GOOGLE EARTH MUST BE INSTALLED ON YOUR PC BEFORE USING THIS OPTION !

The Google Earth export menu option exports KML to Google Earth (GE) and is available whenever there is an open storm. The data that is available for export is dependent on how current the storm forecast and other data is… but most of the export options are typically available. These options include:

Current Storm Track and Observations – This option exports the storm track and observations as KML for Google Earth (GE).

Current Wind Radii – When selecting this option, the system will export KML which contains up to 3 polygons representing the current 34, 50 and 64 knot wind areas.

Current Wind Field – This option will export a “grid” of points across the entire current wind field. When viewed on GE, it shows up as point values or points which can then be interrogated (clicked on). This is controlled by the Hurrtrak User Preferences – General Options.

Current Wind Pattern – This option export up to 10 polygons representing different wind levels of a storm. The levels are is determined via the Wind Pattern Levels tab of the Plotting User Options. Advanced Wind Estimation (AWE) is not used in this export regardless of the AWE settings elsewhere. This is because AWE wind calculations would invalidate the concept of a polygon.

Current Watch and Warning areas – As the same suggests, this option exports the current NHC watches and warnings.

Official Forecast Path (track and points) – Similar to the first option, this exports the storm’s forecast track and the forecast points. The user can select to export the current or any prior forecast tracks.

Official Forecast Average Error – This option will export an area which represents the forecast’s average error. The user can select to export the current or any prior forecast average error. This may take a few seconds to run.

Official Forecast Wind Radii – When selected, the system will export KML which contains up to 3 polygons representing the forecast 34, 50 and 64 knot wind areas… for a specific hour in the forecast.

Official Forecast Wind Field – This option will export a “grid” of points across the entire forecast wind field… at a specific forecast hour. When viewed on GE, it shows up as point values or points which then can be interrogated.

Official Forecast Wind Pattern – This option export up to 10 polygons representing different wind levels of a storm for a specific forecast hour. The levels are is determined via the Wind Pattern Levels tab of the Plotting User Options. Advanced Wind Estimation (AWE) is not used in this export regardless of the AWE settings elsewhere. This is because AWE wind calculations would invalidate the concept of a polygon.

Climate Forecast –When selecting this option, the latest climate forecast will be exported and shown on GE.

Rainfall Forecast – This option will exports 3 sets of KML files which represent the forecast rainfall for the next 3 days. They are shown as unfilled polygons.

Animation – This is a powerful option which allows the user to export the entire past or forecast wind radii and view it using GE’s animation capability. The latest version of GE is required to support this capability.

Wind Bands – This option allows the user to export the past or forecast wind bands to a 3D KML file for viewing on GE. The creating of this export may take a few minutes depending on the number of levels defined for export. This is controlled in the Hurrtrak User Preferences – General Options.

Report (impact summary) – This is another powerful feature whereby you can export all of the data in a location, county or zip code summary report to a point type KML file. When viewed on Google Earth, all of the summary data information is shown with a simple click on that location’s point icon.

All Selected Outputs – This is a real time saving feature. It allows the user to create any/all of the outputs with a single selection. The data that is included with this “batch” export is controlled within the Hurrtrak User Preferences – General Options. Depending on what is included, this option may take a few minutes to complete.

External (non Hurrtrak) Google Earth Data - This option allows the user to export National Weather Service and other weather data onto Google Earth. When hurricane information is also exported from the Hurrtrak system, it allows the user to integrate the 2 sources of data on the same Google Earth interface. See Using Google Earth External Data for more information.

See Google Earth Interface and Using Google Earth External Data for more information on this topic.