# Viewing 3D iso-level surface for jet stream

> NOTE: This guide can also be applied to the visualization of any 3D iso-level surface of any variable.

![](img/4-5-isosurface.png)

> NOTE:  
> In order to visualize wind speed, you need both u and v components of wind vectors in your dataset.  
> 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 wind speed data and show it on a layer.

In order to visualize the distribution of wind speed, you can either

* click the _Add 3D Isosurface_ button on _Layer_ menu category, select options, and then click "OK", or 
* find '_wind speed_' in _Derived Variables_ on _Variables Pane_, right-click it and select _'Add 3D Isosurface'_. 

_Rendering Pane_ will immediately display the vector field of wind, and a new layer will be added to the _Layers Pane_. 

##### 3. 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.

##### 4. Change the visualization style - isosurface vs. volume vs. slices (optional).

On _3D Isosurface_ menu category of _Menu Bar_, you can select one of the following visualization styles:

* 3D Isosurface : show distribution using iso-level surfaces in 3D
* 3D Volume : show distribution using 3D volumetric rendering
* 3D Slices : show distribution using horizontal and vertical slices

Each menu button has drop-down submenu, where you can set various options for each visualization style. For example, in streamline style you can choose _'glow'_ effect and start animation, so that wind flow is visualized using nice and intuitive animation with colored dots that are moving at different velocities.

![](img/4-6-1-volume-slices.png)

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