfromtheSelectbyexamplecombobox:
o Stationvariableplotsthevariableforthestation.
o Stationmaximumminimum plots the maximum and minimum values for the station. This
optionismainlydesignedtoplotairtemperaturedata.
o Stationmean sum. This plots the sum or mean depending on the variable type, e.g. for
precipitationitplotsthesumandfortemperatureitplotsthemean.
o StationlevelDamAreaandLevelStoredVolumearedesignedforstationsatdamsorlakes.
o LevelRiverFlowisdesignedforhydrometerstationsinwatercoursesorcanals.
Keythestartandenddatesintotheboxesprovidedforyear,monthandday.
SelectGraphtype.
o Bar chartsarenormallyused fordiscretevariablessuchasprecipitation.Ifyouselectthis
type ofgraphandtheCumulativegraphoptionischecked,a second Yaxisdisplays the
cumulativevaluesofthevariable.
o Linegraphsareusuallyusedforcontinuousvariablessuchastemperatureandlevel.
o XYGraphsaredesignedtoshowstationsnearapoint.
SelectDatatypes.Thesemaybedaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,monthlyorannual.
ClicktheQrybutton.
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Figure 39: General query 3.By station.

Graphsworkasexplainedpreviously.
Toquerybystationgroup
SelectthevariableintheVariablecombobox.
SelectthestationgroupcontainingthestationfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
SelectoneoftheoptionsforqueryingbystationgroupfromtheSelectbyexamplecombobox:
o Groupvariableplotsthevariableforeachstationinthegroup.
o Groupmaximumminimumplotsthemaximumandminimumvaluesforeachstationinthe
group.
o Groupsum mean. This plots the sum or mean depending on the variable type, e.g. for
precipitationitplotsthesumandfortemperatureitplotsthemean.
Keythestartandenddatesintotheboxesprovidedforyear,monthandday.
SelectGraphtype.
o Bar chartsarenormallyused fordiscretevariablessuchasprecipitation.Ifyouselectthis
type ofgraphandtheCumulativegraphoptionischecked,a second Yaxisdisplays the
cumulativevaluesofthevariable.
o Linegraphsareusuallyusedforcontinuousvariablessuchastemperatureandlevel.
SelectDatatypes.Thesemaybedaily,detailed,weekly,dekadal,monthlyorannual.
ClicktheQrybutton.
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Figure 40 :General query 4.By station group.

Tolocatestationsneartoapoint.
FromtheSelectbyexamplecombobox,selecttheoptionstationsneartoapoint.
Supply the geographical coordinates in DDD.dddddd format of the point at which you want to
searchforstationsintheLongitudeandLatitudeoptions.
ClicktheQrybutton.
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Figure 41: General query 5.Stations near to a point.
You can make other general queries by keyingdirectly into the Select instruction to databasebox. For
the query to work properly you also have to enter the Xdatum and Ydatumvaluesto be plotted. Some
examplesaregivenbelow.
Example1.Toobtaintheprecipitationrecordedoveraperiodatastation:
Select SUM(value) as sum, station from ddPrecipitation where station =
UYLPZBS and date >= 19981001 and date <= 19981015
Example2.Toobtainthemaximumprecipitationrecordedoveraperiodatastation:
Select SUM(value) as maximum, station from ddPrecipitation where station =
BOCHXSI and date >= 19981001 and date <= 19981015
Example3.Toobtaintheminimumtemperaturerecordedoveraperiodatastation:
Select MIN(value) as minimum, station from deAirTemp where station =
ECAMSCL and date >= 19981001 and date <= 19981015
Example4.Toobtainthetotalvolumeofwaterremovedbyoutletoveraperiodatadam(extractionisin
m
3
/s):
Select SUM(value)* 0.0864 as extracted, station from deOutlet where station
= CHICP and date >= 19981001 and date <= 19981031
Example5.Toobtainthedailyprecipitationrecordedoveraperiodatastation:
Select station, date, value from ddPrecipitation where station = SDACAGR
and date >= 19981001 and date <= 19981031
Example6.Toobtainthecodesandnamesofstationsinastationgroup:
Select t1.station, t1.stationname from stations as t1, stngroup as t2 where
t2.stngroup = UYCLIM and t1.station = t2.station
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Example to obtain the mean temperatures of each station in a group, with station codes and names,
recordedonagivendate:
Select t1.station, t1.stationname, t2.value from stations as t1, deAirTemp
as t2, stngroup as t3 where t3.stngroup = SVCLIM and t1.station =
t3.station and t2.station = t3.station
Example 8. To obtain the mean precipitation, maximum precipitation in a day, the cumulative
precipitationateachstationforstationswithcodesbeginningthesameduring1998:
Select station, avg(value) as AV, max(value) as MX, sum(value) as SM from
dePrecipitation where station like UY% and year(date)=1998 group by
station
Example9.Toobtainthemeanriverflow,maximumriverflowinadayforeachofthestationswithcodes
beginningthesame:
deRiverFlow where station like BO% and year(date)=1998 group by station
Example 10. To obtain the mean precipitation, maximum precipitation in a day, and cumulative
precipitation at each station with identical characters somewhere in the station code but not at the
beginning:
dePrecipitation where station like ___GR% and date>=19981001 and
date<=19981015 group by station
precipitationateachstationforstationsofastationgroupdefinedinMCHduringaperiod:
Select t1.station, avg(value) as AV, max(value) as MX, sum(value) as SM
from dePrecipitation as t1, stngroup as t2 where t2.stngroup=PRCLIM and
t1.station = t2.station and t1.date>=19981001 and t1.date<=19981015
group by t1.station
precipitationateachstationforseveralstationgroupsdefinedinMCHduringaperiod:
Select t1.station, avg(value) as AV, max(value) as MX, sum(value) as SM
from dePrecipitation as t1, stngroup as t2 where t2.stngroup=UYCLIM or
t2. stngroup =ECCLIM and t2. stngroup =BOCLIM) and t1.station =
t2.station and t1.date>=19981001 and t1.date<=19981015 group by
t1.station
precipitation ateachstation forseveralstation groupsdefinedinMCH during a period, wherethe query
has the full name of the station and a name composed of the code and a part of the description to be
insertedinthegraphasanidentifier:
Select t1.station, t3.stationname, concat(t1.station, -,
mid(t3.stationname,1,15)) as STT, avg(value) as AV, max(value) as MX,
sum(value) as SM from dePrecipitation as t1, stngroup as t2, stations as t3
where t2.stngroup=UYCLIM or t2.stngroup =PYCLIM and t2.stngroup
=BOCLIM) and t1.station = t2.station and t1.date>=19981001 and
t1.date<=19981015 group by t1.station
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Inexamples8to13,adatuminthequeryisidentifiedbyanalias(asSMforinstance), sothatthedatum
can be plotted. Thus in text box Y datum you can enter SM and in text box X datum you can enter
station,andrepeatthequerysothatittakesaccountofthereferenceswhenbuildingthegraph.
2.5.Capturemenu
Thismenucontainstheoptionsforcapturingdailyanddetaileddata,capturingSYNOPmessagesinFM12
andCREXformats,exportingandimportingdataandupdatingdatabetweenMCHservers.
Figure 42: Capture menu

2.5.1Capturingdailydata
Conventional (manned)measuringstations offer measurementsof thedailytypeorseveraltimes aday.
Wherethe measurementcriteriaarenotuniformthroughouttheday,werecommend obtainingthedaily
valuesdirectlyfromthemeasurementsmadeduringtheday.
IntheMCHsystemdailydataarekeptintwotypesoftables,oneforsimpledailydatasuchasevaporation
andprecipitation(inthesystemthesetableshavetheprefixdd)andanotherforvariableswithextreme
values such as air temperature andpressure (in thesystem thesetables have theprefixde).Depending
on the variable selected for capture, one datum or three (mean, maximum and minimum) have to be
entered. If the variable is of type de and it has a number 3 in the abbreviated name in its definition,
threedatahavetobeenteredat capture.Thecodeforeachvariablealsohastobeentered, whichmaybe
usedtoobserveadatumatcapture,forexamplebyenteringTorTraceforatraceofprecipitation.
Itispossibletocapturefromonetotenvariablesperstationorforastationgroup.
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Figure 43: Capturing daily data 1.

Tocapturedatafromastation:
SelectthestationforwhichdataistobecapturedoreditedfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
Enterthestartandenddatesintothetextboxesfortherelevantyear,monthandday.
In the Station type combo box, select the station type and it will flag the variables and the
capture order, or select the variables to be captured (1 to 10) in the variables for capture
combo box. From the second variable onwards, you have to check the option to the left of the
comboboxsothatitisincludedduringcapture.
ClicktheQrybutton.
Enterthedatafortherelevantdatesandvariablesinthetableshowingthedata.Wheretheywere
capturedpreviously,thedatawillbeupdatediftheyhavechanged.
Tocapturedatafromastationgroup:
ChecktheoptionAllstationsingroup
Enterthestartandenddatesintothetextboxesfortherelevantyear,monthandday.
ClicktheQrybutton.
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Enter the data of the dates and variables for each station in the table showing the data. Where
theywerecapturedpreviously,thedatawillbeupdatediftheyhavechanged.
Figure 44: Capturing daily data 2.

As the numbers are entered during capture, the data are checked against the values defined in
Acceptablevalues,whichmustsatisfyarelationofthefollowingtype:
min_value<=alert1min<=alert2min<=alert2max<=alert1max<=max_value
Datawithavaluebelowtheminimumor abovethe maximumwillnotbeloadedintothedatabase.Other
values are marked with various colours to indicate an alert level. When the value entered satisfies the
relationship
alert2min<=value<=alert2max
itisregardedasnormalandisnotobserved.
When you have finished entering information, click on the Save data button to store the
captureddatainthedatabase.
Otheradditionalchecks,asdefinedbytheformulaeinChecks,are madewhenthedatabaseisloaded. A
window reportstherecords rejected or observed and the sums by column of the data in the dataentry
grid.
When the data are displayed they can be exported to commaseparatedvalue (CSV)text orspreadsheet
files.
2.5.2Capturingdetaileddata
Detailed data in the MCH system are those reported with a frequency of less than one day. There are
conventionalstationsthatmeasureseveraltimesadaythroughoutthedayandotherswhichmakeonlya
few measurements a day. Automatic stations make measurements regularly throughout the day. All
measurementsarecapturedinthesetables.Datafromautomatic stations arenormallyenteredbyother
means (a special routine connected to the automatic receiver which loads the data directly into the
database).Wherethedataenteredarealreadyavailable,thisfunctionchangesthemwherenecessary.
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Itisalsopossibletoentersporadic measurementshere,forwaterquality,groundwater orothertypesof
specialmeasurements.
Figure 45: Capturing detailed data. Manned and automatic stations

The detailed data table shows the input value and the corrected value. This is because the values
measured for example by sensors of level changes in automatic stations, in various circumstances,
haveto be adjusted.The data source is also recorded. The value handled bythesystemis the corrected
one.Formannedstations,itisonlynecessarytosupplythevalueofthevariable,thecapturefunction,the
corrected datum and data origin if they are missing. The corrected value should be the same as the
originaldataandthedataoriginissetto"Cuser".
Tocapturedetaileddatafromastation:
Enter the start and end dates into the text boxes for the relevantyear, month, day, hour and
minute.
Enter the desired interval at which data are to be presented (normally 60 minutes for
conventionalstations).
ClicktheQrybutton.
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Enter the data for the relevant dates and variables in the table showing the data, as available.
Wheretheywerecapturedpreviously,thedatawillbeupdatediftheyhavechanged.
ClicktheSavedatabuttontosavethedatacapturedinthedatabase.
Similarly,datacanbecapturedforstationgroups,checkingtheoptionAllstationsingroup.
As the numbers are entered during capture, the data are checked against the values defined in
Acceptablevalues,whichmustsatisfyarelationofthefollowingtype:
Datawithavaluebelowtheminimumor abovethe maximumwillnotbeloadedintothedatabase.Other
values are marked with various colours to indicate an alert level. When the value entered satisfies the
relationship
itisregardedasnormalandisnotobserved.
When you have finished entering information, click on the Save data button to store the
captureddatainthedatabase.
Otheradditionalchecks,asdefinedbytheformulaeinChecks,are madewhenthedatabaseisloaded. A
window reportstherecords rejected or observed and the sums by column of the data in the dataentry
grid.
When the data are displayed they can be exported to commaseparatedvalue (CSV)text orspreadsheet
files.
2.5.3CapturingSYNOPmessagesinFM12format
The coding of SYNOP messages is specified in the WMO Manual on Codes. SYNOP messages can be
generatedeverythreehours.
This functioncanbeused tocapturedataviacomboboxes where thevaluehas tobetakenfromatable
andviatextboxesforenteringdata.Whenthemessagedefinitioniscomplete,ithastobeencodedsothat
itcanbesavedintheMCHdatabase.
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Figure 46: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages. 1.

TocaptureaSYNOPFM12message:
Enterthedateandtimeintothetextboxesfortherelevantyear,month,dayandtime.
ClicktheQrybutton.If a messagehasalreadybeen captured,itisdisplayedanddecodedin the
relevantfields.
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Figure 47: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages.2.

Enterthedata that makeup the messageineachofthe three tabsSection 1,part1,Section 1,
part2andSection3.
Figure 48: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages.3.

Click the Encode msg. button to encode the message, then make any necessary adjustments
directly in the encoded message box and click the Save data button to save the changes. The
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message is saved in a table of encoded messages and each of the variables is loaded into the
relevantdetaileddatatables.
2.5.4CapturingSYNOPmessagesinCREXformat
The coding of SYNOP messages is specified in the WMO Manual on Codes. SYNOP messages can be
generatedeverythreehours.
This functioncanbeused tocapturedataviacomboboxes where thevaluehas tobetakenfromatable
andviatextboxesforenteringdata.Whenthemessagedefinitioniscomplete,ithastobeencodedsothat
itcanbesavedintheMCHdatabase.
CREX is a very comprehensive encoding type that even allows the message to be composed entirely of
automaticcontent.ThecurrentimplementationinMCHisbasedontheD07089templateoption.Thedata
ofCREXmessagesaredefinedinSYNOPCREXdataandthetemplateinSYNOPCREXtemplates.
Figure 49: Capturing SYNOP CREX messages 1.

TocaptureaSYNOPFM12message:
Enterthedateandtimeintothetextboxesfortherelevantyear,month,dayandtime.
ClicktheQrybutton.If a messagehasalreadybeen captured,itisdisplayedanddecodedin the
relevantfields.
Enterthedatadefiningthe messageineach oftabsPart1andPart2.Thedataonthe altitude
oftheinstrumentsshouldhavebeenenteredundermenuoptionInstrumentsbystation.
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Figure 50 :Capturing SYNOP CREX messages 2.

Click the Encode msg. button to encode the message, then make any necessary adjustments
directly in the encoded message box and click the Save data button to save the changes. The
message is saved in a table of encoded messages and each of the variables is loaded into the
relevantdetaileddatatables.
2.5.5Exportingdatafromtables
Datafromthevariablesforeachstationandotherdefinitiontablesinthesystemcanbeexported.
Dataisexportedinthreedifferentformats,alltextfiles.
1. Commaseparatedvalue(.CSV)textfiles.
2. Tabseparatedtextfiles(.TXT).
3. AspecialfiletypeforinterchangingdatabetweenMCHservers(.mch).
Toexportdatafromstationvariables:
1. Select Type of data to export. The data can relate to the following periods: daily, detailed,
weekly, dekadal, monthly and annual. They can also be the following types of normal or mean
data:daily,weekly,dekadal,monthlyandannual.
2. Enterthestartandenddates.Dateoptionswilldependonthetypeofdataselected:year,year
month.yearmonthdayoryearmonthdayhourminute.
3. SelectfromtheStationgroupcombobox.Thisoffersadropdownlistofstationsinthegroupin
thelefthandboxofstationlists. Usingthe>,>>,<and <<buttons,select the stations for
whichyouwishtoexportdata.
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4. Select the variable(s) tobe exported fromthelefthand list Variable for export using the >,
>>,<and<<buttons.
5. SelectoutputFiletype.
6. Click the Export data button. Enter the name of the file and its location in a directory
(folder).Thesystemreportsthenumberofrecordsexported.
Figure 51: Exporting data 1.
Toexportdatafromothertables:
1. Select Other tables as the Type of data for export. A list of available tables appears at the
bottomleft.Youcanselectonlyonetableatatime.
2. Selectthetableforexportusingthe>buttonorbydoubleclickingonthetablename.
3. SelectoutputFiletype.
4. Click the Export data button. Enter the name of the file and its location in a directory
(folder).Thesystemreportsthenumberofrecordsexported.
Data exportation are made
with decimal separator .
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Figure 52: Exporting data 2.
2.5.6Importingdatatotables
DataareimportedusingfilespreviouslyexportedbytheMCHsystemorfilespreparedbyothermeans.It
isagenericwayofloadingdatafromothersources.
Toloaddatafrom othersources,firstprepareatextfile(.txt)withfieldsseparatedbytabs(chr(9)),with
thedatalaidoutintheorderinwhichtheyaretobeenteredintothetable.Datahavetobedefinedwith
atleastthe codein order tobeloaded.Thecodeis generally the firstorthe firsttwo or threedata. Each
lineofthefilemustcontainasinglerecordforthetableintowhichitistobeloaded.
Select thedatatypeandthevariable ortable tobeimportedandthefieldscontainedinthetableappear,
in the order in which the data are to be entered. Using this information, prepare the data, e.g. in a
spreadsheet,andthensavethetable asatabseparated text fileandthenimportitusingthatoptioninto
the MCHdatabase.MakesurethatthedatesaresavedintheYYYYMMDD(year/month/day) format to
ensure that the dates load correctly, as in other formats DD and MM may not always be interpreted
correctly.
Selectthefiletobeloaded(inthefilebrowser)usingtheImportdatabutton.Ifthedataareinsufficient,
thesystemtellsyouhowmanythereareandhowmanythereshouldbe.Themissingdatawillbeentered
asnullvaluesintherecordsloaded.
Data exportation are made with
decimal separator .
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Figure 53: Importing data 1.
Figure 54: Importing data 2.
2.5.7Updatingdatabetweenservers
TheremaybeanumberofreasonsforhavingmorethanoneMCHserver,forexampleifyouhaveseveral
offices handlingthedata, backup server(s), servers used by technical departments to generate projects
Data must to carry out with:
1.-Must be verified. Load process
not verify

2.-Stations must be defined.
3.-No null data are allowed.
4.-Decimal separator must be .
Data must to carry out with:
1.-Must be verified. Load process
not verify

2.-Stations must be defined.
3.-No null data are allowed.
4.-Decimal separator must be .
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basedonspecialdataintheirstudiessothattheycanaggregatecalculateddata,completeseries,datathat
areunauthorizedorfromotherinstitutionsorcountries.
Data can be synchronized between servers in several ways: Via FTP servers, using functions for
synchronizing data between the main server and other servers using MySQLs own functions and the
appropriateMCHfunction.
This method of updating between servers works in the same way as exporting data and the only
differenceisthatyouhavetoenterthenamesoftheconnectionstothedatabases(DSNs)andwhetherthe
updateistoaddnewdataonlyoroverwriteexistingdata.
Figure 55: Updating data between servers.

2.6.Dataeditingandcalculationmenu
This menu containsthe options forcapturing daily and detailed data, exporting andimporting data and
updatingdatabetweenMCHservers.
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Figure 56: Data editing and calculation menu
2.6.1Editingdailydatainlistings
Inthistypeof edit thedataareanalysed for eachstation and variableinthe definedperiod.Thecriteria
forpossibleerrorsare:
Variation factor. When two consecutive data differ by more than a given value, a message is
output. Thistype ofanalysisis relevantforvariables that change gradually, suchas temperature,
levelandbarometricpressure.
Percentages in relation tothemaximumand minimum. This takes account of extreme values
within15daysforeachdateanalysedofthehistoricalvalues(normalsandanycalculatedmeans),
and there is a tolerance above the maximum and below the minimum in relation to the given
constants.
It warns if there are no previous data. This is used when you want to know which data are
missingforavariable.
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Figure 57: Editing data in listings.

Toeditdatainalisting:
1. Enterthestartandenddatesintothetextboxesfortheyear,monthandday.
2. Enterthevariationfactorforconsecutivedata.
3. Enter the percentages in relation to themaximumand minimum allowed for the data to be
editedinrelationtothehistoricaldata.
4. ChecktheoptionWarnofmissingpreviousifyouwanttobewarnedofmissingdata.
5. SelectthestationgroupcontainingthestationfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
6. In the dual list of variables, select the variable for editingusing the > button or by double
clickingonthevariable.
7. In the dual list of stations, select the stations for editing using the >, >>, < and <<
buttonsordoubleclickingonthestations.
8. ClicktheEditdatabutton.
Whentheprocessiscomplete,youseealistshowingthepossibleerrorsfound.
Figure 58: Editing data in listings 2.

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2.6.2Editingdatausinggraphs.
Reviewingdata on graphs,based on thejudgmentof the person conducting the analysis,isprobably one
of the most powerful ways of reviewing data from hydrometric and climatology stations. This option
offersdataanalysis ongraphsforvisualinspection,stoppingatdatathathaveconsecutivevalues outside
atoleranceand offeringfacilitiesforeditingbasedonthepreviousornextdata,avaluebetweenthedata
suppliedorcombinationswithinthetolerancethatcouldbekeyingerrors.
Other ways of reviewing and editing data are to open two windows, one to display data on a graph and
another for datacapture, andwhenanerrorisdisplayed, to comparewiththedata onthetype ofcapture
andifthereisanerror,editthecaptureandlookagainatthegraphtodisplaytheresultsoftheedit.
Figure 59: Reviewing data using graphs 1.

Toeditdailydatausinggraphs.
1. Enterthestartandenddatesintheboxesfortheyear,monthanddayforeachdate.
2. Define how many days are to be regardedas missing where avalue is proposedfor thedays
thathavenodata.Thisoptionisnotrecommendedfordiscretevariablessuchasprecipitationand
isdesigned forcontinuousvariables, mainlyhydrometric,suchasdamlevel,dam area orvolume
storedinadam,where thevariations arenotlarge and enteringanintermediatedatumbetween
existingdataisasecondorthirdordererror.
3. Selectgraphtypeaccordingtothevariabletobereviewed,barchartorlinegraph.
4. Select the station group containingthestations tobe reviewed fromtheStation group combo
box.
5. Intheduallist ofstations,selectthestations forreview, movingthem totherighthandlistusing
the>,>>,<and<<buttonsordoubleclickingonthecodeofeachstation.
6. ClicktheStartcheckbutton.
The graph opens up in a tab, the data of the variable for review in another tab and in two panes the
controlsforeditingthepossiblyincorrectdata,andthedatainthevicinityofthepossiblyincorrectdata.
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Datareviewiscontrolledinthetopcentralpane(greybackground)andthe analysisstopsatthedateon
whichitdeterminesthere maybe an error. Thecriterion for stoppingis basedonthe tolerancebetween
twoconsecutivedataassetbyTolerance,whichcanbeadjustedasrequired.
ThetopcentralpaneshowstheStation code,Date,Valueforthedayinthedatabase, greyedoutto
indicatethatitcannotbeedited.
IntheNewvaluetextboxyou cantypethevalueyoujudgetobecorrect ordoubleclickononeof the
values offered. On the righthand side are the data in the vicinity of the possibly incorrect datum, for
visual inspection. If youwant to correct the datum and the valueis already in the Newvalue textbox,
clicktheMakechangebuttontomakethechangeandmoveontothenextpossibleerror.
Ifyoudonotwishtocorrectthedatum,youcanuseoneofthefollowingbuttons:
No.Gotonextifyouwanttocontinueanalysingthesamestation,
>toreviewthenextday,
<toreviewthepreviousday,
<<toreturntothepreviouspossibleerror,
>>togotothenextpossibleerror,
Nextstationtofinishreviewingthecurrentstationandgotothenext,
Cancelprocesstoendthecurrentreviewsession.
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Where the variable to be reviewedis closely related to precipitation, such as variables for hydrometric
stationsandriverflowdams(flow),Storedvolume,Level andDamarea,youcan checktheShow
precipitation option which opens up a second graph showing precipitation so that you can check the
visualcorrelationbetweenthedataofthetwovariables.
2.6.3Availabilityofdailydata
TheavailabilityofdailydatainMCHcanbeseenintwodifferentways.
on graphs, where each point on the graph indicates whether or not there is any data for the
stationoneachdate,and
by a calculation and a special query showing the total amount ofdata, the startdate of thedata
andthetotalpercentageofdatabetweenthestartandenddates.
Toreviewtheavailabilityofdataforavariableofastationgroup:
IntheViewtab:
1. SelectthevariableintheVariablecombobox.
2. Select the group to be queried from the Station group combo box. We recommend groups of
lessthan25stations,toensurethatthequeryrunsquickly.
3. Enterthestartandenddatesintothetextboxesfortheyear,monthanddayofeachdate.
The graph opensto show alineofvalue1 forthe firststationforeachdate when thereis data,2for the
secondstationandsoon,sothatthegraphshowslinesofdifferentcoloursforeachstation.
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Figure 62: Availability of daily data 1.
Youcanzoomthegraphtoinspectthedetailofdataavailabilityforeachdate.
The bottom pane shows a tableof all data for thevariable for each station and for eachdate, and these
datacanbeexportedastext. Thistypeof querycanbeusedtobringtogetherthedataforavariablefor a
wholestationgroupinafairlycompactway.
Where thereare more than24stations in the group, the graph shows only 24, and twobuttons > and
<appeartogotothenextorpreviousgroupof24stationsonthegraph.
Toreviewtheavailabilityofdataforavariableusingtables:
IntheCalculationstab:
1. Enterthestartandenddatesintothetextboxesfortheyear,monthanddayofeachdate.
2. SelectthevariableintheVariablecombobox.
3. SelectthegrouptobequeriedfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
4. Inthedualstationlist,selectthestationstocalculate.
5. ClicktheCalculatebutton.
Thesystemreportswhenthecalculationiscomplete.
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TodisplaytheresultofthecalculationsyouhavetoperformageneralqueryundermenuoptionGraphs/
Generalquery.
As the figure shows, it offers directly a Select instruction to the database and the X and Y data to be
plotted, e.g.:select * from availabilitydd where station like uy%, station and
ndataandclicktheQrybutton.

In the Data tab you can see the summary of the data from the stations and in the Graph tab the
quantityofdata.
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2.6.4Detailedcalculationsondailydata.
Detaileddata in the MCH system are those reported with a frequency of less than one day. When they
have sufficient staff, conventional stations carry out measurements throughout the day, while in other
cases they make only one or a few measurements a day. Automatic stations, on the other hand, report
data at regular intervals, varying depending on the variable, e.g. 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes,
hourlyoreverythreehours.
Ifyouhavemeasurementsthroughoutthedaywherethereisatleastonemeasurementeveryeighthours,
dailydatacanbecalculatedfromthedetaileddata.
The processing of the calculation of daily data from detailed data is explained in detailin Annex E and
takes account of thedefinitionssupplied in the Variables table and which are captured / queried under
menuoptionDefinitions/Variables/Variables.
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Dailydata maybe calculateddifferently forconventional stationsthan for automaticstations.Whenyou
want to adjust the calculation criteria to make information from automatic and conventional stations
compatible(which canbedoneinanalternativeMCHserverforprocessingprojects),calculationscanbe
madeusingatimefortheendofthedayotherthan00:00hours.
Toprocessdetaileddataintodailydata:
1. Enter the startand end dates into the text boxes for the year, month, dayhour and minute of
eachdate.
2. Selectthetimeofthechangeofdate.
3. SelectthedateofapplicationasTODAYorYESTERDAYifthedatechangetimeisnot00:00hours.
4. SelectthegrouptobequeriedfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
5. In the dual list of variables,select the variables to calculate using the <, >>, < and>>
buttonsorbydoubleclickingonthevariables.
6. In the dual list of stations, select the stations to calculate using the >, >>, < and <<
buttonsordoubleclickingonthestationcodes.
7. ClicktheCalculatedatabutton.
Thisproducesalistsummarizingthecalculationsperformed.
2.6.5Calculatingbystation,stationgroupandzonesonmaps
Calculationbystationincludescalculationsfromdailydata.
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Whenyouperform acalculation ondailydata,thecumulativetotals arecalculated fromthestart ofeach
year for each station and variable. Where variables have already been defined that are derived from
variablesmeasuredbymeansofconversiontablesundermenuoptionsDefinitions/Variables/Defined
variables, Definitions / Variables / Conversion tables, and Definitions / Variables / Conversion
formulae,thederivedvariablesarealsocalculated.
Theoptionstocalculateweekly,dekadal,monthlyandannualdataarecalculatedfromdailydata.
The normal values (when the criterion of normality defined by WMO for periods of30 years is met) or
meansinothercasesarecalculatedfromeachofthepreviouslycalculatedperiods(daily,weekly,dekadal,
monthlyandannual).
Theformatofthedatesrequesteddependsonthetypeofdatatobecalculated.
Toperformcalculationsbystationorstationgroup:
1. SelecttheDatatypetobecalculated(daily,monthly,annual,weekly,dekadal).
2. Enter the start and end dates for the period tobe calculated into thetext boxes for the year,
monthanddayofeachdate.
3. Selectstationorstationgroupcalculationtype.
4. Selectupdatetype,AddorOverwrite.
5. Optionallyselectstationtypetorestrictthenumberofvariablesofferedforselection.
6. FromtheduallistVariabletocalculatelocateontherighthandlistthevariableorvariablesto
becalculatedusingthe>,>>,<and<<buttonsordoubleclickingonthevariable.
7. SelectthegroupcontainingthestationstobecalculatedfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
8. FromtheduallistStationstocalculatelocateontherighthandlistthestationorstationstobe
calculatedusingthe>,>>,<and<<buttonsordoubleclickingonthecodeofeachstation.
This produces alistsummarizing the calculationsperformed. Todisplaythe calculated data, use one of
thequeryfunctionsinMCH,suchasthoseintheMapsorGraphsmenus.
The criteria for calculating by groups are defined by variableand may be CUMUL or MEAN(cumulative
[summed]ormean).
Calculationsforstation groups are appliedfordailydata. Fortheother periods theyarecalculatedfrom
dailydata, treating groups as if they werestations. When data have already been calculated by station
groups,inanyqueryofthesystem,thedataforthegroupcanbedisplayedbyenteringthestationcodein
thestationoption.
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Figure 67: Calculating data by station, station group and zones on maps, 1.
Calculations of area data (designed mainly for precipitation) are performed using a grid of a defined
increment.ThecalculationcanbeperformedusingtheThiessenVoronoimethod,inwhicheachcelltakes
a value equal to the nearest station, or by isolines, taking account of the four nearest stations and the
valueisweightedinrelationtothosefour,withaweightingequaltotheinverseofthedistanceofthecell
fromthestation.Thesecalculationcriteriaareappliedforcalculatingdailydataandfortheotherperiods;
thezonesaretakenasiftheywerestations.Whendatahavealreadybeencalculatedbystationgroups,in
anyqueryofthesystem,thedataforthegroupcanbedisplayedbyenteringthestationcodeinthestation
option.
Toperformcalculationsbymapzones:
1. SelecttheDatatypetobecalculated(daily,monthly,annual,weekly,dekadal).
2. Enter the start and end dates for the period tobe calculated into thetext boxes for the year,
monthanddayofeachdate.
3. Selectthecalculationtypegroupsbymap.
5. Optionallyselectstationtypetorestrictthenumberofvariablesofferedforselection.
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6. FromtheduallistVariabletocalculatelocateontherighthandlistthevariableorvariablesto
becalculatedusingthe>,>>,<and<<buttonsordoubleclickingonthevariable.
7. SelectthegroupcontainingthestationstobecalculatedfromtheStationgroupcombobox.
8. FromtheduallistStationstocalculatelocateontherighthandlistthestationorstationstobe
calculatedusingthe>,>>,<and<<buttonsordoubleclickingonthecodeofeachstation.
9. Select from the Base map for calculation from among those already loaded and available in
MCH.
10. Definetheincrementofthecalculationgrid(0.2degreesbydefault).
11. Definethe maximumdistance fromthecellto the station withavailabledata.The calculation will
ignorecellsatagreaterdistance.
12. Selectthecriterion,ThiessenorIsolines.
13. Selectwhethertouseonlyinsidestationsandthemaximumdistanceoutsidethezonewhenthere
arenodatainthezone.
This produces alistsummarizing the calculationsperformed. Todisplaythe calculated data, use one of
thequeryfunctionsinMCH,suchasthoseintheMapsorGraphsmenus.
CalculationsofnormalsormeanscanbeperformedwithWMOorextendedcriteria.
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Thetypesofnormalormeansforcalculationareasfollows:
WMO standard or extraordinarynormal, criterion 3 and 5, 30years. There mustbeno more
thanthree consecutivedaily data missing in a month andno more than fivedatamaybe missing
in a month. Noncompliance prevents the month or year from being calculated. There must be
data for 25 years that satisfy these criteria and there must not be morethan threeconsecutive
yearswithoutacalculation.
WMO provisional normal criterion 3 and 5, 10 or more years. There must be no more than
three consecutive daily data missing ina month and no morethan five data may be missing in a
month. Noncompliance prevents the month or year from being calculated. There must be
consecutivedataforatleast10years.
Extendednormals,anynumberofyears,morethan83%ofdata.
Simplemean(anyamountofdata).
Nocalculation;itmerelydetermineswhetheritispossibletocalculateaWMOtypenormal.
Dataentryissimilartothecriterionbystationorstationgrouporbyzones.
Toperformnormalormeancalculations:
1. SelecttheDatatypetobecalculated(daily,monthly,annual,weeklyordecadalnormals).
2. Enterthestartandendyearsinstartandenddates.
3. Selectcalculationtype:station,stationgroupormapgroups.
5. IntheNormalstab,selectthetypeornormalormeantocalculate.
6. Theremainingdatadependonthetypeofcalculation.
ClicktheCalculatedatabutton.
Thisproducesalistsummarizingthecalculationsperformed.
2.6.6QueriesdecodingSYNOPFM12messages
WhenqueryingSYNOPFM12messages,adecodedversionofeachmessageisalsoavailable.
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Figure 70: Querying SYNOP FM12 messages.
ToquerySYNOPFM12messages:
1. Select the station group containing the stations to be queried from the Station group combo
box.
2. Select the station to query from the Stationcombo box and check the option to the left of the
box.Ifyouleaveituncheckedthequerywillapplytoallstationsintheselectedgroup.
3. Enterthestartandenddatesandtimesinstartandenddates.
4. ClicktheQrybuttontorunthequery.
5. The messages found will bedisplayed in the tablein the bottom pane. As you move through the
table,theSYNOPFM12 messageanddecoded message panesdisplayin textformthe content
ofthecurrentrecordinthebottompane.
2.6.7QueriesdecodingSYNOPCREXmessages
WhenqueryingSYNOPCREXmessages,adecodedversionofeachmessageisalsoavailable.
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Figure 71: Querying SYNOP CREX messages.

ToquerySYNOPCREXmessages:
box.
table,the SYNOPCREXmessageand decoded messagepanesdisplayintext form the content
oftherecordselectedinthebottompane.
2.6.8QuerydecodingMETAR/SPECImessages
WhenqueryingMETAR/SPECImessages,adecodedversionofeachmessageisalsoavailable.
The messages must have been loaded by means of a special routine or as imported data. There is no
capturefunctionformessagesofthistype.
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Figure 72: Query decoding METAR / SPECI messages

ToqueryMETAR/SPECImessages:
box.
table, the METAR / SPECI message and decoded message panes display in text form the
contentofthecurrentrecordinthebottompane.
2.7.Definitions
This menu contains the capture and editing options for a set of tables that define the working
environmentintheMCHsystem.
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Figure 73: Definitions menu

Manyofthedatacapturefunctionsworkinastandardway,asexplainedbelow.
Usingadatacapturemethodwithadirecttable.
The standard capture formthat works on severaltables consists of three sections: In the upper section
arethe controlsfor movingaroundthetable,thencome thefields ofthe table identifiedbyname with a
textboxforeachdatuminwhichthedatacanbecapturedoreditedandallthetabledatacanbedisplayed
inthetablepane.
Figure 74: Capture form

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Thecontrolsformovingaroundthetableareexplainedinthefigurebelow.
Figure 75: Capture form 2

Toeditarecord, movetothedesiredrecord andkeyinthecorrecteddatadirectly.Applythecorrection
by clicking the Update record button or by moving to another record. If the datum to be entered is
longerthanthecurrententry,firstclearthecurrentdatumandthenkeyinthecorrectvalue.
Addingarecord
1. Clickin the middle of the first fieldof the record, where there are individual text boxesforeach
datum.
2. ClicktheAddrecord(+)button.Thiscreatesablankrecord.
3. Begin entering the first datum directly, without using any operating system keys or the mouse
pointer.Continueenteringtherestofthedataasrequired.
4. ClicktheUpdaterecordbuttonormovetoanotherrecord.
Figure 76: Capture form 3

If you wish to copy some data alreadycaptured, you can use the contextual menu that opens when you
rightclickonatextbox.Thefigureshowsthreepossibleviewsofthemenudependingonwhetherornot
anythingwasselectedpreviously.
Beginning of the table End of the table

One record back
One record forward
Add a record
Delete a record
Activate edition Update record
Cancel edition
Refresh record
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2.7.1Stations
In the MCH system, each data measuring station must be registered under this menu option.A station
requiresa codeofup to20 characters, andatleastitsnameand geographicallocation indecimalformat
forittoworkproperlyinqueries.Stationcodesmaynotcontainspacesandmayconsistoflettersand/or
numbersonly.
Otherdataareoptionalandsomedatamayexistonlyforcertainstationtypes.
Thestationcaptureformshowsdatainfourtabs:
TheLocationtabshowsthefollowingdata:
Decimal latitude and longitude.They mustbe supplied inDDD.dddddd format with a minussign
for southlatitudes and westlongitudes.Thissystemisusedtolocatestationson mapsandlocate
stationsneartoapointinthestationlocator.
Integerlatitude andlongitude.In DDMMSSformatwith a minussignforsouthlatitudes andwest
longitudes.Thisformisfordocumentation.
Latitude and longitude in character form. This can be expressed in any desired form, such as
302400S.Thisformisusedfordocumentationforenteringinformationindynamicwebpages.
Altitude.
Numberofhydrologicalregion.
Hydrologicalregion.Thisshould firstbedefinedunder menuoptionDefinitions /Othertables /
Hydrologicalregions.
Regionalmanagement.ThisshouldfirstbedefinedundermenuoptionDefinitions/Othertables
/Regionalmanagement.
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Figure 77: Stations 1.

State / department or province. This should first be defined under menu option Definitions /
Othertables/Statesdepartments.
Municipality.ThisshouldfirstbedefinedundermenuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/States
departments.
Catchment. Thisshouldfirstbedefinedunder menuoptionDefinitions /Othertables/States
catchments.
Subcatchment.ThisshouldfirstbedefinedundermenuoptionDefinitions/Othertables/States
subcatchments.
Operationalregion.
Timezone. Thisshould firstbedefinedunder menuoptionDefinitions/Othertables /States
timezones.
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Figure 78: Stations 2.

The Correlation codes tab is designed to define any possible correlations of the system with legacy
bases and to facilitate selective queries incertain circumstances. There are 15 possiblecodes for those
purposes.
CodeCod1shouldbetheICAOcodeifthestationgeneratesMETAR/SPECImessages.
CodeCod2shouldbetheWMOcodeifthestationgeneratesSYNOPmessages.
Special care is needed where the same station can generate both METAR and SYNOP data, as both
generatesome detailed data on the same variables, which will end up in the tables, soin this case it is
advisabletousedifferentstationcodestoavoiddatacollisions.
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Figure 79: Stations 3.Data from dams

Whenthestationisastoragereservoir(dam,lake,diversiondam)variousdataareavailableintheData
fromdamstab:
Ordinarylevel.ThisistheMaximumOrdinaryWaterLevel.
Ordinarystorage.ThisisthestoragevolumeattheMaximumOrdinaryWaterLevel.
Extraordinary level. Where the dam has been altered in relation to its original structure to
increaseits storage volume, sometimes onaccount of thequantity ofsediment accumulated, the
newleveliscalledMaximumExtraordinaryWaterLevel.
Extraordinarystorage.ThisisthestoragevolumeattheMaximumExtraordinaryWaterLevel.
Spillway level. This is the level at which the dam begins to overflow or spill. This spillway is
sometimesdesignedforcontrolledrelease,incontrasttothedamsextractionsluices.
Spillwaystorage.Thisisthestoragevolumeattheheightofthespillway.
Free spillway. This is the level at which the dam begins to overflow or spill and which can no
longerbecontrolled.
Freespillwaystorage.Thisisthestoragevolumeattheheightofthefreespillway.
Deadcapacitylevel.Thisistheheightatwhichnomorewatercanbeextractedfromthedam.This
levelissometimesusedasanapproximatesedimentlevel.
Deadstoragecapacity.Thisisthestoragevolumeatthedeadcapacitylevel.
Activecapacitylevel.Thisistheheightuptowhichwatercanbeextractedfromthedamforuse.
Activestoragecapacity.
Holdingstorage.
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Figure 80: Stations 4.Data from hydrometrics.

Wherethe stationisahydrometriconeina free watercourse or acanal,variousdataare availablein the
Datafromhydrometricstab.
Criticalscale.Thelevelatwhichtheoverflowofthewatercourseisregardedasimminent.
Minimumscale.Theminimumleveltobetakenasavaliddatumthatthestationcanreport.
Maximumscale.Themaximumleveltobetakenasavaliddatumthatthestationcanreport.
Criticalflow.Theflowatcriticalscale.
Minimumflow.Theflowatminimumscale.
Maximumflow.Theflowatmaximumscale.
Watercourse.Thenameoftheriver,streamorcanalonwhichthestationislocated.
Distance.Distanceofthestationfromthecentreofthewatercourse.
Infrastructure.Definestheinfrastructuretypeofthestation.
Type.Classificationofthehydrometricstation,generallydescribingitsgaugetype.
Use.
Searchingforastation:Ifthere are manystations, enteringpartofthestationcodeintheSearchtext
boxpositionsthecursoratthefirststationstartingwiththelettersyouenter.
2.7.2Automaticstationsbysatelliteidentifier
Whendata areloadedfromautomaticstationsintotheMCHsystem,youhaveto setupspecialprograms
toreceivedatafromthesestations.Automaticstationscantransmitbyvarious means,oneof whichisby
satellite,such asGOES. They may also transmit byradio, telephone, cellular telephone, direct extraction
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on a visit to the station or by direct connection to a computer which in turn sends the data over a
LAN/WAN,theinternetorbyemail.
This methodisdesigned forreceptionvia GOESsatellite and matchesthesatellitecode withthe codein
theMCHsystemandsomeotherdataforidentifyingthetransmissions:
Satellitecode.Thisisaneightcharactercode,thefirsttwodefiningthecountry.
Name,Name2.Twowaysofnamingthestation.
Stationcode. Thisisthecodeofthestationin the MCH system andisdefinedunder menuoption
Definitions/Stations/Stations.
Daylighttime.Isenabledwithstartandenddates.
Theotherdataareoptionalandareusedtoidentifythestation.
2.7.3Stationgroups
A station group is a list of station codes used in various parts of the MCH system to simplify the
mechanismsforqueryingstations.
Astationgroupisdefinedasacodeofupto20charactersandthestationcodesdefinedbyastring.
Figure 81: Station groups 1.

Tobuildastationgroup:
EnterthegroupidentifierdirectlyintotheStationgroupcombobox.
Using the dual station lists,select the stations from the lefthandlist(available stations) for the
righthand list (selected stations) using the >, >>, < and << buttons for moving stations
betweenlistsordoubleclickonthestationcodes.
ClickontheUpdatebutton.
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Figure 82: Station groups 1.

Toeditastationgroup:
SelectthestationgroupintheStationgroupcomboboxandpresstheQrybutton.Thisclears
therighthandlistandloadstheexistinglistofstationsintheorderinwhichtheyweredefined.
Addorremoveitemsfromthelistofselectedstations(righthandlist)usingthe>,>>,<and
<<buttonsformovingstationsbetweenlistsordoubleclickonthestationcodes.
ClickontheUpdatebutton.Ifallstationsareremovedfromtherighthandlist,thestationgroup
isdeleted.
Fromthenon,allnewgroupsappearinthelistofStationgroupcomboboxesthroughouttheMCHsystem.
2.7.4Groupsofautomaticstations.
A group of automatic stations is similar to a station group defined in the abovesection, except that the
stationsaretakenfromtheautomaticstationsdefinedunderstationsbysatelliteidentifierandareused
tohandlespecialqueries,especiallyforwebmanagement.
Stationsappearasapairofcodes,thesatellitecodeandtheMCHcodetofacilitatebuildingstationgroups.
Itisrecommendedusingstation groupcodesbeginning with ASwhichare theonlygroupsthat appear
intheStationgroupscombobox,butanynamecanbeused.
2.7.5Stationtypes
Stationtypes areusedtodefinevariables measuredby aset of stations andthe sequence tobefollowed
duringdatacapture.
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Figure 83: Station types

Tobuildastationtype:
EnterthetypeidentifierdirectlyintotheStationtypecombobox.
Using the dual variablelist,select the variables fromthelefthand list (variables defined in the
system) to appear in the righthand list (selected variables) using the >, >>, < and <<
buttonsformovingstationsbetweenlistsordoubleclickonthevariablenames.
Click on the Update button. If the variable list is empty and the station type exists, it will be
deleted.
2.7.6Instrumentsbystation
SYNOPCREX messages have to include the altitude and instrument type for some information to be
includedineachmessage.
Thisinformationis alsoa setofmetadata aboutthestation.Adatum isvalidfrom thedate ofinstallation
untilanewdefinitionisentered.
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Figure 84: Instruments by station
2.7.7Definingmapsbygeographicalpositionusingtwopoints
Maps are always handled in the system using the BMP format, but the graphics handling library
ImageMagickisusedtoconvertvariousformatstoBMP.
Whenyouhavemaps,inimageform,insometypeoforthogonalprojection(withlatitudesandlongitudes
equallyspaced foreach axis),tousethe mapintheMCHsystemyouhavetogeoreferenceitusing apair
ofknownlatitude/longitudepoints.
Togeoreferenceamapusingtwogeographicalpositions
Click the Map button to locate the map. It is recommended to store maps in the maps
subdirectory(subfolder)ofthedirectory wheretheMCHsystemisinstalled.Selectthe mapusing
thesystemfilebrowsertolocatethemapinthedirectory(folder)structure.
Rightclick to locatethefirst known point on the mapin the top pane ofthefull map. This loads
the X and Y coordinates of the topleft corner as point 1).To relocate the point, repeat the same
procedure.
Shiftrightclicktolocatethesecondknownpointonthemapinthetoppane.ThisloadstheXand
Ycoordinatesofthetoprightcorneraspoint2).
Entertheknowncoordinatesforeachofthepointsinthelongitudeandlatitudetextboxesin
decimalformat(DDD.dddddd),usingaminussignforwestlongitudesandsouthlatitudes.
To check that the map is properly georeferenced, select a Station group from the relevant
combo box and click the Locate stationsbutton.The stations are shown as small green circles
on the map. Rolling over a station with the mouse shows its code and coordinates. Rolling the
mouse over the main map shows on the right, above the map enlargement pane the point and
geographical coordinates of the pointer position. Dragclicking on the full map shows an
enlargementofthemapinthezoompane.
ClicktheSavebuttontostorethegeoreferencedmapdefinition.
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Figure 85: Two-point geo-referencing

Thereafter, eachnew map that is defined will appear in the list of the Maps combo boxes for queries of
mapsbygeographicalcoordinates.
2.7.8Definingmapsbygeographicalpositionusingquadrilaterals
When you have maps, in image form, in some type of nonorthogonal projection of latitudes and
longitudes, they can be georeferenced by approximating the geographical coordinates using
quadrilaterals.
Togeoreferenceamapusingquadrilaterals
ClicktheMapbuttontolocatethe map.Werecommendstoringmapsinthe mapssubdirectory
(subfolder) of the directory where the MCH system isinstalled. Select the map using the system
filebrowsertolocatethemapinthedirectory(folder)structure.
Shiftrightclick at thetopleft cornerof the full mapto startdefininga quadrilateral. Thenright
clickon fourknownpoints to locate the X andY coordinates in the Define quadrilaterals tab;
thiswilldrawlinesbetweenthepointslocated.Shiftrightclickagaintoadjustthepositions.
Click the Add quadrilateral button. Add other quadrilaterals as required. If the geographical
zoneisnotverylarge,inmostcasesyougetareasonableapproximation(fortheimagesize)with
asinglequadrilateral.
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To check that the map is properly georeferenced, select a Station group from the relevant
combo box and click the Locate stationsbutton.The stations are shown as small green circles
on the map. Rolling over a station with the mouse shows its code and coordinates. Rolling the
mouse over the main map shows on the right, above the map enlargement pane, the point and
geographical coordinates of the pointer position. Dragclicking on the full map shows an
enlargementofthemapinthezoompane.
ClicktheSavebuttontostorethegeoreferencedmapdefinition.
Figure 86: Geo-referencing by quadrilaterals

Thereafter, eachnew map that is defined will appear in the list of the Maps combo boxes for queries of
mapsbygeographicalcoordinates,withprefix4anditsname.
2.7.9Definingstationsonsketchesordiagrams
When the stations on a map are not at reasonable distances to be able to analyse the data easily, a
differentrepresentationissometimesneeded asan alternativetogeographical coordinates.Inthis case,
you have to prepare a drawing showing the desired information as a basis and save it in the maps
directorywheretheMCHsystemisinstalled.
Thisoptioncanalsobeusedwhenmapsaretiledtogetherforsomereason.
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Figure 87: Defining stations on sketches or diagrams

Tolocatestationsonsketchesordiagrams:
Clickthe Mapbutton to locate the sketch ordiagram. It is recommended to storethem in the
maps subdirectory (subfolder) of the directory where the MCH system is installed. Select the
sketch or diagram using the system file browser to locate the map in the directory (folder)
structure.
SelectthestationgroupcontainingthestationstobeplacedonthemapfromtheStationgroup
combobox.
Proceedasfollowsforeachstationtobelocated:selectitintheStationscombobox.Thenright
clickonthefullmappaneontherequiredpositionofeachstation.
The stationsareshown as small greencircles on the map. Rolling over astation with the mouse
shows its code. Rolling the mouse over the main map shows on the right, above the map
enlargement pane, the point coordinates of the pointer position. Dragclicking on the full map
showsanenlargementofthemapinthezoompane.
When you have finished locating stations on the map, click the Save button to store the map
definition.
Thereafter,eachnewsketchordiagramthatisdefinedwillappearinthelistoftheMapscomboboxesfor
queriesofmapsbysketchesordiagrams.
2.7.10DefiningMCHandgeneralmaps
General maps are based on theWorld Data Bank cartography, distributed free of charge in text format
and converted to .mhc format. The converted files are in the subdirectory (subfolder) mchmapas
whereMCHisinstalledandarecalledcostas.mhc(coasts),fronteras.mhc(borders)andrios.mhc(rivers).
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MCH maps are built up from cartography with various layers of information from vector maps in DXF
level12 format. Themap files areinsubdirectory(subfolder) mapashc where MCHisinstalledand are
called mapasPTP.mhcand mapasCur.mhc, mapasPTP containingallthelayers exceptforthelevel curves
which are in mapasCur.mhc. These maps require special cartography for each country and are empty in
the installation. They can be used likethat, toproject maps loaded as described in thenext paragraph,
indicatingthataperimeterpolygonwillbeused.
The projections can also be bounded by a general polygon so that anything outside that polygon is
ignoredin the mapshown. Theperimeterpolygons are takenfromDXFtype12filesand areloadedinto
MCHusing the DXFaMCH.exe routine. Perimeter polygons are defined by one or more closed polygons,
whichcanbeusedtogeneratemapprojectionsloadedwiththisprocedure.
Additionally, based on world cartography, several map projections are available via the publicdomain
Proj4mapprojectionlibraryandover40projectionsarecurrentlyavailableinMCH.
Figure 88: Vector maps by geographical position 1

Todefineageneralmap:
IntheOptionstab,enterthenameofthemapinthecombobox(intheexistinglistthenamesof
generalmapsareprefixedwithGandMCHmapshavetheprefixH.
Define the extreme coordinates of the rectangle containing the map in decimal format
DDD.dddddd,withaminussignforwestlongitudesandsouthlatitudes.
IntheGeneralmap datatab,selectmaptypegeneral from world map(simple) ogeneral
from world map. The difference between them is the quantity of secondary information to be
showndependingonitsavailabilityinthecartographyloadedintoMCH.
ClicktheMapbuttontogeneratethemap.
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Optionally select aStationgroupfrom therelevantcombo boxandclick theLocate stations
button. The stationsareshownas small greencircles on the map. Rolling overastationwith the
mouse showsitscode andcoordinates.Rollingthemouseover the main mapshowson the right,
above the mapenlargementpane, the point and geographical coordinates of thepointerposition.
Dragclickingonthefullmapshowsanenlargementofthemapinthezoompane.
IntheOptionstab,clicktheSavebuttontostorethemapdefinition.

Todefineageneralmap:
IntheGeneralmapdatatab,selectmaptypeMCH

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Optionally,intheMCHmapdatatab,selectlinethicknessandcolourforthelayersdefined.
Aline thicknessof0preventsthelayerfromshowing.Coloursareselectedbydoubleclickingthe
boxofeachcolourtoshowtheoperatingsystemscolourselector.
ClicktheMap button. A map is built anddisplayed, with a maximum resolution of3500 pixels
alongoneoftheaxes(dependingontheproportionofthemapitmaybethehorizontalorvertical
one).
IntheOptionstab,clicktheSavebuttontostorethemapdefinition.
Todefineageneralmapwithageographicalprojection:
IntheGeneralmap datatab,selectmaptypegeneral from world map(simple) ogeneral
from world map. The difference between them is the amount of secondary information to be
showndependingonitsavailabilityinthecartographyloadedintoMCH.
IntheProjectiontypetab,selectthedesiredoptionfromtheProjectioncombobox.Thereare
about ahundredpossible projections. Eachprojectiontyperequires somebasicdatato make the
projection(arbitraryorigincoordinatesarenotrequiredandsomedefaultvaluesareoffered).
Provide the requested values, which depend on the projection type selected. You needto know
data abouttheprojection andhowtheyare entered. Typicallyfrom1to 3longitudes and from 0
to3latitudesarerequestedasrequiredfortheprojectionandapairofXandYcoordinates.Inthe
case of UTMthezone isrequested. Some projections differentiate whether or not you are in the
southernhemisphere.
This section is still under development. The map definition criteria, and the corresponding queries on
maps,haveyettobecompleted.
2.7.11Stationmetadata
Station metadata aredefinedinthesystemas the station code, a metadatatypeconsistingofupto thirty
characters, and the metadatum which can be up to 255 characters long. If several lines are needed to
define metadata, generic metadata names can be used, differentiated by a number at the end, for
instance:LOCATION01,LOCATION02,LOCATION03,...
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Figure 91: Station metadata

Anyamountofmetadatamaybedefinedforeachstation.
Thedateallowsametadatumtobedefinedseveraltimes,suchasINSPECTIONorREPAIR.
2.7.12Stationlocator
StationscanbelocatedfromanywhereinthesystembypressingkeystrokeCtrlF2and:
Any character string in the code: Type the character string in the Search text box. As you
enterthe characters,thebottom tableshowsthe stationscontainingthestringyoutypedinsome
partoftheircode.
Figure 92: Station locator 2

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The start ofthe station code:Enter the startof the station code into the Station text box. As
you enter the characters, the bottom tableshows the stations containingthestring youtyped in
somepartoftheircode.
Any characterstringinthestation name: Typethe characterstringin theNametextbox. As
you enter the characters, the bottom tableshows the stations containingthestring youtyped in
somepartoftheirname.
By station group: Select the desired group from the Station group combo box. The bottom
tableshowsthestationsinthegroup.

Proximity to a geographical coordinate: In the Latitude, Longitude and Distance text
boxes,enterthecoordinates aroundwhichyouwishtosearchforstations.Asyou movefrom one
text box to another anddependingon the contents of theDistancebox, stations will appear in
the bottom table that are no further away than the distance given, nearest first, showing the
distanceindegreesandfractionsofadegree.
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2.7.13Variables
ThevariablesintheMCHsystemarenotfixedandanynumberofvariablesmaybeaddedasrequired.
For each variable in MCH there is a number of tables for each period in which data can be saved or
calculated,andfornormals(ormeans)forthoseperiods.
InMCHtables arebuilt with the name given tothetable, and aprefixassociated withthetabletype. The
tabletypesforeachvariableandtheircorrespondingprefixesareasfollows:
1. Detaileddata.Prefix dt.Detailed datain the MCHsystem arethosereportedwithafrequency of
lessthanoneday.Example:dtprecipitation.
2. Dailydata.Prefixdd orde.Dailydatatablesof typedd are forvariableswherethereisonly
oneitemofdataperday,such asprecipitationandevaporation.Dailydatatablesoftypede are
for variables that have extreme values, like temperature, where the daily data consist of three
values aday,the mean(orvalue ata set timesuchas8 a.m.in thecase of manualrecords which
aretaken at thesametime eachday), maximum and minimum. The typeis setintextboxDD or
DX.Examples:ddprecipitation and deairtemp
3. Weeklydata.Prefixds.53weeksayear.Example:dsprecipitation.
4. DekadaldataPrefixdc.36dekadsayear.Example:dcprecipitation.
5. Monthlydata.Prefixdm.Example:dmprecipitation.
6. Annualdata.Prefixda.Example:daprecipitation.
7. Dailynormals.Prefixnd.Example:ndprecipitation.
8. Weeklynormals.Prefixns.Example:nsprecipitation.
9. Dekadalnormals.Prefixnc.Example:ncprecipitation.
10. Monthlynormals.Prefixnm.Example:nmprecipitation.
11. Annualnormals.Prefixna.Example:naprecipitation.
Todefineavariableyouhavetoprovidethefollowingdata:
Nameofthevariable(upto12characterscontainingnospaces).
Shortnameoftwocharacters.
Fulloralternatenameofthevariable.
Name of the table (up to 12 alphanumeric characters containing no spaces; the first character
mustbealetter).
Unitofmeasurement.
DD or DE.DD for variables with a single datum a day,such as precipitation and DE for variables
withextremevalues,suchastemperature.
Cumulativeormean.CUMULorMEAN.Thisrelatestothewayinwhichthedailycumulativefigure
iscalculatedovertheyear.
Decimals.Thisisthenumberofdecimalplacestowhichcalculationsarerounded.
Cumulative by group.CUMUL or MEAN. This is the way in which a value is accumulated for a
stationgroup.
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Accumulation of detailed to daily data. ACCUMULAT, LAST, MEANLAST and
FREQUENC.ACCUMULATIONisforvariableslikeprecipitation.LASTisfor cases where thevalue
forthedayistobethelastvalueforthedayandthisisequivalenttomanualmeasurementataset
timeinthemorning.MEANLASTisforcalculatingthemean,butifthereareinsufficientdatainthe
day, then the last availabledatum is reported. FREQUENC is used for pairs of data for handling
winds,togivevaluesforprevailingwinds.
Figure 95: Variables 1

When a new variable is defined, click the button Create tables for current variable" to set up the
necessarytablesforhandlingthevariable.Fromthenon,it willappearin thelistinallsystemboxes for
selectingavariable.
2.7.14Acceptablevalues
When defined, acceptable values are used to check entries during capture and loading of information
fromautomaticstations.
Valuesareprovidedforeachvariable and station.Acceptablevalues canhave differentvalidities (thisis
necessaryespeciallyinautomaticstationswhenthereferencelevelsforlevelsensorsarechanged).
This option alsodefines acceptablevalues for daily and detailed data, identifying the data typeas D for
dailydataandTfordetaileddata.
The date given is the start date for the validity of the acceptable value and it will remain valid until
anotheroneisdefinedatalaterdate.
Values ofdatalowerthan the minimum andhigherthanthe maximum,inthe caseof automaticstations,
are not accepted and, in the case of daily data, the person performing the capture is warned of the
possibleerror.
Datamustfallbetweentheminimumandmaximumvaluesandsatisfytherelation:
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Thesevaluesareusedduringcapturetoshowcolourswhichfacilitatedataentry.Valuesbelowmin_value
orabovemax_valuearerejectedandareshowninredduringcapture.Othervalueswithineachrangeare
shownincolour.Valuessatisfyingtherelation
areregardedascorrectandarenotshownincolour.
The change is the maximum value allowed between two consecutive measurements and in the case of
detaileddata,youcanspecifythetimerangeinminutesthatisappliedtothecheck.
Figure 96: Acceptable values per variable

2.7.15Checksbyformula
Checksbyformulaare anoptionalfeaturethatallowsyouto establishrelationsbyvariable,applicableto
all stations, in which there is a formula that can test logical relations with othervariables, for the same
stationandforthesamedateandtime.
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Figure 97:Checks by formula
The check is made during capture of daily data and detailed data, just before they are loaded into the
database.
Itworkswith atable forcapture.The controls allowyoutoadd,delete ormove aroundthetable. Toadd,
insert with the + button. Make changes in the table or in the text boxes ofeach field. Changing record
updatesthechanges.ThedatummustbeTdetailed,Ddaily.ThechecktypemustbeRRejectifitfails,A
Alertif it fails. A logicalexpression must be used. The expression can be composed of logical operators
AND,NOT and OR, arithmetic operators +,, *and /, and database expressions of the type variable: xxx
where xxx can be value, corrvalue, maxvalue, minvalue or 1 (previous datum) and brackets as required
fortheorderofoperations.
ClicktheEditbuttonandthenkeyintheformulatocheckthesyntax.
2.7.16Checksbyproximity
Checksbyproximitydefineastationorstationgroupforcheckingadatumforthestationvariableagainst
thedataofeachstationinthegrouportherelatedstation.
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Figure 98: Checks by proximity
ChecksworkinEditdatainlisting.
Themaximumdistancetobeappliedfornearbystationsisinkmandthedifferenceinaltitudesinm.
Thestationgroupdefineswhichstationsthecheckwillapplyto.
Theintervalinminuteslimitsthesearchforinconsistenciesinotherstations.
2.7.17Conversiontables
When a variableis obtained bycalculation from a measured variable, in MCH this calculated variable is
calledaderivedvariableandthecalculationrule,whichcanbeofseveraltypes,iscurrentlyimplemented
in MCH by means of a conversion table, whichis a tabular form of the calculation function.Many of the
conversionrules canbeapproximatedby a series of straightlinesegments withrelativelyfew pointson
thecurve.
Tabulatethecurve withvalueXasthemeasuredvalueandvalueYasthederivedvariable.Givethetable
anameofupto15characters.Capturethetabledatumbydatum.
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Figure 99: Conversion tables 1

To check that the table has been captured properly, perform a query under menu option Graphs /
Generalquery.Asthefigureshows,itoffersdirectlyaSelectinstructiontothedatabaseandtheXandY
data to be plotted, e.g.:select * from convtables where convtable = RioTurbio order by
Xvalueand as data to be plotted enter Xdatum and Ydatum with Xvalueand Yvalue andclick the
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2.7.18Conversionformulaeforderivedvariables
Anotherwayofcalculatingderivedvariablesistouseconversionformulae.
A conversion formula is an algebraic expression with a numeric type result that accepts the following
elements: variable or variable: datum (datum can be 1, value, maxvalue, minvalue), brackets to order
operations, operators (+, , *, /) and numerical constants.Fora variable with noqualifier, take variable:
value and the qualifiers have the following meaning: 1 the datum for the previous day, maxvalue the
maximumvalue(thevariable mustbe oftypede) and minvaluetheminimumvalue(thevariable must
beoftypede).
Another way of calculating derivedvariables is by a direct SQL expression to the database.In this case
there are specific data that can be included in the formula and which are substituted when the
calculations are performed:_EST_(station), _FECI_(startdate),_FECF_(enddate),_FEC2_(date of
previousday),_FEC_(todaysdate).
To use this option you need a thorough knowledge ofthesyntax of the MySQL Select statement and the
functionsthatcanbeusedwithit.
For direct SQL statements, key in the definition, accessing the database by means of the mysql.exe
commandline.Runthestatementtocheckthatitcontainsnoerrors.
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2.7.19Variablesforautomaticstationsbysatelliteidentifier
This table isdesigned for use by a routine that decodes datafrom automatic stations received by GOES
satellite. All decoding routines must comply with the transmission patternsused by the datacollection
platforms(DCPs).
Messages often contain insufficientinformation to know what variables are being transmitted and with
whatfrequency.Insuchcases,youneedtosupplythosedatainthistabletocompletetheinformationand
allowittobedecodedproperly.
The required data are: satellite identifier, datetime, reception sequence of data in the message,
department or company responsible for the station, station name, variable and period in minutes
betweenconsecutivedata.
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Figure 103: Variables for automatic stations by satellite identifier
Several reception sequences can be supplied and each one will be valid until the datetime of the next
sequence (this also allows datain historicrecords to be decoded where thetransmission sequence has
changed).
2.7.20Acceptablevaluesforautomaticvariables
For decoding routines and loading data from automatic stations youneed to filter the dataso thatonly
values within permitted ranges are accepted. Some data platforms also transmit a number that means
thatthedatumwasnotmeasured.
Itcanalsohappenforsomevariablesthatthevaluetransmittedisonlypartofthevalueorthatthevalue
isreferredtoanumber;theseconstantsthereforehavetobesuppliedtoobtainthecorrectedvalueofthe
variable.
Youcanalsoenterdatatodefinealarmlevelsorcriticalvalues.
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Figure 104: Acceptable values for automatic stations
The data to be entered are the station code (which when you enter ten Zs (ZZZZZZZZZZ) is a generic
valuethatappliestoallstationsunlessthereisavaluespecifictothestation,variable,adjustmentvalue
1,adjustmentvalue2,minimumvalue(ifthereceiveddatumafteradjustmentislessthantheminimum
itisnotaccepted),maximumvalue(ifthereceiveddatumafteradjustmentisgreaterthanthemaximum
it is not accepted), missing datum value, critical high value (to warn of alert situations), critical low
value(towarnofalertsituations).
2.7.21Derivedvariables
A measured variable can have one or more derived variables, for each of which you need to define a
conversiontableunder menu optionDefinitions/Variables /Conversiontables. Fordecodingroutines
andloadingdatafrom automaticstationsyouneedtofilterthedatasothatonlyvalues within permitted
ranges are accepted. Some data platforms also transmit a number that means that the datum was not
measured.
Between 1 and 4 derived variables can be obtained from each measured variable. The maximum is
typically2,inthe caseofdams, wherethewaterlevelisusedtoderivethesurfacearea coveredby water
andthevolumestored.
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Figure 105: Acceptable values for automatic stations

2.7.22DatainSYNOPCREXmessages
Theelements ofCREX messages must correspondtothe content oftheCREXmessagetablesintheWMO
ManualonCodes.
AnelementofaCREXtemplateisoneletterandfivenumbersanditmayrefertoametadatumoradatum.
Anelementiscomposedofacode,unit,fieldwidth,scaleanddescription.Themeaningoftheelementsis
explainedindetailintheWMOManualonCodes.Unitisadescriptionapplyingtothedatumbutmaybea
referencetoatable;widthisthenumberofcharactersinthedatuminthemessage(whichmayalwaysbe
the same), scaleis apowerof ten applying to thedatum;2 indicates thatthe datum must be divided by
100 when decoding it and multiplied by 100 and rounded to the nearest integer when encoding it; 2
indicatesthatthedatum mustbe multipliedby100whendecodingitanddividedby100androundedto
thenearestintegerwhenencodingit.Thedescriptionistohelpidentifytheelements.
Figure 106:Data in SYNOP-CREX messages

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2.7.23SYNOPCREXmessagetemplates
CREX messages may have automatic content when a general decoder is available. They may also be
based on external definitions called templates. MCH provides only encoding and decoding of SYNOP
messages in CREX format, based on templates.
CREX data types have to be defined before defining templates. The template used is D07089,
published by WMO.
The templates (template codes) and data (data codes) to be included in CREX messages are always
associated with a length of six characters and are incorporated in accordance with the WMO Manual
on Codes.
To define a template, select the data to be included and the order in which they are to be incorporated
or decoded in the message. To facilitate the incorporation of the template, the data the template may
contain are included with a short description. A CREX message can contain the data type code several
times without it necessarily referring to the same data. When you save, if the definition already exists,
it is overwritten by the current definition.
Figure 107: SYNOP-CREX message templates
2.7.24FTPtransmissionoptions
FTP transmission is an optional part of MCH which can be used for automatic synchronization of data
betweenseveralservers.Directsynchronization can alsobeimplementedusingnative MySQL5database
functions.
Thisoptionconsumesfewresourcesforsendingdatafromoneservertoanother.
Synchronizationisnormallydoneby meansofataskscheduled atvarioustimes,generallyafterthedata
are available (everyhour or everythree hours for automaticstations and one or more times a day for
dailydata).ThetaskthatpreparesthedatatakesthevariablesandFTPaddressdefinedinthisoptionand
in the option in thenext section to send the datato anotherserver. The receiving server in turn has a
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scheduledtasktoreadthedatasubdirectoriesoftheFTPservertoseewhethernewfilesareavailablefor
loadingintothedatabase.
A transmission option consists of a variable number of records in which each line contains the option
number of up to 30 characters, station group, sequence number, variable to be transmitted, and
whetherthedatatypeisdetailed(T) ordaily(D).Theoptionenabled (YES /NO) canbe used to disable
variablesfortransmission.
Figure 108: FTP transmission options

2.7.25FTPtransmissionaddresses
These data are used in conjunction with the data of the previous section whereyou will find a general
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Eachtransmissionoptionrequiresanaddress,userIDandpasswordtoallowdatatobesentbymeansof
anautomaticprocess.
2.7.26Users
Thisoptionisavailableatadministratorlevelonly.
System securityhastwo levels,one defined for the MySQL database server administrator which allows
very comprehensiveuse coveringtheuse permissionsof eachuser.Itoffers control over whether ornot
the user canview, edit or alterthestructure of the database, table or column, and other aspects of the
internalmanagementofMCH.HerewediscusstheMCHinternaloptions.
Auserisdefinedbyaname and apassword. Thepassword is storedin coded form.Whenkeyingin the
password it is displayed in clear. When a user is associated with a station group or generically a set of
station groups withthe form GroupXXX*, during webtype captures he or she has access to this station
grouponlyorthegroupsbeginningwiththecharacterstringuptothe*.
Figure 110: Defining users

2.7.27Accesslevels
Four access levels are currently defined. Administrator, level 1, which have access too all system
functions,FullUserwhichhasaccesstoallsystemfunctionsexceptSecurity,Userwhichhasaccesstoedit
informationbutnottosomebasictablesandthecaptureuserwhichcanqueryandcapturedata.
Figure 111: User access levels

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2.7.28Generaldatabaseoperation
Allows direct operations on the database. An alternative to this is the mysql command line on the
computeronwhichtheserverisinstalled.
Thisoptionisprovidedincasetheserverisinaspecialenclosedplacewithanartificialclimateandsome
databasemaintenancefunctionisrequired,suchasrepairingatable.
2.7.29Variablesfromautomaticstationsforwebpage
The MCH webservers(intranetorinternet) offer varioustypes of query.Thesedefinitions control some
aspectsofthewebpage.
Since automaticstations sometimes measure variables that are not to be displayed on the web or if the
sensors sometimes return errors and you do not wishto publish meaningless data, the variables shown
onthewebneednotbethesameasthoserecordedforeachautomaticstation.
Figure 112: Automatic variables for web

2.7.30Mapoptionsforweb
Since mapsrequire georeferencinginformation,each map tobeusedmustfirstbedefinedunder option
Definitions/Stations/Stationsonmapsby2positions.
The definition can be given by variable or if the variable is left blank the same map is used for all
variables. Each mapoptionfor webhas anameofup to15 characters,apreviouslygeoreferencedmap,
optionallyavariable,astationgroupandaname.
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2.7.31Datasources
A data source is an identifier that is normallyused in detailed data tables, to reference wherethe data
werereceivedfrom.
Figure 114: Data sources

Thedataloadingtasksalsoincludetheidentificationofthedatasource.For MCHdailydatacaptures,the
sourceissetasequaltocapt,CuserorWuserandindetaileddatacapturesthedatumcanbedirectly
documentedorifitisautomaticitissettocapt.
2.7.32Timezones
The time zone reference is used in the basic station data. This is of most use for countries that have
severaltimezones.Thetimezoneidentifieristhreecharacterslong.HourstoUTCisthenumberofhours
toUniversalCoordinatedTime.
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Thisisusefulwhenyoureceivedatafromautomaticstationsviasatellite(GOES)wherethedataarrivein
universalcoordinatedtimeandtheyhavetobeconvertedtolocaltime.

Whendaylighttimeapplies,setto1.
2.7.33Units
Thistableiscurrentlyfordocumentingtheunitsinwhicheachvariableisreportedinthesystem.
Figure 116: Units

Whendata arereceivedin otherunits of measurement foravariable,itisrecommendedthattheloading
processconvertthemintotheglobalunitfortherestofthestations.
2.7.34Catchments
Catchments are used in thedefinition of Stations to determine their hydrological area. Thehydrological
sectorsdefinedinMCHarehydrologicalregions,catchmentsandsubcatchments.
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Figure 117: Catchments

2.7.35Subcatchments
Subcatchments are used in the definition of Stations to determine their hydrological area. The
hydrologicalsectorsdefinedinMCHarehydrologicalregions,catchmentsandsubcatchments.
Figure 118: Sub-catchments
2.5.36Hydrologicalregions
Hydrological regions are used in the definition of Stations to determine their hydrological area. The
hydrologicalsectorsdefinedinMCHarehydrologicalregions,catchmentsandsubcatchments.
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Figure 119: Hydrological regions

2.5.37States/Departments/Provinces
This option uses the State, department, province or political subdivision within the country to define
whereeachStationislocated.

2.7.38Municipalities/Boroughs/Parishes
ThepoliticalsubdivisionoftheState,DepartmentorProvinceissetasMunicipalityinMCH.Insomeareas
itissetasParishorBorough.ThisdatumisusedtodefinewhereeachStationislocated.
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2.7.39Regionalmanagement/offices
An internal division of the Body or Enterpriseusing MCHcan besethere asa Regional Management or
Regional Office. This is specifically designed for the case where there are several offices in the country
lookingafterseveralstations.ThisdatumisusedfordefiningStations.
2.8Windowmenu
The window menu, a generic function of many Windows applications, tells the user about the daughter
windowsofthemainapplication.Here,theusercanseetheactivewindowsandswitchtothedesiredone,
andclosealltheactivesystemwindowsifrequired.
It lists up to nine active windows directly. When there are more, an option appears for opening an
additionalwindowshowingthemall.
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If windows are minimized, when the mouse hovers over the minimized window, the full identification
thatappearsatthetopofeachwindowisshown.

2.9.Helpmenu
As everywhere in the Windowsenvironment, helpis invoked with key F1.The system help is contextual
andthe availablehelpinformationappearsdependingonhowtheuserisinteractingwheninvokinghelp
withF1.
The Aboutoption gives generalinformation ontheMeteorology, Climatologyand HydrologyInformation
System,MCH.

MCH User Manual

Annexes
AnnexASysteminstallation
AnnexBObtainingMCHdatabaseinformationfromExcelspreadsheets
AnnexC PreparingamapinDXFformattoloadintoMCHforpresenting
informationinzonemaps
AnnexDToolsforexchanginginformationfromMCHwithothersystemsand
betweenMCHlocations
AnnexECalculatingdailydatafromdetaileddata

MCH User Manual

AnnexASysteminstallation
Instructions for installing the system in server and client modes.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THE MCH SYSTEM
Thesystem shouldbeinstalledbypersonnel who arefamiliar withthe Windows operating system,

andtheODBCoptionoftheWindowsoperatingsystemconfiguration.

The installation procedure is invoked with the MCHInstalar.exe command, which in several
screenstakesyouthough thevarioussteps neededtoinstallitinserver andclient modes. Thereis
alsoaleafletwhichexplainsindetailhowtoinstalltheMySQL5databaseserver.
Below we show the screens of the installation procedure (theprocedure may have been updated
andmaybeslightlydifferentwhenyourunit).
Inthebottomcornerofeachpartoftheinstallationprocessyouwillfindinstructionsandcomments
forthatstep,whichareshownhereinfullasdocumentation.
INSTALLING MCH IN SERVER MODE
Figure 123:Installing MCH.Server step 1

1) Installing the MCH system. This module is the clientserver part that is used for
administrationandmanagement.
This part installs the system in user / administrator mode for operation on LAN and WAN
networks.
1.Identifythedisk and/ordirectory(folder) containingtheinstallationprocedure and the drive/
directory (folder) where the system is to be installed, then click the Activarproceso de instalacin
(Startinstallation)button.
2.InMCH,intheinstallationdirectorythereisacontrolfilecalledmch.dbn;ifitdoesnotexist,
it is created it with defaultparameterswhen the user connects.When using aDSNotherthanthe
defaultone,youneedtoeditittoadaptthereferencetothedatabase.
ClicktheEditararchivomch.dbndecontrol(Editmch.dbncontrolfile)button.
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3.Tohandle isoline maps,you haveto installa ps (postscript)file converter andthecontrolfile
thatreferencesit:
To install conversion of ps files to images,click the Activarconvertidorde ps a mapas (Start psto
mapsconverter)button.
4.ClicktheEditarambientedemapas(Editmapsenvironment)button.
Themch.dbnfile,contains fivelines;itdefines theODBC for accessingthe system and thetypeof
databaseusedinlines1 and2,theuserinterfacelanguageinline3,thedatabaselanguageinline4
andthewebbrowserforconsultingtheonlinehelpinline5.
Typically,thisfileshouldhavefivelines:
mch
MYSQL5
1
1
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
In the maps environment file gmtenv.bat set the directory containing the system in the lines for
externalnamesNETCDF,GMTHOMEandHOME.
SET NETCDF=C:\MCH\GMT\BIN
SET GMTHOME=C:\MCH\GMT
SET HOME=C:\MCH\GMT

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2) Installing the database. The installation of the database server begins. There is an
additional leaflet explaining the installation of the database in detail and the ODBC
connectorrequiredfortheoperationofMCH.
ThisprocessinstallstheMySQLdatabaseserver.
To work, the MySQL database server requires a TCP/IP network connection and the network
mustbeactivetoallowittoworkproperly.
It is recommended to install the database server in its own directory in the root of the disk on
whichitistobeinstalled,suchasC:
\MySQL5orD:\MySQL5.
There is an additional leaflet with detailed instructions for installing the database manager and
theODBCconnector.
Afterthisprocess,underoptionsshowninothertabs,youhaveto:
1.RunMySQL as a service or an application.TheMySQL5installationprocedure comes withthe
optionto installit directlyasaservice.Youalsoneed toinstallthe ODBC manager anddefinethe
DSNforthedatabase.
2. Define users in the database.During the installation procedure you define the system
administratoruser(root)anditmaybenecessarytodefineotheruserstoo.
3.Loadthepreviouslyprepareddataintothedatabase.
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3) Runningthedatabasemanagerasaservice.Thisisexplainedinthedatabaseinstallation
leaflet.
The process ofinstallingMySQL already comes with the methodfor startingthe databaseserver
asaservice.
Ifnecessary,youcanruntheMySQLServerInstanceConfigurationWizardtask.
Documentation is included for the actions for executing this procedure and there is additional
documentationonhowtorunMySQLasanapplication.
To work, the MySQL database server requires a TCP/IP network connection and the network
StartingMySQLasaserviceinWindows2000oralaterversion.
1.Copythefilex:\mysql\bin\myexample.cnftoc:\my.cnf
2.EdittheinternalreferencestopointtotheMySQLserverinstallationdirectory.
3.InaDOSwindow,executethecommandx:\mysql\bin\mysqldnt.exeinstall.
4.StartthemysqlserviceinaDOSwindowusingthecommand
NETSTARTmysql
x:denotestheharddiskwhereMySQLisinstalled.
StartingMySQLasanapplication.
1.CreatetheMySQLtemporaryworkingdirectoryonthedrivewhereMySQLisinstalled.
InaDOSwindow,runthecommand
mdx:\temp
2.InaDOSwindow,runthecommand
x:\mysql\bin\mysqld.exentx:\temp
We recommend creating two shortcuts to start and stop MySQL directly, in case MySQL cannot
becorrectlystartedasaservice.
1.CreateashortcuttostartMySQL,namedStartMySQLandwithparameters:
Destination:x:\mysql\bin\mysqld.exentx:\temp
Startin:x:\mysql
2.CreateashortcuttostopMySQL,namedStopMySQLandwithparameters:
Destination:x:\mysql\bin\mysqladmin.exeshutdown
Startin:x:\mysql
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4) Installing the ODBC manager for connecting to the database. The ODBC manager is a
type ofdatabase accessin widespreaduseto enable manysoftwarepackagesto connectto
databases.
ThisprocesscallstheinstallationoftheMySQLODBCusermanager.TheODBC(OpenDataBase
Connectivity) database user manager needs to be installed to enable the programs to access the
database.
The MySQL database server requires a TCP/IP network connection to operate and the network
Afterthisprocess,underanoptionshowninanothertab,youhaveto:
1. Define the data source names (DSNs) to establish the relations between the users and the
database.
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5) Defining users in the database. The installation procedure involvesthe definition of the
administrator. In thesupport file mchInicio.sql on the installationdisk is a procedure that
can be run from the mysql.exe program which is executed from the command line and
accessesthedatabase,whichdefinestwomoreusers.
Defining users in the MySQL database.These users are used via the DSNs with which the
programscalltheMySQLdatabase.
Define users in the MySQL database fromtheMySQL directory by entering withthe command
bin\mysql.
Onceinside,type:
USE MYSQL;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO password@"%" WITH GRANT OPTION;
Forotherusers,consulttheMySQLmanualsforrestrictedaccesstoinformation.
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6) Copying data to the database. The CD has two subdirectories (subfolders) inside the
mysqldata directory (folder), which have to be copied into the data subdirectory (sub
folder)oftheserverinstallationsubdirectoryoftheMySQLdatabaseandwhichcontainsone
clean database andanotherwithtestdata which canbeusedfor operatingandlearning the
MCHsystem.
ToinstalltheMySQLdatabasefiles,thefilesmaybepackedinzipformatorinfulldirectories.
Younormallyhavetwodatabases,oneblankandtheothercontainingsometestdatatohelplearn
thesystem.
Unpack each data file into the data subdirectory of the MySQL database.Unpack them into the
directory ..\MySQL...\Data\mch, ..\MySQL...\Data\mchpr and
..\MySQL...\Data\capttemp.
The zipped data files may be on one or more CDs depending on the data version for the
installationandthewriteformatoftheCDused.
Ifnecessary, manuallycreatethe directories..\MySQL..\Data\mch,.\MySQL...\Data\mchpr
and..\MySQL...\Data\capttemp, onthe diskdrive wheretheMySQL databaseserverhasbeen
installed.
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7) DefiningtheDSNfortheMCHdatabase.ThisisdocumentedinmoredetailintheMySQL5
databaseinstallationleaflet.
The data source names (DSNs) are needed to enable the programs to communicate with the
database.
YouneedtodefineanODBCfortheMySQLdatabase.
YouhavetodefinetheDSN(preferablyforthesystem)withtheODBC32oftheoperatingsystem
(ODBCdatasources,ODBCdataorigins,ODBC32,ODBC,orothersimilarnamegiventothetask
bytheoperatingsystem)whichisnormallyfoundinControlpanel/Administrativetools.
SetthemchDSNwithaMySQLdriverforthemchdatabaseandmchprforthemchprdatabase
andDSNcapttempforthecapttempdatabase.
See the installation procedurefor the MySQL database for detailed instructions for defining the
ODBCconnectors.
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8) Installingthe Apachewebserver.In MCH, web functions canbemanaged fromApache.If
you are installing Apache version 2, the activation functions are controlled directly in the
installationprocedure.
ThisprocessinstallstheApachewebserverforuseinintranetorinternetmode.
We recommend installingthe Apache server fromthe rootdirectory of thehard disk on whichit
isinstalled(e.g.C:\ApacheGroup).
Then,inprocessessetinothertabs,youhaveto:
1.AdapttheApacheconfigurationfilesothatitcallstheprocessesproperly.
2.LoadthepagesandpageprogramsintotheApachedirectories.
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9) StartApacheasaservice. TheinstallationprocesscreatesaprocedureforstartingApache
asaservice.Thismayinvolveadaptingtheconfigurationfile.
YoufirsthavetoadapttheApacheconfigurationfile.Youthenhavetostartitasaservice.
ForApache1.3.12itisinserted.ForApache2,someprocessesaresuppliedduringtheinstallation
process and others by editing the configuration file. The MySQL database installation manual
givesdetailsoftheApache2.2installation.
Apache1.3.12.
Theconfigurationfileisadaptedasfollows:
To start the Apache web server you have to adapt the configuration file conf\httpd.conf to
enableittocallthewebpagesproperly.
Adapt the http.conf file of the Apache server (originally there is only the file http.conf.default
whichyoushouldcopyashttp.conf; donotrename it), in accordance withthefile portionslisted
below (the location oftheApache directory may be different depending on the option selected
wheninstallingApache):
ServerRoot "D:/Apache Group/Apache"

### Section 2: 'Main' server configuration
# ServerAdmin: Your address, where problems with the server should be. This address
appears on some server-generated pages, such
# as error documents.
#
ServerAdmin mchbd09@miservidor.nombre.ext

# ServerName allows you to set a host name which is sent back to clients for
# your server if it's different than the one the program would get (i.e., use
# "www" instead of the host's real name).
#
# Note: You cannot just invent host names and hope they work. The name you
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# define here must be a valid DNS name for your host. If you don't understand
# this, ask your network administrator.
# If your host doesn't have a registered DNS name, enter its IP address here.
# You will have to access it by its address (e.g., http://123.45.67.89/)
# anyway, and this will make redirections work in a sensible way.
#
ServerName 192.168.5.133

#
# DocumentRoot: The directory out of which you will serve your
# documents. By default, all requests are taken from this directory, but
# symbolic links and aliases may be used to point to other locations.
#
DocumentRoot "D:/Apache Group/Apache/htdocsmch"

#
# This should be changed to whatever you set DocumentRoot to.
#
<Directory "D:/Apache Group/Apache/htdocsmch">

#
# Aliases: Add here as many aliases as you need (with no limit). The format is
# Alias fakename realname
#
# Note that if you include a trailing / on fakename then the server will
# require it to be present in the URL. So "/icons" isn't aliased in this
# example, only "/icons/"..
#
Alias /icons/ "D:/Apache Group/Apache/icons/"
Alias /mchg/ "D:/Apache Group/Apache/cgi-binmch/"

# ScriptAlias: This controls which directories contain server scripts.
# ScriptAliases are essentially the same as Aliases, except that
# documents in the realname directory are treated as applications and
# run by the server when requested rather than as documents sent to the client.
# The same rules about trailing "/" apply to ScriptAlias directives as to
# Alias.
#
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "D:/Apache Group/Apache/cgi-bin/"
ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "D:/Apache Group/Apache/cgi-bin/"
#
# "C:/Apache Group/Apache/cgi-bin" should be changed to whatever your ScriptAliased
# CGI directory exists, if you have that configured.
#
<Directory "C:/Apache Group/Apache/cgi-bin">
AllowOverride None
Options None
</Directory>

<Directory "C:/Apache Group/Apache/cgi-binmch">
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AllowOverride None
Options None
</Directory>

The Apache web server can be run directly or as a service (in NT/2000 or later).As a service, it
runsautomaticallyeverytimethecomputerrestarts,whichisveryconvenientforaserver.
TostartApacheyoufirsthavetoadapttheconfigurationfile.
TorunApacheasaservice:
IntheWindowsStartmenu,selectPrograms,ApacheWebServer,InstallApacheasService
TorunApacheasanapplication:
IntheWindowsStartmenu,selectPrograms,ApacheWebServer,StartApache.

10) WebpageinApache.ThisisacopyofcontentdefinedfortheMCHwebpage(intranet).The
content will certainly need to be adapted substantially, but some basic data capture and
displayfunctionsareprovided,allwithdynamicquerying.
Installingthenecessaryfilesforthewebserver.
Ifyoureceivethemunpacked,copythemwiththecommandcopycontentofwebpage.
Iftheyarepackedintoazipfile,youneedatooltounpackthefiles,suchas7Zip.
Unpack the zip file with the subdirectories option checked, as the files have to be downloaded
into several subdirectories.Unpack it from the directory Apache Group\Apache, asit will use
the subdirectories Apache Group\Apache\htdocsmch, Apache Group\Apache\cgibinmch,
etc.
Theynormallygointothedirectorieshtdocsmchandcgibinmch.
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Youalsoneedtoadaptthefilemch.dbninthedirectorycgibinmchwhichreferencesthedatabase
duringdynamicmanagementinwebmode.

11) Additional task scheduler. Some operating system versions require an additional task
scheduler, tosolve certain operational problems for someusers. This a graphic option for
that.
Optionalinstallation
TheWincrontaskschedulerisagraphicschedulerthatmayberequiredinWindows2000orlater
whenthere arefrequentchangesofWindows passwords and users donot knowhowtomake all
thenecessarychangeswhenchangingaWindowspassword.
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12) DesktopshortcuttotheMCHsystem
MakeashortcuttotheMCHsystem.
Destination: C:\mch\MCHBD09.exe
Startin:C:\mch
orinthedirectorywhereMCHisinstalled.
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INSTALLING MCH IN USER MODE
Figure 135:Installing MCH.User step 1

1) Installing the MCH system. This module is the clientserver part that is used for
administrationandmanagement.
Thissectioninstallsthesysteminuser/administratormode.
1.Identifythedisk and/ordirectory(folder) containingtheinstallationprocedure and the drive/
directory (folder) where the system isto be installed, then click the Activarproceso de instalacin
(Startinstallation)button.
2.Tohandle isoline maps,you haveto installa ps (postscript)file converter andthecontrolfile
thatreferencesit:
To install conversion of ps files to images,click the Activarconvertidorde ps a mapas (Start psto
mapsconverter)button.
3.ClicktheEditmapsenvironmentbutton.
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2) InstallingtheODBCmanagerforMySQL. TheODBC managerisatype of databaseaccess
in widespread use toenable many software packages to connect to databases. The MySQL
databaseserverinstallationleafletexplainsindetailhowtogoaboutitanddefinetheDSN.
ThisprocesscallstheinstallationoftheMySQLODBCusermanager.TheODBC(OpenDataBase
Connectivity) database user manager needs to be installed to enable the programs to access the
database.
The MySQL database server requires a TCP/IP network connection to operate and the network
Afterthisprocess,underanoptionshowninanothertab,youhaveto:
1. Define the data source names (DSNs) to establish the relations between the users and the
database.
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3) Adaptthecontrolfilemch.dbn.Themch.dbnfiledefinesthenameoftheDSNandthetype
ofdatabaseused.Thissmallcontrolfilehastobeadapted,asrequired,tothedatabasetobe
referenced.Wherethesystemisalreadyinstalled,theinstallationdirectorycanbecopiedto
another directory and the file altered, so that you can have access to two different MCH
databases.
InMCH, the installation directorycontains a control filecalled mch.dbn; if it doesnotexist, itis
created with default parameters when the user connects. When using a DSN other than the
defaultone,youneedtoeditittoadaptthereferencetothedatabase.
ClicktheActivaredicindearchivo(Starteditingfile)button.
Thefiletobeadaptedis:
1.mch.dbn,inthesystemdirectory,
mch.dbn defines the ODBC for accessingthe system and thetype of database usedin lines1 and
2,the user interface language in line 3, the database languagein line 4 and the web browser for
consultingtheonlinehelpinline5.
Typically,thisfileshouldhavefivelines:
mch
MYSQL5
1
1
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
In the maps environment file gmtenv.bat set the directory containing the system in the lines for
externalnamesNETCDF,GMTHOMEandHOME.
SET NETCDF=C:\MCH\GMT\BIN
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SET GMTHOME=C:\MCH\GMT
SET HOME=C:\MCH\GMT

4) DesktopshortcuttotheMCHsystem.YouneedtomakeashortcuttotheMCHsystemtorun
it. You do this with Windows Explorer; rightclick on the system directory, drag onto the
desktop and ask for it tobe made into a shortcut. Then rename the shortcut to something
appropriate.
Make it a system shortcut.Edit the directory if it has been installed somewhere other than the
defaultdirectory.
1.Makeashortcutfortheprogram:
Destination: C:\mch\MCHBD09.exe
Startin:C:\mch
orinthedirectorywheretheMCHsystemhasbeeninstalled.
.end of installation procedure.

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AnnexBObtainingMCHdatabaseinformationfromExcelspreadsheets

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ObtainingMCHdatabaseinformationfromExcelspreadsheets
SystemrequirementsforaccessingMCHdatainExcel:
Atleast:Office97or Office2000professional, OfficeXPSOHO(Small Office HomeOffice)or
Office2003professional.
Install the data manager for communicating with the MySQL data server (MySQL ODBC
driver)onthecomputerwheretheExcelspreadsheetistobeused.
ConnectiontoanMCHdataserverviaaLANorWAN.
ToactivatetheconnectionfromExceltodatabases:
Figure 139:Excel Tools
Figure 140:Excel Tools Add-ins
InExcel,openablankspreadsheetandselectTools/AddIns.
RuntheODBCAddinmacro.
Savethefilewithaname,exitfromExcelandstartitagain.Thisproceduremaydirectlycall
upaspreadsheetthathasbeencreated previously andistobeedited.Communication with the
databasemaybeactivatedbysearchingforthefileXLODBC.xlawiththeWindowsdatasearch.
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Figure 141:Excel Tools
Figure 142:Excel Tools Add-ins

ToinstalltheconnectiontotheMySQLdatabase:
On the MCH install CD run the command mysqlconnectorodbc3.51.21win32.msi.See the
MySQL5serverinstallationleafletforamoredetailedexplanation.
IntheWindowsControlPanel,selectdatasourceODBC32(Windows95,98)orinWindows
2000 ControlPanel / Administrative Tools/ Data sources (ODBCData Source); youhave to set a
datasourceforcommunicatingwiththeMCHdatabase.
Figure 143:ODBC definition for MySQL5 1
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In System DNS, add type MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver and set suitable parameters for the
location of the MCHdatabase, asshownin thefigurefor creating a MySQLtype DNS andthen save
theinformationbyclickingOK.
Figure 143:Installing MySQL ODBC
TocalldatainanExcelspreadsheetfromtheMCHdatabase.
Inthecellwherethedataaretogo,typeastatementofthefollowingtype:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from ddPrecipitation where
station = codeand date = aaaammdd)
whichcallstheprecipitationvalueforastationonagivendate.
If thereisarecordfor the stationand theday in the Excelspreadsheet cell whereyou entered the
statement it displays the information, otherwise it displays #N/A and that value cannot be
handled properly by Excel operations. We therefore recommended that the cell that requires the
value should make reference to the cell calling the value from the database and test whether the
datumexistswithastatementsuchas:
=IF(ISNUMBER(BD20); BD20; )
Tofacilitatecallsto thedatabase,itis agoodideain onecolumntoenterthestationcodesthatyou
needtoqueryandinafixedpositionthedateordates withinwhichyouneedto makethequery,as
showninthefigure.
Figure 145:SQL.REQUEST function in Excel

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There follows a number of examples of common data calls to the MCH database, in which it is
assumedthatthestationcodeisincellP11,thedateisincellS5oftheworksheetinwhichthecallis
executed;moreoveranabsolute(fixed)referenceismadetothedate,becauseitisassumedthatthe
datewouldbechangedinasingleplacetorepeatthedatacall,andthecallofthestationispartially
fixed (column),becauseitis alsoconsideredthatthe stationcodesareina columnand we want to
be able to copy the expression to a number of contiguousdescending cells, facilitating the task of
buildingallthenecessarycallstothedatabasefromExcel.
Toobtaintheprecipitationatagivenstationonagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from dePrecipitation where station =
& $P11 & and date = & $S$5 & )
Toobtainthemaximumairtemperatureatagivenstationonagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select maxvalue from deAirTemp where station = &
$P11 & and date = & $S$5 & )
Toobtaintheminimumairtemperatureatagivenstationonagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select minvalue from deAirTemp where station = &
$P11 & and date = & $S$5 & )
Toobtainthemeanairtemperatureatagivenstationonagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from deAirTemp where station = &
$P11 & and date = & $S$5 & )
Toobtainthelevel(gaugeorelevation)ofahydrometricstationordamforagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from deLevel where station = & $P11
& and date = & $S$5 & )
Toobtainthestoredvolumeofwaterinadamonagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from deStoredVol where station = &
$P11 & and date = & $S$5 & )
Toobtaintheareaofthewatersurfaceinadamonagivenday:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from deDamArea where station = &
$P11 & and date = & $S$5 & )
The following table identifies the variables in MCH and the table typeassociated with the variable
for daily data; for instance the evaporation table is ddEvaporation and the barometric pressure
table is deBaromPressure. There may be many more tables; they can be consulted under menu
optionDefinitions/Variables/Variables.
Variable Type of daily data table generated
DamArea
de
GustDirn
dd
WindDirn
dd
Evaporation
dd
RiverFlow
de
RelHumidity
de
Level
de
O2
de
O2mgl
de
pH
de
Precipitation
dd
BaromPressure
de
SolarRadn
de
GustSpeed
de
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Variable Type of daily data table generated
WindSpeed
de
Salinity
de
WaterTemp
de
AirTemp
de
IndoorTemp
de
GroundTemp
de
Turbidity
de
StrgVolume
de
Visibility
de
BattVoltage
de
Thedataoftype"dd"tablesareasfollows:station(type,stationcode),date(dateofdatum),value
(valueofvariableonday),code(message codetype),cumulvalue(cumulativevaluefrom startof
year), daynum(day number with data in year), numStations(number of stations generating data
for theday whenthedatum wascalculatedfor astation group,inwhich casethestation codeis the
groupcode),source(datasource).
Thedata oftype"de" tablesareas follows:station(code ofstation orstation group),date (dateof
datum), value (value of the variable on the day), code (message or character code),
maxvalue(maximumvalueofthevariableintheday; manyvariablesthat regularlyreportonlyone
datum a day containthesame data as value), maxdatetime(date andtime atwhich the maximum
occurred), codemax(maximum value message code, character), minvalue(minimum value of the
variable in the day; many variables that regularly report only one datum a day contain the same
data asvalue),mindatetime(date and timewhenthe minimumoccurred),codemin(message code
of minimum value, character), cumulvalue(cumulative value from the start of the year),
numday(numberofdays with datain theyear),numStn(number of stations generating thedatum
ontheday,0or1whenitisstationdata),source(datasource).
Herearesomeotherpossibilities forobtainingdatafrom theMCHdatabaseinExcel,assumingthat
the station code is in cell P11, the start date is in cell S5 and the end date in cellS6 of the current
worksheet.
Toobtaintheprecipitationrecordedoveraperiodatastation:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select SUM(value) from dePrecipitation where
station = & $P11 & and date >= & $S$5 & and date <= & $S$6 &
)
Toobtainthemaximumprecipitationrecordedoveraperiodatastation:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select MAX(value) from dePrecipitation where
station = & $P11 & and date >= & $S$5 & and date <= & $S$6 &
)
Toobtaintheminimumtemperaturerecordedoveraperiodatastation:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select MIN(value) from deAirTemp where station =
& $P11 & and date >= & $S$5 & and date <= & $S$6 & )
Toobtainthetotalvolumeofwaterremovedbydamoutletoveraperiod:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select SUM(value)* 0.0864 from dePrecipitation
where station = & $P11 & and date >= & $S$5 & and date <= &
$S$6 & )
Queries can be even more complex,butthis is not generally needed for fixedreports, only for any
analysesyou may wishtocarry out. Todothat,youwillneedto querynotjustasingledatumbuta
wholearrayofdata.
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Toenteran arrayexpressioninExcel,selectazone,e.g.threecolumnsby50rows,thenpressF2to
go into edit mode, key in the desired expression for fetching data and then press ShiftCtrlEnter
rather than just Enter to finish entering the formula. After you enter the array expression, Excel
displays the expression between curly brackets {}.If the area of the arrayhasinsufficient space to
displayall theresults, Excel willshow only the initialpart oftheresults asfarasit caninthearray
ofExcelcellsdefinedinthequery.
Examplesofdatacalledbyan array (assumingthateach expression willbe given enoughrows and
columnstocontainalltheresults).
Toobtainthedailyprecipitationrecordedoveraperiodatastation:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select value from dePrecipitation where station =
& $P11 & and date >= & $S$5 & and date <= & $S$6 & )
Toobtainthecodesandnamesofstationsinastationgroup:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select t1.station, t1.stationname from stations as
t1, stngroup as t2 where t2.stngroup = & Z13 & and t1.station =
t2.station)
Toobtainthemeantemperaturesofeachstationinagroup,withstationcodesandnames,recorded
onagivendate:
=SQL.REQUEST(DSN=mch,,4,Select t1.station, t1.stationname, t2.value from
stations as t1, deAirTemp as t2, stngroup as t3 where t3.stngroup = & Z13 &
and t1.station = t3.station and t2.station = t3.station)
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AnnexCPreparingamapinDXFtoloadintoMCHforpresentinginformation
inzonemaps

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PreparingamapinDXFtoloadintoMCHforpresentinginformation
inzonemaps
To represent zone maps in MCH you have to place one or more polygons associated with a zone
name,andthiszonecanthenbelinkedtoastationgroup.Themapcanalsobelabelled.
Such maps canbe preparedinAutocadoranother computeraideddesign(CAD)tool. Thefinished
mapshouldbeexportedasaDXFfilecompatiblewithAutocad12orolder.Herewedescribehowto
prepareamapinAutocad(version10orlater),withinstructionsastowhichcommandstouse.Ina
graphicalenvironmentyoucanaccessthecommandsusingbuttonsintoolbars.
ItisfarpreferabletostartfromanexistingmapandthenworkonittoprepareitforMCH.
1. Create alayernamedthe sameas eachzone ofthe mapthatyou wanttoberepresentedin
MCH.Werecommendusingadifferentlinecolourtothosealreadyonthemap.
2. UsetheOSNAPcommandtosettheEndPointandIntersectionoptions.
3. Repeattheprocessforeachlayeronthemap.
a. Selectthelayerasthecurrentlayer.
b. Execute the PLINE (PL) command to draw a polyline around the perimeter of the
zone to be represented.If the zone has several unconnected sections (such as
islands),drawasmanypolylinesasneeded.Drawclosedpolygons.
4. Savethemap.Preferably,deleteanyitemsthatdonotneedtobeshowninMCH.
5. ExporttoDXF(ifusingAutocad13orlater,selectDXFlevelAcad12).
6. RunthecommandDXFaMCH.exeininteractivemode.
Figure 146:DXFaMCH.exe routine

A DXF file can be loaded several times into MCH, with different names in the database, which is
recommended whenyouoftenhaveseveralrepresentationsofdifferentdata onthesamemap;this
enablesyoutokeepsuitablecoloursandfillsinMCHforeachdataset.
Endofprocedure.
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AnnexDToolsforexchangingMCHinformationwithothersystemsand
betweenMCHlocations

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ToolsforexchanginginformationfromMCHwithother systemsand
betweenMCHlocations
There are several programs or functions, referred to hereas utilities, which are used toexchange
informationbetweenMCHandotherinformationsystems,including:
SendingdatabyFTPtoanotherMCHlocation(EnviarMCH.exe).
Automatically loading data received by FTP from another MCH location
(CargMCHFtpCtl.exe).
ManuallyloadingdatareceivedfromanotherMCHlocation(CargFtpMCH.exe).
Loading maps in DXF format to represent data on various map projections
(DXFaBinGeogr.exe).
DigitizingtapeswithDigitBan.exe.
Other data export functions can be performed directly within MCH in text and Excel spreadsheet
formats anywhere MCH data can be consulted. Graphs may also be exported in .bmp and .jpg
formats,whichcanthenbeusedasimagesinmanysoftwarepackages.
TheEnviarMCH.execommand
ForsendingfilesbyFTP,usingtheNcFTPput.execommandtoanotherMCHlocation.
Formatofthecommand:
TheCargMCHftpctl.execommand
It automatically loads files recently received by FTP into a set of directories defined in file
ftprecep.dbn, in which each line is the full pathname of each directory receiving data. It looks up
MCHtable ftpbitacprocif each ofthe files withextension .mchfoundineach directorydefinedin
ftprecep.dbnexistsalready,otherwiseitsendsitforloadingwithcommandCargFtpMCH.exe.
Formatofthecommand:
CargMCHFtpCtl
This command should normally be scheduled to run every 30 minutes during the time when
information is normally captured and transmitted, using the task scheduler, and there should also
beadesktopshortcutsothatitcanberunwheninformationisreceivedatothertimes.
ItalwaystakesDSNasequaltomch.
EnviarMCH option [fileout [startdate [enddate DSN]]]]
Where:
option is defined as a file-transfer option in the menu
Definitions / Transmissions / FTP transmission options
fileout is the prefix of the output file.
If not supplied, startdate defaults to the current date.
If not supplied, enddate defaults to the current date.
If not supplied, DSN defaults to mch
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TheCargFtpMCH.execommand
Thisloads adatafilereceived by FTP, prepared atanotherMCHlocationusingthe EnviarMCH.exe
command.
ItalwaystakesDSNasequaltomch.
Formatofthecommand:
CargFtpMCHinputfile [R]
inputfile should be the full name with path and extension
of the file prepared by the SendMCH.exe program.
When present, the optional parameter R indicates that the
process works in overwrite mode.
TheCargaSynopMetarB.execommand
It loads SYNOPFM12, METAR / SPECI and SYNOPCREX messages and a special version of SYNOP
messageswhicharestillencodedinFM12format,withcommaseparatedvalues.
Thisroutinecanberunininteractivemodeorasabatchprocess.
Forinteractiveoperation,runtheroutineandselectthefilestobeloadedofeachtype,oneatatime.
IttakestheDSNfromthefilemch.dbn.
Formatofthecommandforbatchprocessing:
CargaSynopMetarB [S DirecSynopFM12] [M DirecMetar] [SC
DirecSynopCrex] [R nminutes]
-S DirecSynopFM12 name of directory where it looks for
files containing FM12 messages for loading into the MCH
database.
-M DirecMetar name of the directory where it looks for
files containing SYNOP and METAR messages for loading.
-S DirecSynopCrex name of directory where it looks for
files containing CREX messages for loading into the
database.
-R nminutes tells the program to stay resident in memory
and attempt to find more messages after n minutes.This is
useful when messages are to be received automatically or
when you want to place new messages in a directory and have
them load automatically.If there are none, it executes the
process and terminates.Alternatively, you can create a
scheduled task and invoke it without the R parameter.
Theformatsofthemessagefilestobeloadedareshownineachofthetabs.Ininteractivemode,the
extensions do not matter, but for batchprocessingtheextensions must be .txt for SYNOPFM12,
METAR/SPECIandSYNOPCREXmessagesand.lisforcommaseparatedSYNOPmessages.
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In the case of SYNOPFM12 messages, which are not completely content, you need to supply the
year and month to which the messagesbelong.Forbatch processing, thelast six characters of the
filename before the extension must containthe year, month and day in the format YYMMDD.Only
theYYMMdatawillbetakenintoaccountforloading;thedayistakenfromeachmessage.
Figure 147:Loading SYNOP, METAR / SPECI and SYNOP-CREX messages 1
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TheDXFaBinGeogr.execommand
Thisisrunininteractivemode.ItcreatesseveralmchtypefileswhichmaycomefromWDBworld
databankmapfilesormapfiles.Whentheyarespreadoverseveralmaps,thereistheoptiontoadd
totheexistingmaterial.
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Figure 151:Converting DXF maps to binary for MCH
DigitizingtapeswithDigitBan.exe
Various types of tapes of rectangular and rectangularcircular formats can be digitized. In
rectangular tapes, the writing pen moves about a vertical axis and the movement over time is
controlledbyaclock.Inrectangularcirculartapes,thewritingpenrotatesonashaftsothatthepen
writesonasectorofacircumferenceandmovementovertimeiscontrolledbyaclock.
In any case, the values shown on the graphs must be of a linear type, i.e. the value is linearly
proportionaltoabasevalue.Fortapesnotsatisfying thesedigitizing criteriait canbedoneinparts
ortakingaccountofthesectionoftapethatdoessatisfythelinearitycriteria.
Sun measurement (heliophany) tapes are one of the two previoustypes, depending on the time of
year,buttheyhaveaspecialtreatmentforscalingandarehandledwithseparateoptions.
Tapedigitizationdataaresavedinthedetaileddatatables.Thedetailedtablescontaintwofieldsfor
thereportedvalues:valueandcorrvaluewherevalueisusedtostorethedatumasreported(in
thiscasethedigitizedvaluesubjecttoscaling)andcorrvalueorcorrectedvalueisthedatumafter
applying a calculation criterion or is a duplicate of value if no calculation is performed on the
datum. In the case of cumulative type tapes, the digitized datum is stored in value and the
difference between two consecutive measurements or a single directoneis stored in corrvalue,
dependingonthestatusofthepreviousdatum.
Therearethefollowingoptionsforrectangulartapes:
Rectangular.Thevalueontheverticalaxis(corrvalue)isthedigitizedone.
Cumulative rectangular. Thevalue on the vertical axis(corrvalue) is the absolute value of
thedifferencebetweentwoconsecutivemeasurements.
Nonnegative cumulative rectangular. The value in the vertical axis (corrvalue) is the
differencebetweentwoconsecutivemeasurementsandifnegativeissetto0.
Therearethefollowingoptionsforrectangularcirculartapes:
Rectangularcircular.Thevalueontheverticalaxis(corrvalue)isthedigitizedone.
Cumulative rectangularcircular. The value on the vertical axis (corrvalue) is the absolute
valueofthedifferencebetweentwoconsecutivemeasurements.
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On rectangular and rectangularcircular tapes for sun measurement, the length of the horizontal
axis mustbe onlyhalf the tape widthand correspondstothevalue ofthesunintensity and timein
theverticaldirection.
Figure 152:Digitizing tapes. 1.
Todigitizerectangulartypetapes:
1. Select the station group containing the station to be digitized from the Station group
combobox.
2. SelectthestationfromtheStationcombobox.
3. Selectthevariable ofthetape or section of tape tobe digitized from the Variable combo
box.
4. Selectthetape type from the Tapetypecombobox.(Precipitationisof theNonnegative
cumulativerectangulartype).Selectingthetapetypeshowstherelevanttabwherethedata
aretobesuppliedfromanddeterminesthescale.
5. ClickthebuttonImagetodigitizetoloadtheimagetobedigitized(seethenotebelowon
usingadigitizingtablet).Ifitisnota.bmptype,theprogramconvertsitdirectly(ithastobe
copiedintothesubdirectoryconvimageneswheretheDigitBand.exeprogramresides).
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Scalingrectangulartapes

6. ClicktheScalebutton.Seetheimageforthelocationofthepoints.
a. Clickonthetoplefthandpoint(thislocatesthevaluesX1,Y1intherighthandpane).
b. Click on the bottom lefthand point (this locates the values X2,Y2in the righthand
pane).
c. Clickon thebottomrighthandpoint (thislocates thevalues X3,Y3intherighthand
pane).
Thisdrawsaquadrilateralthatisusedasareferenceforshowingthedatazone.
7. EntertheYvalueforthetoplefthandpoint(dependingontheprecipitationtapesreceived,
10istobeexpectedintheValY1fieldintherighthandpane.
8. Enter the Y value for the bottom lefthand point (depending on the precipitation tapes
received,0istobeexpectedintheValY3fieldintherighthandpane.
9. Enterthestartdateandtimeforpoint1andtheenddateandtimeforpoint3.
10. SelectthedesiredtimeroundingfordigitizationintheRoundtimetocombobox.Thissets
theminimumintervalsbetweendataandroundsthetimetothedefinedintervals.
11. Click the Recalculate scale button. Rolling the mouse over the image displays in the
upperpane,just above theimage the X,Yposition,date andtime,and the value associated
witheachpointontheimage
Digitizingarecordonarectangulartape
12. Clickontheimage,adjustingitascloselyaspossibletothelineonthetapeandthedigitized
values will be recorded, drawing a linebetween the digitized points and showing them in
theupperpaneintherighthandtable.
13. Todeleteadigitizedvaluepress<ShiftClick>.
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14. ToloadthedigitizeddataclicktheUpdatedatabutton.
When using a digitizer tablet, select the tablet section (or the whole tablet area) as the
screenarea.Onthescreen,identifyvisuallythepositionassociatedwiththepartoftheimage,place
the tape on the tablet and continue as for an image, but yu do not have to load the image.As a
referenceinthiscase,youcanusetheDrawgridbuttontohelpreferencetheareaofthetapethat
isbeingdigitized.
Todigitizerectangularcirculartypetapes
1. Select the station group containing the station to be digitized from the Station group
combobox.
2. SelectthestationfromtheStationcombobox.
3. Selectthevariable ofthetape or section of tape tobe digitized from the Variable combo
box.
4. Select the tape type from the Tape type combo box.Selecting the tape type shows the
relevanttabwherethedataaretobesuppliedfromanddeterminesthescale.
5. Loadtheimage tobedigitizedby clickingtheImageto digitizebutton.Ifitisnot a .bmp
type, the program converts it directly (it has to be copied into the subdirectory
convimageneswheretheDigitBand.exeprogramresides.
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Scalingrectangularcirculartapes
6. ClicktheScalebutton.Enterfivepoints,twoonthehorizontalaxistodefinethetime(1,2)
andthreeonacircle(C1,C2,C3)todefinethevaluesontheverticalaxis.
a. Clickonthemiddlelefthandpoint"1(thissetsthevaluesatX1,Y1).
b. Clickonthemiddlerighthandpoint"2(thissetsthevaluesX2,Y2).
c. ClickonthetoplefthandpointofthecircleC1(thissetsthevaluesXC1,YC1).
d. Clickonthemiddlelefthandpoint(again)"C1(thissetsthevaluesXC2,YC2).
e. Clickonthebottomlefthandpoint"C3(thissetsthevaluesXC3,YC3).
Thisdrawsthreelinestoindicatethepositionofthedigitizedpoints.
7. EntertheYvalueassociatedwithpointC1(XC1,YC1)inthefieldValY1.
8. EntertheYvalueassociatedwithpointC3(XC3,YC3)inthefieldValY3.
9. Enterthestartdateandtimeforpoint1andtheenddateandtimeforpoint2.
10. SelectthedesiredtimeroundingfordigitizationintheRoundtimetocombobox.
11. Click the Recalculate scale button. Rolling the mouse over the image displays in the
upperpane,just above theimage the X,Yposition,date andtime,and the value associated
witheachpointontheimageThiscanbeusedtocheckthattheimagewasproperlyscaled.
Digitizingarecordonarectangularcirculartape
12. Clickontheimageandthedigitizedvalueswillberecordedandshowninthetoppaneinthe
righthandtable.
13. TodeleteadigitizedvaluepressShiftClick.
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14. ToloadthedigitizeddataclicktheUpdatedatabutton.

When points are entered that go backwards in time, the code in the data table in the righthand
paneissettoNRandthosepointswillnotberecordedinthedatabase.
Todigitizesuntapes,rectangularandrectangularcircular
Thescalinganddigitizingmethodissimilartothatforrectangularandrectangularcirculartapes,as
appropriate.Thedifferencesareasfollows.
Whenscaling:
In the Y (vertical) direction of rectangular tapes and the X (horizontal) direction for
rectangularcircular tapes, which in both cases should refer to the tape width, define the
pointsinthemiddleofthetape.
Whendigitizing:
Twopointscanbedigitized everyhour, todefinethethicknessoftherecord onthetape, so
thatyoucanlaterdefinealeveloflightintensityatthattime.Thetimeintervalsrecordedin
themeasurementswilldefinethehoursofsunshinerecorded.
Rightclicktointerrupttherecordingwhenthereisnosolarradiationrecordedonthetape.
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Scheduledtasks
Thefollowingtasksmayneedtobescheduled:
EnviarMCH.exe. For capturing andsending to othersites. Thiscanbescheduled onservers
oruserscomputers. Scheduleittorun eachday after capture times.Alternatively,it canbe
run directly on the computer where the data are captured and then send the data once
captureiscomplete.
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CargMCHftpCtl.exe. A program for automatically loading transmissions received by FTP.It
should be scheduled on the server receiving the transmissions (or on another computer
with access to the servers FTP reception directories).Schedule every 15 (10, 20 or 30)
minutesduringthetimeinwhichyouexpecttoreceivedatafromotherservers.
BorraPasoCgibin.bat. Deletes graphics files generated for dynamic queries in directory cgi
binmch on the web server. Schedule once a month (other frequencies are possible
dependingonthevolumesofqueries).
CargaSynopMetarB.exe.When SYNOPFM12, METAR / SPECI orSYNOPCREXmessages are
placedinparticulardirectoriesforloadingautomaticallyintothedatabase.
MchConsultas2lote.exe, MchGraficas2lote.exe, MchMapas2lote.exe. For generating static
webpagestobepublishedontheinternet webserverorotherconfigurationforanintranet
webpage.TheynormallyresideinthedirectorycgibinmchontheMCHwebserver.
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AnnexECalculatingdailydatafromdetaileddata
Calculation procedures for generating daily data from data with a frequency of less than one day.
This is designed mainly for automatic stations, but includes some cases for conventional stations.

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Calculatingdetaileddatafromdailydata
Calculationtypes
LAST.DamArea,CloudCover,Visibility,StorageVol,BattVoltage,PanelVoltage
MEANLAST.Overflow, RiverFlow, RelHumidity, Level, O2, O2mgl, Takeoff, pH,
BaromPressure, SolarRad, GustSpeed, WindSpeed, Salinity, WaterTemp, AirTemp,
IndoorTemp,Turbidity,Spillway
CUMULAT.Evaporation,Precipitation
FREQUENC.GustDirn,WindDirn
There are variables for which the cumulative value makes no sense and for those variables the
calculationtype ofdetailed todaily mustbeleftblankso that dailydatacannotbe generatedfrom
them.
i
t =starttimeatwhichdayisconsideredtostart.(8:00a.m.)
t
=timeintervalbetweentwoconsecutivemeasurements.
max
=maximumtimeintervalbetweentwoconsecutivemeasurementsinoneday.
f
=timeintervalbetweenlastmeasurementandendofday.
i
=timeintervalbetweenstartofdayandfirstmeasurement.
mf
=mostfrequenttimeintervalinmeasurementsforaday.
day
= timeintervalfor applying measurementsduringthe day.Regards the
t
applicableto thelast
measurementas
mf
mean
=meanintervalbetweenmeasurementsinaday.
V
d
=Valuefortheday.
V
max
=maximumvaluefortheday.
V
min
=Minimumvaluefortheday.
v=Correctedvalueofthevariableforthereportedmeasurement.
v
rep
=Reportedvalueofthevariable.
v
j
=Correctedvalueofadatumofthevariable.
v
f
=Lastvaluereportedofthevariableintheday.
v
prev
=Previouscorrectedvalueofthevariablebeforethestartoftheday.
v
next
=Nextcorrectedvalueofthevariableaftertheendoftheday.
Dat
prev
=Previousrecordofdataforthevariablebeforethestartoftheday.
Dat
next
=Nextrecordofdataforthevariableaftertheendoftheday.
Detaileddataaredata withareportingintervalofless than oneday. For automatic stationsit may

be 10 minutes, 1hour or 3 hours. For conventional stations it may be 1 hour, 2 hours or 3 hours.
Thetablesacceptanytimewithadifferenceof1minute.Itisrecommendedthatdataberoundedto
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the nearest 10 minutes to be able to make compatible queries by variable groups and station
groups.
Detailed tables are the same for all variables and contain:station, date/time, reported value,
corrected value, message code, data source, time width. The calculations take account of Station,
date/timeandcorrectedvalue.Thetimewidthortimeofapplicationofthemeasurementistakenas
t
alwaystakenbetweenthecurrentandnextmeasurements.
LAST
Takesthelastdatumandconsidersittobetheonefortheday.It maybeintablesoftypeDD(daily
data)orDX(dailydatawithextremevalues).
If
f
>6hrsthedatumforthedayisnotcalculated.
f d
V V =

CUMULAT
Cumulative typecalculation. It is considered that the reported data always providethe given
timeinterval(10minutes,1hour,3hours,1day).ThetablemustbeoftypeDD(dailydata).
Ifthereisonlyonedatum,itisreportedasthedatumfortheday.
Itdetermineswhetherthevariableisdecumulative.
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
1 2 2 1 1 rep rep i f f repf rep
v v v AND v v AND v v AND v v = > <> <>
If it is decumulative, then the day value is the end value start value, with the following
criteria.
IfthereisDat
prev
andbetweentheenddatumandthepreviousdatumisbetween20and28hours
V
d
= v
f
v
prev
.If there are more than 20 hours between the end datum and the start datum,
1
v v V
f d
= .Otherwisethedatumforthedayisnotgenerated.
Itdetermines
max
,
mf

day
,nd1,nd2,nd3.nd1,nd2 andnd3andthenumberoftimestheyrepeat
i
determine
mf
.
day
iscalculatedastimeoffirstmeasurementtimeoflastmeasurement+
mf
.
Wecalculate
mean
=

day
nummeasurements
If
mean
>8hours,thedatumforthedayisnotcalculated.
Ifday=24hours,thedataareaccumulatedtocalculatethedatumfortheday.
=
=
f
j
j d
v V
1

If
day
>=18hours,thedataareaccumulatedtocalculatethedatumfortheday.
=
=
f
j
j d
v V
1

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Otherwisethedatumforthedayisnotcalculated.
MEANLAST
Calculation type mean or last datum. The data may bein tables of type DD (daily data) or
DDX(dailydatawithextremevalues).
If
f
>6hrsthedatumforthedayisnotcalculated.
Itdeterminesthemaximumandminimumvalues.
Itdetermines
max
,
mf

day
,nd1,nd2,nd3.nd1,nd2 andnd3andthenumberoftimestheyrepeat
i
determine
mf
.
day
iscalculatedastimeoffirstmeasurementtimeoflastmeasurement+
mf
.
Wecalculate
mean
=

day
nummeasurements

If
mean
>8hours,thedatumforthedayisnotcalculated.Itisassumedthat
f
>6hours).
If
day
=24hours,theweighteddatumiscalculatedforeachapplicabletimeinterval.
V
d
=
v
j
j=1
f 1

j
+v
f
mf
day

If day>= 20 hours and max<= 6 hours, theydetermine thevalues corresponding to the startof the
dayandendoftheday,ifthepreviousdatumisupto3hoursbeforethestartofthedayorthenext
datum is up to 3 hours after the end of the day. These two values, if they exist, are added to the
calculations for the weighted mean andthe
prev
and
next
are takenasa weighting for eachdatum.
Thesetimeintervalsareaddedto
day
.
V
d
=
v
j
j=1
f 1

j
+v
f
mf
+v
icalc
icalc
+v
fcalc
fcalc
day
+
icalc
+
fcalc

Otherwisethedatumforthedayisnotcalculated.
FREQUENC
Typeofcalculationforfrequenciesofvalues.Itisappliedtowinds.Thedataaredividedinto16
compass ranges. Theresult values may be 0, 22.5, 45, 67.5, 90, 112.5,135, 157.5, 180, 202.5, 225,
247.5,270, 292.5, 315 and 337.5, corresponding to N, NNE, NE, ENE,E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW,
WSW,W,WNW,NWandNNW.
Foreachresultvalue,theoriginalvaluesmaybe:
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Result value Original detailed value (x) frequency
0, N 348.75 <=x <=360 or 0 <=x <=
11.25
1
f
22.5, NNE 11.25 <x <=33.75
2
f
45, NE 33.75 <x <=56.25
3
f
67.5, ENE 56.25 <x <=78.75
4
f
90, E 78.75 <x <=101.25
5
f
112.5, ESE 101.25 <x <=123.75
6
f
135, SE 123.25 <x <=146.25
7
f
157.5, SSE 146.25 <x <=168.75
8
f
180, S 168.25 <x <=191.25
9
f
202, SSW 191.25 <x <=213.75
10
f
225, SW 213.25 <x <=236.25
11
f
247.5, WSW 236.25 <x <=258.75
12
f
270, W 258.25 <x <=281.25
13
f
292.5, WNW 281.25 <x <=303.75
14
f
315, NW 303.25 <x <=326.25
15
f
337.5, NNW 337.25 <x <=348.75
16
f
Dedeterminesthehigherfrequencyforeachpossiblerangeofvaluesandsethevaluecorresponding
totherangeistakenasthedatumfortheday.
f
max
= Max( f
1
,..., f
16
)
V
day
= v
intervalf max

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Meteorology, Climatology and Hydrology Information

Figure 1: Main menu

Figure 2: Map of system menus

Figure 3: Entering the user ID and password

Figure 4: File menu

Figure 5: Printer configuration window

Figure 6: Maps menu

Figure 7: Maps by geographical position 1.

Figure 8: Maps by geographical position 2.

Figure 9: Maps by geographical position 3.Colour ranges

Figure 10: Maps by geographical position 4.Colour selection

Figure 11: Maps by geographical position 5.Exporting data and printing.

Figure 12: Maps by geographical position 6.Map exported to a graphics file

Figure 13: Maps by geographical position 7. Data exported to a text file

Figure 14: Maps by geographical position 8. Data exported to a spreadsheet

Figure 15:Maps.Diagrams or sketches

Figure 1: Zone maps 1.

Figure 2: Zone maps 2.Defining colours and fills

Figure 3: Zone maps 1.Defining stations or station groups by zone

Figure 4: Zone maps 1.Defining stations or station groups by zone

Figure 5: Isoline maps 1.

Figure 21: Isoline maps 2.Query 2 tab.

Figure 6: Isoline maps 3.Isoline data 1 tab.

Figure 23: Isoline maps 4.Isoline data 2 tab.

Figure 24:Isoline maps 5.Isoline data 3 tab

Figure 25: Isoline maps 6.Area option.

Figure 26:Graphs menu

Figure 28: Graphs menu

Figure 29:Graphs menu

Figure 30: Graphs menu

Figure 31: Graphs menu

Figure 32: Graphs menu

Figure 33: Graphs menu

Figure 34: Graphs several variables 1

Figure 35: Graphs several variables 2

Figure 36: Graphs several stations 1

Figure 37: General query 1.

Figure 38: General query 3.Select by example options

Figure 39: General query 3.By station.

Figure 40 :General query 4.By station group.

Figure 41: General query 5.Stations near to a point.

Figure 42: Capture menu

Figure 43: Capturing daily data 1.

Figure 44: Capturing daily data 2.

Figure 45: Capturing detailed data. Manned and automatic stations

Figure 46: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages. 1.

Figure 47: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages.2.

Figure 48: Capturing SYNOP FM12 messages.3.

Figure 49: Capturing SYNOP CREX messages 1.

Figure 50 :Capturing SYNOP CREX messages 2.

Figure 51: Exporting data 1.

Figure 52: Exporting data 2.

Figure 53: Importing data 1.

Figure 54: Importing data 2.

Figure 55: Updating data between servers.

Figure 56: Data editing and calculation menu

Figure 57: Editing data in listings.

Figure 58: Editing data in listings 2.

Figure 59: Reviewing data using graphs 1.

Figure 60: Reviewing data using graphs 2.

Figure 61: Reviewing data using graphs 3.

Figure 62: Availability of daily data 1.