The IFP needs to know the dates to use for the run.
These dates need to be set:
- the starting date for the run
- the end of the observed data period
- the end of the simulation period
The forecaster may change the default run dates by selecting the Set_Dates option from the main NWSRFS menu.
A window is displayed that shows the default dates and allows the user to change them.
Components of the dates are month, day, year, hour, and time zone code.
Each of these is in a box that, when selected, is highlighted in reverse video.
When a component is highlighted, the arrow icons can be used to change the value that is displayed.
When all three dates are correct, the user selects the Set button and stores the dates for use by NWSRFS to get the appropriate data for the run.
When the run begins, the parametric, time series, and current condition data for the first forecast point are read and the NWSRFS models that have been defined for that point are run.
When the models have been run for the forecast point, the second major type of display appears on the screen.
These windows are graphical data display windows that contain the various time series that are model input and output, displayed in graphical plots and/or in tables.
The values in these time series can be adjusted by the user and the new values used in subsequent model runs.
