Help with Global View of MISR Level 3 Data

There are more browser requirements for viewing the MISR Level 3 data as a globe instead of a traditional flat map. If you are having trouble viewing the globe applet, you can select "View type: Flat map". The requirements for viewing the data as a flat map are minimal, and any modern browser should be able to view it.

To view the data on the globe, you must have a browser that supports Java 1.4 or later and Java 3D.

Memory use

Java 3D uses a large amount of memory, particularly if you have selected a "View Image Size" of "Large" and are doing animations. By default, Java set aside a small amount of memory (typically 16M - 64M). This is typically enough if you restrict yourself to "View Image Size" of "Small", but you are likely to run out of Java memory if you view the larger images. If you have memory problems, use "View Image Size" of "Small" or increase the memory allocated [128-256 Mbytes] to Java as instructed below.

Windows

The globe can be viewed by browsers such as IE, Firefox and Netscape 7.2. (Netscape 7.1 has been reported to not work.)

Version 1.4 or later of Java and a separate download of Java 3D (SDK for the JDK including runtime) are needed.

To increase the memory for the Java VM:

From the windows control panel (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel) double click the "Java plug-in Control Panel" (the Java coffee-cup icon).
Select the "Advanced" tab and in "Java Runtime Parameters" specify "-Xmx128m" for 128M or "-Xmx256M" for 256M and then select "Apply".
Exit and restart your browser.

Apple OS X

The globe can be viewed on OS X with Safari, Firefox, Camino, and Mozilla. IE will not work. Install Java 1.4.1 or later and a separate download of Java 3D, both available from Apple. OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or later comes bundled with the Java and Java3D needed to view the globe.

Apple's default browser Safari will work without a problem, if the required version of Java and Java 3D are on your system.

IE, Firefox, Camino, and Mozilla will incorrectly use an older version of Java (1.3.1) and will not be able to view the globe applet.

To use Firefox, Camino, and Mozilla, you may need to install the Java Embedding Plugin for Mac OS X, which will use the correct version of Java.
There is no known fix for IE. Either use one of the other browsers or view the data as a flat map.

To increase the memory for the Java VM:

In the Finder, select "Applications -> Utilities -> Java -> Java Plugin Settings" to start the plugin setting tool.
In the "Java Runtime Parameters" add "-Xmx128m" for 128M or "-Xmx256M" for 256M, and then select "Apply now".
Exit and restart your browser.

Linux

First, consult your Linux distribution for how to install Java 1.4 or later and Java 3D - it is always preferable to use your distribution as intended. If the packages aren't included in your distribution, then download from Sun and install (Java and Java 3D).

Note that typically when you install Java on Linux, your browser isn't immediately "aware" that it is available. For Firefox or Mozilla, directions for making Java available to the browser can be found on the plugin document site. Consult the documentation for your particular browser.

To increase the memory for the Java VM:

Run the Java Plug-in control panel, found at <SDK installation directory>/jre/bin/ControlPanel.
Select the "Advanced" tab and in "Java Runtime Parameters" specify "-Xmx128m" for 128M or "-Xmx256M" for 256M and then select "Apply".
Exit and restart your browser.