Two options are provided as a quick way to compare time series data sets for different time periods or for different amounts. The options are turned on or off by selecting and un-selecting them from the Display menu, point to Display Data Options, and the two available options are - Normalize and Synch data set times to first.
Normalize will subtract the differences between the values of first and the second or subsequent data sets from the corresponding data set, so that the curves all start at the same value (which is the value of the first data point in the first data set). This is often used to compare cumulative precipitation curves, which usually start at different values. Synch data set times to first will subtract the differences between the times of first and the second or subsequent data sets from the corresponding data set, so that the curves all start at the same time (which is the time in the first data set). This is often used to directly compare hydrographs for different years or time periods.
Each option will remain on until you turn it off or the program exits. The options can be used in combination with each other. For example, if you want to compare cumulative precipitation curves for different years, set each option to on. The figure below shows such an example of normalized cumulative precipitation for years 1986 and 1995, synched to the same start time.
