Graphing cloud cover / decks.

[venquessa]

I've been toying with the idea of graphing cloud cover. Several approaches have presented themselves.

1. Create 4 datasources.
- Few
- Scattered
- Broken
- Overcast
Give them a value of 1 or 0. Graph each in a different color. The graph should present itself as easy to read and tell how often it was overcast for example.

2. Create one data source, with the above cloud states numbered 0 to 4. Again the graph would be easy to read, the higher the value to the more cloud.

Now, as there can be multiple cloud decks it bares the question, what to do with 2, 3 or 4 sets of data for the one sky. The above also doesn't take account of the cloud altitude which I think would be cool to graph.

Right now the cloud conditions here are:
FEW010 BKN025

Few at 1000ft, broken at 2500ft. (Typical irish summer)

I'm thinking of 1 graph could have 4 datasources for 4 altitudes. If there are only 2, then the other 2 would simply by 0, or NaN.

How would you show the amount of cloud cover, for multiple cloud decks on one graph?

I'm still thinking, thought I'd think out loud on here to see if I can spark some ingenius ideas from folks.

Thanks
Paul

[venquessa]

I think I have it.

The 4 altitudes go on one graph as described above.

The 4 cloud cover values, in the 0-clear to 4 overcast go into one graph, as lines of different colours.

Now all I gotta do is the scripts and cacti set up.