The Open Geospatial Consortium Web Map Server (WMS) protocol defines a simple interface for web based mapping applications. The WMS protocol is based on a simple query syntax for posting a request for the desired layers and region to the server, which returns a map as a standard image (GIF, PNG or other format). The list below gives example WMS URL's for the NOAA Observing Systems. These URL's look like:
http://maps.ngdc.noaa.gov/soap/nosa/MapServer/WMSServer?BBOX=-180,-90,180,90&WIDTH=1024&HEIGHT=512&SRS=EPSG:4326&layers=GHCN_Precipitation&version=1.1.1&service=WMS&FORMAT=image/png&TRANSPARENT=TRUE&request=getmap&styles=
Parameter | Value in example |
---|---|
Server Address | http://maps.ngdc.noaa.gov/soap/nosa/MapServer/WMSServer? |
Bounding Box | -180,-90,180,90 (Lower Left, Upper Right) |
Map Width in Pixels | 1024 |
Map Height in Pixels | 512 |
Layers to Display | Shaded%20Relief,DMSP%20Satellite (%20 is a space) |
specification version | 1.1.1 |
Image Format | png |
Transparency Flag | true |
Request Type | getmap |