# Viewing horizontal temperature distribution

>  NOTE: This guide can also be applied to the visualization of any scalar field on horizontal planes.

![](img/4-1-horizontal-scalar-field.png)

> For the terms & names of UI components, refer to _[UI Components](3-1-ui-components)_.

##### 1. Open data file.

Open your data file(s), using _Open Data_ buttons on the _Home_ menu category of _Menu Bar_.

##### 2. Load the temperature variable and show it on a layer.

In order to visualize the distribution of the variable on a layer, you can either

* click the _Add Horizontal Plane_ menu button on _Layer_ menu category, select options, and then click "OK", or 
* right-click the temperature variable on the _Variables Pane_, and select _Add Horizontal Plane', or
* double-click the temperature variable on the _Variables Pane_, and click 'OK' to add layer. 

_Rendering Pane_ will immediately display the distribution, and a new layer will be added to the _Layers Pane_.

##### 3. Change the visualization style - contour vs. raster (optional).

On _Horizontal Plane_ menu category of _Menu Bar_, you can select one of the following visualization styles:

* Contour : show distribution with discrete iso-level contour lines (optionally with filled colors)
* Raster : show distribution with smoothly filled colors
* Dot : show distribution with colored dots for grid points

Each menu button has drop-down submenu, where you can set various options for each visualization style. For example, you can display character labels (including "H"/"L" for geopotential height) at the peak locations of the distribution.

##### 4. Change the settings for color mapping (optional).

Double click the vertical _Color Bar_ on the right-hand side of _Rendering Pane_. A popup dialog named _'Setup Colormap and Limit Range'_ will show up, where you can change various options regarding the color mapping.

##### 5. Explore temperature distributions at different altitudes (if any).

If your dataset includes wind flow datasets at multiple altitude, you can select a particular height level, or easily change to the next/previous height level.

On _Horizontal Plane_ menu category of _Menu Bar_, you will find _Vertical Level_ drop-down control, where you can select height level among all the levels available in your dataset. You can also click _Move Up / Move Down_ button in order to increase / decrease the selected level.

Also note that, with both reference level and current level selected on _Horizontal Plane_ menu category, you can select one of some visualization options, including _current level values / difference values / average values.

##### 6. Control the size and location of the plane (optional).

You can control the size and location of the plane by using _Rendering Pane_ only. To do this, you do :
  1. switch from _Globe_ mode to _Map_ mode,
  2. double-click one of the corners of the plane, to reveal the control handles,
  3. drag the control handles to change the size and/or height. 

![](img/4-1-1-control-handles.png)

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