Overview:
The VAPOR 2D Data renderer supports visualization of 2D variables from a VDC. The data is visualized by mapping it to color and opacity, and applying the color and opacity to a 2D surface. The visualized 2D surface is either a horizontal plane or a terrain-mapped horizontal surface inside the full VDC domain. The following illustrates a typical use of this renderer:
In the above image, the variable SLP is displayed, on a surface that has been mapped to terrain height. An image of state and county boundaries ("USOutline.tif") has been inserted slightly above the SLP surface to indicate the geographic context. VAPOR GUI is in 2D mode, so you can see the 2D manipulator handles and the boundary of the displayed 2D surface. A color bar (as specified in the visualizer features panel) indicates the color mapping.
Capabilities of the 2D data panel:
The following are the main capabilities of the 2D data renderer:
- The 2D variables must be horizontal, i.e. dependent on the X and Y coordinates in the VDC.
- A VAPOR Transfer function is used to map the 2D variable(s) to color and opacity.
- The 2D data mouse mode can be used for interactive manipulation of the 2D extents.
- The 2D data may be visualized as a 2D colored plane in the scene.
- Portions of the 2D data can be omitted by use of transparency in the transfer function.
- The 2D image can be saved to a jpeg file.
- The 2D data image may be applied to the terrain or the surface defined by any 2D variable, resulting in a surface that is colored by the variable(s) of the 2D data. A "Height" variable must be specified (or defined using Python), indicating the height above sea level at each horizontal coordinate. When the 2D surface is displayed, it is vertically warped to conform with the specified height field.
- The 2D data tab provides a cursor that can be used to select 2D points based on the value of the 2D variable(s). These points can be used as seed points for flow integration similarly to how it is done with the Probe. The cursor position can also be used to center the View, the Rake, the Probe, or the Region.
