Data Library

Malaria
Seasonal Transmission Suitability
EVI
MARA Distribution Model
Country-Average Precipitation
Malaria Early Warning System
MODIS
NDVI
Rainfall Estimate Differences
Rainfall Percentages

help@iri

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How to Use the MEWS Interface

Interacting with the map
Creating time series analyses

Interacting with the map
The map first displays the most recent dekadal precipitation estimates for Africa, but it is also meant to be a dynamic tool. Users may use the map viewer to:

Display data from a different dekad
The date for which the displayed precipitation data is valid is shown to the lower left of the map. To display data from a different time period:
  1. Change the date in the text box above the map using the same format as the date already shown.
  2. Click the Redraw button to the left of the map (top of the three buttons).
Note that the buttons to the right of the date text box allow you to go directly to the dekads immediately before and after the one currently displayed.

Animate data from multiple dekads
Any number of time steps may be animated, but the time necessary to load the animation will increase with the number of time steps included in the selection.

  1. In the date text box above the map, enter the start and end dates of the time period over which you would like to animate the data, separated by "to" (e.g., "21-30 Nov 2004 to 21-31 Dec 2004").
  2. Click the Redraw button to the left of the map (top of the three buttons).

Overlay adminstrative boundaries and epidemiological mask
Any combination of the available overlay maps may be displayed.

  1. Using the "Optional Overlay Maps" table located to the far left of the map, select the maps that you would like to display.
  2. Click the Redraw button to the left of the map (top of the three buttons).

Zoom map in/out
There are two ways to zoom the map to different regions; a click-and-drag zoom window and the latitude/longitude text boxes. Note that the map can not display areas outside of the region first shown on the interface (i.e., 40S-40N, 20W-50E).

  • Click-and-drag zoom window
    1. Click and drag a window on the map over the region of interest. The map will automatically zoom to that region when the mouse button is released.
    2. You can return to the full domain of the map at any time by clicking the Zoom Out button to the left of the map (middle of the three buttons).
  • Specific lat/lon selection
    There are four lat/lon text boxes underneath and to the left of the map.
    1. Change the values in the lat/lon text boxes to the limits of the region you would like to display using the text format already shown.
    2. Click the Redraw button to the left of the map (top of the three buttons).
Creating time series analyses
Users may generate time series analyses of precipitation at any location in Africa.

Generate time series analysis

  1. Using the "Time Series Region" table to the right of the map, select the size of the region over which you want the precipitation to be spatially averaged.

    The CPC/FEWS RFE2.0 dataset has a very fine resolution (i.e., 0.1°x0.1°). It is therefore prudent to base this type of analysis on an average of multiple grid points.

  2. Click on the map at the point of interest. If you chose a box region in Step 1, then the analysis will be based on the average of the data within the grid box nearest to this point.

    Note that when selecting a district, it may be useful to zoom in to the region of interest and overlay district boundaries before generating the time series analysis.

Custom modifications to time series graphs
After the time series analyses have been generated, the user has a few additional options to modify the presented plots.
  • Select specific lat/lon coordinate to analyze
    1. Select the size of the region to be included in the analysis from the pull-down menu.
    2. Enter the latitude and longitude of the point of interest, or any point within the district of interest.
    3. Click the "Generate new time series" button.

  • Modify graphs
    1. Click on any of the graphs to bring up an interactive viewer that will allow you to modify the aesthetics of the selected graph.
    2. Change the values in the text boxes to modify the temporal range of the graph and/or the limits of the vertical axis.
    3. Click the Redraw button to the left of the graph.

  • Download graphs in a variety of formats
    1. Click on the graph of interest to bring up the interactive viewer, if you have not already done so (see Modify graphs above).
    2. Select the desired download format (e.g., PostScript, JPEG, GIF, PNG) from the options available in the "Just the Figure Formats" line of the table. Static URLs for the selected image are also available in the Page Fomats line of the table and more information about these page formats can be found by clicking the "Help" button.

Please feel free to email us with any questions or comments.