Text Box: # Virtual Passage Text Box: Bon Voyage. THE DATA SETS The weather data sets used in this system were developed as part of a collaborative effort between the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the data set is referred to as the NCAR/NCEP Reanalysis Data Set. The global weather was constructed by assimilating world weather observations into a numerical weather prediction models. Thus, even in areas of sparse observations a dynamically consistent set of data can be constructed. The pictorial analyses of the weather – winds,clouds, pressure and temperature were constructed using an analysis tool referred to as GRADS developed at the COLA at the University of Maryland. For additional information on Force9 and special discounts to get an on the water version please visit www.atm-international.com.