Each point (small colored circle) representing a measurement station at its geo location. On the map you have to mouse over a point to open a context dialog for further actions (download, visualize or print).

If there are more then one group of points (distinguishable by color) at the map, you can use the 4th button to hide or display a group of points. With the first button you can zoom to the smallest bounding box containing all visible points. It is therefore possible to enlarge a region by hiding certain groups and then zooming in on the group that is still visible. By clicking the second button you can align the map in a way, that points are centered. The third button removes all points from the map. Moreover, with the last button it is also possible to print a list of the stations (points) visible on the map. however, this function is only available for stations that are represented by a flag with a letter (search results) and not by a colored circle (complete representation of the stations of an observatory).

The procedure for visualizing or downloading time series data is the same for stations that are represented by dots and flags. As described all search results with a georeference are added over a google map. On the map you have to mouse over a pin (pins with character A to J). Then a dialog pops up. Click on “open” button opens a new dialog (see figure). Now you can select the desired parameter on the right and choose time range on the left. if you want to select more then one parameter then hold ctrl key and click on multiple parameters. when clicking on the “letter envelop” button (3rd button on toolbar), data will be extracted from our database and send to you by email (as zipped csv). To visualize data in a line plot, use the first button in toolbar on top of the dialog. If data is available for selected parameters and temporal filter a diagram like above is shown, else a no data message is shown. The selection control with the name “Quality” can restrict the data requested according to its nature. The choices are:

By clicking on the printer (4th button on toolbar) you can choose to print a station meta data report or a time series plot (created from selected parameters and temporal filter).

A double click on one of the parameters follows to a web site, where you can find a detailed description of selected parameter. Most of the observed parameters are referenced to a common vocabulary, which is called EnvThes thesaurus. The referenced address is the web frontend of this thesaurus.

The search results are shown in text below the map: With the “View Metadata” button it is possible to get detailed information about the measuring stations or other metadata records. It is important that only a maximum of 50 data records are shown on one page and on the map. The different pages can be selected in the upper left area of the search results (1 2 3). The actual selected page index is marked as bold.

The detailed view of a station shows the individual attributes, such as the name, the geographic coordinates, the measured parameters, the sensors used and a description. In addition, data can also be visualized and downloaded here, analogous to the methods already described above.