Tropical Atlantic: Media Usage

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Tropical Depression Igor | Disturbance (Invest 92L)

Friday, September 10, 2010 4:59 GMT

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Modeling in Google Earth, Google Maps, and Adobe Flash diagrams for the Atlantic, East Pacific, and Central Pacific basins.

Media Usage

This page is designed for media outlets who wish to use our products.

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Using model data processed by Tropical Atlantic
Using reconnaissance data processed by Tropical Atlantic
Other Questions

Using model data processed by Tropical Atlantic

The model data we use is downloaded directly from the "aid_public" directory which is located on NOAA's public FTP server. We currently generate our own model data for use in Google Earth, Google Maps, and Adobe Flash diagrams.

We have no restrictions on the use of the model data that we create. However, you will probably need a commercial license from Google in order to display the Google Earth data if you intend to broadcast the data on television. If you already have a commercial license to use Google Earth, you can already broadcast our model data. You do not need to inform us before you begin using our model data. I am unsure about the rules for broadcasting Google Maps data on television. You are however free to display the Adobe Flash based diagram.

We require no credit of any kind when you use our model data. In fact, we ask that you not credit our site. We have a few reasons for that request. Our site is not really designed to be used by the general public. For the most part, our site is designed for use by weather hobbyists. Another reason is due to bandwidth. This site is non profit, so we want to make sure to keep our costs low. This means that we do not want a lot of traffic coming to our site. The biggest reason is due to the fact that model data should be interpreted by professionals. The model data is best used when a meteorologist talks about how the data is only one tool that goes into forecasting. People should not make their own determinations about where a storm will go based on model data. For this reason, it is better that ordinary people only be shown the data when a qualified person is there to explain it.

We use a CGI script to download and process model data. If you would like a free copy of the script that creates the Google Earth model plots, please contact us. We are no longer giving away the old version of our script. However, we are giving out copies of the alpha version of our new model script. It is more robust, easier to use, and is less demanding than our older system. We only give out the script to weather professionals, media organizations, educational institutions, and very popular websites (so that less popular websites do not put a high demand on NOAA servers).

Using reconnaissance data processed by Tropical Atlantic

The recon data we use is downloaded directly from "raw data directories" of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The raw data is processed by our site's reconnaissance decoder for display in Google Earth.

We have no restrictions on the use of the recon data that we create. However, you will probably need a commercial license from Google in order to display the model data if you intend to broadcast the data. If you already have a commercial license to use Google Earth, you can already use our recon data. You do not need to inform us before you begin using it.

We require no credit of any kind when you use our recon data. In fact, we ask that you not credit our site. This site is non profit, so we want to make sure to keep our costs low. This means that we do not want a lot of traffic coming to our site.

We use a series of CGI scripts to download and process recon data. Due to the complexity and extremely demanding nature of this system we usually do not give out this collection of scripts unless a weather professional, media organization, or educational institution requests it.

Other Questions

If you have any other questions, please contact us here.