[Mission Editor Request] Please add METAR descriptor to cloud preset icons

[Aarnoman]

With the addition of many cloud presets with 2.7, one difficulty in use exist, particularly if further presets are added in the future: Most names (and images thereof) are fairly nondescript, i.e. "Scattered 1-7", "Broken 1-8", with an image that does not neccesarily represent the multiple layers accurately.

I propose that METAR information is added to each preset icon.

For example, Scattered 1 would have the additional descriptive text of
"SCT 14/17 FEW 27/29 BKN 40"

This tells us the preset has 3 layers:

Scattered between 14000-17000 feet (covers 25-50% of sky surface).

Few between 27000-29000 feet (covers 0-25% of sky surface).

Broken at 40000 feet (covers 50-75% of sky surface).

This would allow mission editors to be able to quickly glance at presets and identify those most likely appropriate for the mission.

I would envisage the presets in the mission editor looking as follows (proof of concept):

 

 A full spreadsheet of all presets has been created by Sidekick, which looks as follows (reproduced as image with permission):

Link to his video on clouds, which sparked this idea:

 

[Canada_Moose]

If you hover the mouse pointer over the icon, the METAR shows up as a tooltip.

[Aarnoman]

19 minutes ago, Canada_Moose said:

If you hover the mouse pointer over the icon, the METAR shows up as a tooltip.

Well colour me silly I did not realize this was the case. I think it would be nice having it displayed in the mission editor icons regardless, as it allows easier comparison between presets at a glance.

Edited April 20, 2021 by Aarnoman

[dresoccer4]

i like this. also it disappears after a few seconds which is annoying

[Nealius]

It needs a lot of tuning due to description errors, labeling inconsistencies, and METAR notation that does not reflect what is actually produced in the mission:

• mysterious third or fourth layer added to presets that are only supposed to be 2- or 3- layers. I suspect it's an inconsistency in deciding whether to count the thin high-level clouds that are almost always present.
• combined notation like "SCT/FEW." You can't have both, it's either SCT or it's FEW.
• "Broken 8" has "SCT" notated as a third layer of four, but no altitude block for it (and it's only supposed to have 2 layers anyway).
• "High Scattered 3" is listed between "Scattered 3" and "Scattered 4" instead of where it should be with the other two "High Scattered" listings.
• Some inconsistent notations such as "BKN/OVC LYR <alt1> <alt2> <alt3>"
• METAR cloud descriptions in editor do not match actual cloud coverage in mission, e.g. "OVC" when it's actually BKN, "SCT" when it's actually FEW, etc. 
• Overall inaccurate naming, e.g. overcast presets 1-4 are not overcast at all, but rather broken; Broken presets 1 and 3 are scattered; most of the "scattered" presets are actually FEW, etc.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2024 by Nealius