Pseudo-satellitefilm - using fractal clouds to enhance animated weather forecasting

We have developed a system which enables the national german meteorological office to generate Pseudo-Satellite images and video sequences based on their weather forecasting simulation data. With our system called TRITON meteorologists can visualise the current weather situation, evaluate their forecast results, and produce animated weather forecast videos. These videos are broadcasted by several german television stations since January 1993. A part from generating realistic images by visually enhancing the extremely coarse weather simulation data-grid, using fractal clouds, the system is able to offer a very high degree of flexibility to meet the different demands of different TV stations. It also enables the meteorologists to make manual changes (editing) to the forecast data in order to compensate for the lack of accuracy or for the known errors in their simulation models. With this new system it is now possible to visualise the results of complex weather simulations in a more fami liar or natural way by presenting an intuitively understandable forecast.