From                                           Subject
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
001 Michael Fewings [mike at strikeone.com.au]        Report on the feasibility of future chasing...
002 "bonzo" [bonzo at mpx.com.au]                     live radar
003 "bonzo" [bonzo at mpx.com.au]                     time and date
004 "bonzo" [bonzo at mpx.com.au]                     live radar
005 Michael_Bath at amp.com.au                        Re: live radar/satpics
006 "Paul Graham" [v_notch at hotmail.com]            Possible NSW Tornado on Saturday...
007 "Daniel Weatherhead" [dpw14 at hotmail.com]       Camera
008 Lindsay [writer at lisp.com.au]                   Re: Ultra-Violet
009 "truffles at xenon.net" [truffles at xenon.net]      brissie might fire this afternoon ..
010 Excel [excel at corplink.com.au]                  Camera
011 Greg Spencer [hawk at aisnet.net.au]              Camera
012 Chris Maunder [cmaunder at dynamite.com.au]       Books on the basics
013 Duane Van Schoonhoven [vanscho at ozemail.com.au  Books on the basics
014 "James Chambers" [jamestorm at ozemail.com.au]    SEQ Storm Chase: 31/01/99
015 Jacob [jacob at iinet.net.au]                     IRC Meeting tonight
016 "Michael Thompson" [michaelt at ozemail.com.au]   live radar
017 "Michael Thompson" [michaelt at ozemail.com.au]   Re: Ultra-Violet
018 "Michael Thompson" [michaelt at ozemail.com.au]   Report on the feasibility of future chasing...
019 Keith Barnett [weather at ozemail.com.au]         NSW observations
020 Phil Bagust [mail.cobweb.com.au at indigo.cobweb  Suprise Adelaide Chase

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
001

Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 01:19:14 +0800
From: Michael Fewings [mike at strikeone.com.au]
Organization: Strike One Lightning Photos
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I)
X-Accept-Language: en
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: Report on the feasibility of future chasing...
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Hi all,

A quick question. Who would be responsible for the hire car?

Regarding ASWA and chasing.

ASWA cannot afford to be in any way linked with those of us who chase
(supporting what others have said).
We shall not chase by request (of ASWA's or any one else) and we all pay our
respective way (what ever that may entail).
One serious accident that involves any ASWA member can mean that all that we
have worked towards is lost unless the person/people involved acted as as their
own entity. Remember, "Good advertising is expensive, bad advertising is free".

Newspaper article title:
"Three ASWA members seriously injured in storm chase."
Urk...

There will be many people who join ASWA that don't have any chasing experience
and they will want to try. I know that there are many serious dangers with
chasing and the suggestion that a training course be organised for these people
is a good idea. Basically it should be a set of rules and regulations that
people must follow when chasing. It should however be separate of the
association. I would be happy to provide training for people in WA.

A list of rules and regulations is vital for chasing to be safer.

I propose a rule (may it be the first the important ones)
1. DO NOT get out of the car if lightning is less than 5 km away (i.e. 15
seconds between the lightning and the thunder).
2................................

By the way I am hoping that this cyclone of the NW develops.
--
Michael Fewings
Strike One Lightning Photos
http://strikeone.com.au

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
002

To: "weather" [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
From: "bonzo" [bonzo at mpx.com.au]
Subject: aussie-weather: live radar
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 99 10:08:29 PST
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by penman.es.mq.edu.au id XAA27333

fellow storm chasers i am wondering if any of you guys know how to get on
to a web site that has real time live radar, i live in cairns and if we get
a cyclone that comes close to the coast it would be good to be able to track
it live, instead of relying on satellite pics that are three hours old.
i,m sure that the met bureau has the technology, i suppose we will have to pay
for it one way or the other.
regards rob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
003

To: "weather" [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
From: "bonzo" [bonzo at mpx.com.au]
Subject: aussie-weather: time and date
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 99 10:20:55 PST
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by penman.es.mq.edu.au id XAA27392

dear anthony thanks for those kind words, sorry about the time and date
on my computer, i thought maybe the millenium bug had struck already.
its nice to feel welcome, i tried to get on a chat line in the states and
they give me such a hard time, and they were the biggest wankers, sorry
about the language.
better go i,ll catch you later.
rob. Oh! by the way i am in cairns.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
004

To: "weather" [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
From: "bonzo" [bonzo at mpx.com.au]
Subject: aussie-weather: live radar 
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 99 10:29:45 PST
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by penman.es.mq.edu.au id XAA27585

thanks greg for that quick reply, i,m slowly working my way around the
net, thanks again.
rob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
005

From: Michael_Bath at amp.com.au
X-Lotus-Fromdomain: AMP at NET
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 09:21:20 +1000
Subject: aussie-weather: Re: live radar/satpics
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Rob:

Don't worry about radar images when tracking tropical cyclones. Unless the
cyclone comes very close to a radar installation, very little will show.
The exception was for TC Thelma which has a very well defined eye on the
radar as it came close to Darwin. With this system the BoM kindly posted
some free images showing this.

High Resolution GMS-5 images are the best for tracking cyclones. There are
some excellent hourly images available - for the eastern half of Australia
and the SW Pacific:
http://www.npmoc.navy.mil/gmsd/gmsd.jpg
and for the western half of Australia and the South Indian Ocean:
http://www.npmoc.navy.mil/gmsc/gmsc.jpg
These images are usually updated each hour, sometimes half-hourly and
available about 40 minutes after the time they are
taken.

Be sure to check all the satpic links from here:
http://australiansevereweather.simplenet.com/links/ozsatpic.htm

regards,
Michael

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
006

X-Originating-Ip: [137.111.90.68]
From: "Paul Graham" [v_notch at hotmail.com]
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: aussie-weather: Possible NSW Tornado on Saturday...
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 16:09:01 PST
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

This is from the ABC Weather News site which Mark Hardy pointed out
to me:
Weather Bureau experts will study a picture published on the front
   page of a New South Wales north coast newspaper to determine whether
   the image is a photograph of a tornado.
   A local Weather Bureau severe storm spotter believes the photograph,
   which was published in The Grafton Examiner on Monday and taken on
   Saturday afternoon, shows a vortex hitting the ground near Grafton.
   It is similar to a weather experience witnessed at Evans Head later
   that afternoon, which buffeted the village with high winds, 
lightning,
   hail and heavy rain.
   The picture shows a small catarmaran on the Clarence River, with a
   severe storm rotating from a low, turbulent cloud base near the city
   in the background.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
007

X-Originating-Ip: [139.134.250.7]
From: "Daniel Weatherhead" [dpw14 at hotmail.com]
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: aussie-weather: Camera
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 17:52:36 PST
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

I have a Pentax MZ50, and it does the job perfectly. Its not 
expensive(around $450) and the lense that comes with it has some sort of 
polarizing feature so it get these very strong shots with dense blue sky 
contrasted against the bright white. Also, when shooting thunderheads, I 
have had problem in over exposing the bright white tops, well for some 
reason this camera automatically shuts down the exposure, or the lens 
helps take the brightness off the clouds
Anyway, all I'm saying is Pentax MZ-50 gets 2 thumbs up for me.

Daniel Weatherhead

PS Humid and sunny outside, 26 degrees but we just had a cloud burst of 
21mm in about half an hour

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
008

Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 19:39:34 -0800
From: Lindsay [writer at lisp.com.au]
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win16; I)
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: aussie-weather: Re: Ultra-Violet
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Does anyone know much about Ultra Violet Light? I live at around 1100
metres and it seems that the air (whilst cooler) definately burns more
up here. Can anyone help? I would reason it is to do with the thinner
air etc.

Cheers,

Lindsay
PS: Rainy/Misty, light s.easter and 13.5 degrees here in Upper
mountains.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
009

From: "truffles at xenon.net" [truffles at xenon.net]
To: "'aussie-weather at world.std.com'" [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
Subject: aussie-weather: brissie might fire this afternoon ..
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:36:27 +-1000
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com


..Hi all!  

Just back from werk ... haven't checked any obs yet, but there's a nice
ole' fat n rocky piece of popcorn going up about 5-10kms nth of The Gap!!!
.. peaks possibly at 20+ and climbing?..

  Temp is about 31' and as muggy as ... 

anticipating
rals

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
010

Date: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 23:20:18 -0700
From: Excel [excel at corplink.com.au]
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en] (Win95; I)
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: Camera
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

I agree with you there Daniel i have the same camera i also have a mz-10 i
must say you are correct i give it 2 thumbs up for weather pics    David
/Melbourne

Daniel Weatherhead wrote:

> I have a Pentax MZ50, and it does the job perfectly. Its not
> expensive(around $450) and the lense that comes with it has some sort of
> polarizing feature so it get these very strong shots with dense blue sky
> contrasted against the bright white. Also, when shooting thunderheads, I
> have had problem in over exposing the bright white tops, well for some
> reason this camera automatically shuts down the exposure, or the lens
> helps take the brightness off the clouds
> Anyway, all I'm saying is Pentax MZ-50 gets 2 thumbs up for me.
>
> Daniel Weatherhead
>
> PS Humid and sunny outside, 26 degrees but we just had a cloud burst of
> 21mm in about half an hour

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
011

Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 13:38:50 +0800
From: Greg Spencer [hawk at aisnet.net.au]
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win98; I)
X-Accept-Language: en
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: Camera
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Hello All

That makes 3 of us, I use a Pentax MZ-10 and will honestly say they have to one
of the best cameras without spending an absolute fortune on one. Does the job
perfectly. I give it 2 thumbs as well

Greg

Excel wrote:

> I agree with you there Daniel i have the same camera i also have a mz-10 i
> must say you are correct i give it 2 thumbs up for weather pics    David
> /Melbourne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
012

X-Sender: cmaunder at mail.dynamite.com.au
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.5 (32)
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 16:51:25 +1100
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
From: Chris Maunder [cmaunder at dynamite.com.au]
Subject: aussie-weather: Books on the basics
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Hi All,

Was wondering if any of you can recommend some good texts on
meteorology/severe weather. Most (well, ALL) of the books at the local
co-op are focused on climatology as it affects population and agriculture.
What I'm after are some books on specific weather processes such as cloud
formation, the development and physics of supercells etc. Something
descriptive would be good, but some hard maths and physics wouldn't go
astray either. I've got 4 years of Uni physics and maths so I guess I
should at least put it to good use :)

cheers,
Chris.


------------------------------------------------------
Chris Maunder         Canberra, Australia
Administrator         CodeGuru  - www.codeguru.com
Technical Consultant  Dundas software - www.dundas.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
013

Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 17:02:41 +1030
From: Duane Van Schoonhoven [vanscho at ozemail.com.au]
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I)
X-Accept-Language: en
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: Books on the basics
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Chris,

Try these books from the Bureau of Meteorology:

1)    Manual of Meteorology Part 1 - General Meteorology

2)    Manual of Meteorology Part 2 - Aviation Meteorology

Also, the Bureau of Meteorology PC software for learning
cloud types:

3)    "Cloud Identification"

and to learn the METAR codes:

4)    "Aviation Codes: METAR TAF TTF"

One more book:

5)    The Australian Weather Book
        by Keith Colls and Richard Whitaker
        from the NSW Bureau of Meteorology

Hope this helps...

Cheers,

Duane Van Schoonhoven
Paracombe (Adelaide),
South Australia

Chris Maunder wrote:

> Was wondering if any of you can recommend some good texts on
> meteorology/severe weather. ... snip ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
014

From: "James Chambers" [jamestorm at ozemail.com.au]
To: "Aussie Weather" [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
Subject: aussie-weather: SEQ Storm Chase: 31/01/99
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 16:35:20 +1000
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

SEqld - Wide Bay Chase

Chasers: Ross Portas (driver), Anthony Cornelius and James Chambers.
Time: 10.30am - 9.15pm ---> 10hrs 45mins
Distance Travelled: 798.5km

It is certainly disconcerting heading out for a chase in Eastern Australia
with a mod-fresh SSE wind blowing.  The night before, the coastal trough
moved through with isolated thunderstorms ahead of it.  However, the inland
trough remained, and more importantly, a vast upper level trough was
approaching.  We planned to chase somewhere N or NW of Toowoomba where LI's
were expected to reach -8 by 4pm EST.  The official forecast was for heavy
falls with developing showers and t'storms.

We left Brisbane just after 10.30am and headed out towards Toowoomba.  We
reached the city at 12.15pm without any slight hint of a t'storm. In fact,
conditions couldn't be much worse with a 20-24kn SE wind blowing at the top
of the Toowoomba Range. We had passed through a few brief showers but these
were only stream showers from Moreton Bay - not the type of precipitation we
wanted. At least conditions were quite warm at 28C and 60-65% relative
humidity. In Toowoomba our aim was to access the Internet for weather data,
but that was harder than it sounds.  We first tried the University library
only to find it closed and then we tried the public library and were told
only members could access the Internet.  The librarian did however point us
to an Internet Cafe.  Our $3 worth gave us time to check out the situation.
Nothing had developed, but forecasts and soundings still pointed to
scattered t'storm activity later on.

With very little happening, we stopped off at KFC for lunch and to discuss
our options.  We decided to keep going west towards Oakey and then if
nothing was happening, out to Dalby.  When we got back to the car, we
finally noticed some large cumuli development indicative of storms and we
all felt more at ease.  As we drove WNW from KFC there was a rather
disturbing development.  Ross decided to put his Abba CD in - on high volume
too! I became aware that Anthony didn't mind them and Ross loved them but I
wanted to jump out despite the fact we were on the speed limit!  Anyway,
after two minutes the CD was changed and life was good again.

We passed Oakey and as we approached Dalby a weak anvil and large cumulus
development came into view.  We stopped in the town as steady rain fell.  It
looked very weak but we checked the AM radio and there was only very
occasional static, but at least it was something.  We had to decide then if
we wanted to try going towards Kingaroy (150km NNE) where stronger storms
were likely to form or hang back and hope this shower would turn into a
storm.

The trip to Kingaroy showed some quite promising cumulus congestus build up
and several times we passed under them.  One had very large raindrops and I
thought to myself that perhaps hail was possible in later storms.  However,
none of the structures looked like future storms and in desperation we
continued north from Kingaroy.  A large area of cumulus congestus was
situated to the north, and when we came to an intersection going onto the
D'aguilar Highway, the congestus had obviously intensified into a storm, and
a fairly strong anvil had appeared.  The static had increased on the radio,
so we went after it.  Finally at 4pm, after five and a half hours we had
found a storm!

As we drove NNE two CG's were observed and it appeared the storm was
strengthening as we got near it.  Soon after, I spotted a storm to the
south, which we guessed was the earlier Dalby shower that had become a storm
also.  Nevertheless, we continued north and soon the sky was much darker and
rain had begun to fall.  The road was the only one that could get us close
to the storm, so we continued and went through the very edge of the rain
curtain.  Things then started to get very interesting.  The rain become
torrential so at very slow speed it was impossible to see, and the lightning
was increasing.  Soon, we had to manoeuvre around a couple of tree branches
that were obviously brought down by the storm's outflow.  As we made our way
out of the rain curtain, CG bolts were coming down regularly and then...pea
size hail starting falling.  It was lucky we were on the edge of the
curtain, because marble hail and possibly severe winds were likely further
into the core of the storm.  It was now 5pm and we drove for two minutes to
get ahead of it and take photos and video.  A curved gust front with a band
of green above was edging closer, with whitish hail shafts bending under it.
The rain/hail curtain exhibited a 'rainfoot' which indicates a probable
microburst.  Then we saw an amazing sight. As several CGs hit the ground
around us, a cloudbase lowering came into view several km away but plain as
day to the west.  It was a weird feeling as we took photos in the storm's
inflow.  It was only 20-25 knots, but it was going straight into the
lowering under the cloudbase, which appeared to be touching the ground at
times.  There was a lot of motion in it, but we couldn't spot rotation. Most
of that motion was cloud moving in one direction only to be replaced by
continuously forming cloud.  That cycle was repeated several times.
Unfortunately as the storm moved northward, its lowering started to
disappear behind nearby hills and we had to find a road where we could view
it again.

The storm picked a nasty area to move into.  It was an area devoid of roads.
Looking for a road west, we drove northwards and found a turn off to Murgon.
We were happy to find a west tracking road, but it made us go too far west
and we found ourselves in a very low contrast vantage point  on an old farm
road.  At 5.30pm the heavy rain and the pathetic road network effectively
ended our chase.  It was disappointing, but at least we got to see a strong
and possibly severe storm.

As we drove to Gympie on our way home, a storm was damaging Dalby - where we
had gone through the shower more than 4 hours previously.  Flash flooding
and high winds caused fairly extensive property damage, including unroofing
several buildings such as houses and part of the local primary school.
During the night, several strong thunderstorms affected the region dumping
high intensity rainfall and causing many blackouts.


Rainfall Totals in the 24 hours to 9am February 1 1999:

IDA41Q23 RAINFALL DARLING DOWNS AND GRANITE BELT: (13)ALLORA 9 AUBURN 30
BALLANDEAN 13 BARAKULA 19 BEARDY JUNCTION 14BELL 39 BERUNA 33 BOWENVILLE 19
CAMBOOYA 15/2 CECIL PLAINS 24CENTENARY BR 12 CHINCHILLA 55 CLIFTON 12/3
CLYDESDALE 20CONDAMINE 10 COOBY CREEK DAM 8 COOLMUNDA DAM 8 DALBY 98 DALVEEN
8 ELLANGOWAN 11 GLENELG 7 GLENMORGAN 31/3 GOONDIWINDI 30GREENMOUNT 11/2
HADEN 8 HANNAFORD 27 INGLEWOOD 16 JANDOWAE 27JONDARYAN 11 KARARA 11
KILLARNEY 8 LESLIE DAM 10 LEYBURN 10MACALISTER 48 MEANDARRA 42/3 MILES PO 9
MILLMERRAN 15/3 MT DRIVEN 1NOBBY 9 OAKEY 9 OAKINGTON 7 PASSCHENDAELE 20/4
PITTSWORTH 42/3PRATTEN 11 RIPPLE DOWNS 12 RIVERTON 8 SOUTHWOOD 44 STANTHORPE
8TALWOOD 4 TEXAS 10 THALLON 67 THE DEEP 48 THE HEAD 14TIPTON BRIDGE 13
TOOWOOMBA AP 10 TRAIGHLI 61 UPPER PILTON 5WALLANGARRA 35/2 WARAHGAI 13 WARRA
BRIDGE 73 WARWICK 11 WAVERLEY 78 WOODSPRING 19/2 WYAGA 43 YANGAN 9 YELARBON
31IDA41Q24

RAINFALL WIDE BAY AND BURNETT: (14)BJELKE P DAM 5 BRIAN PASTURES 3 BUILYAN 4
BUNDABERG 11 CAMBOON 10 CANIA DAM 2 COLODAN 26 DOUBLE IS PT 15 DUNOLLIE 14
EIDSVOLD 16/3EMBREYS BRIDGE 6 GAYNDAH 48 GIN GIN 0.6 GLENWOOD 14 GOOMERI
24GYMPIE 41 JIMNA 5 KANDANGA 18 KINGAROY 6 MARYBOROUGH 21 MIVA 27MONTO 1 MT
BINGA 13 MT JOSEPH 19 MUNDUBBERA 7 MURGON 4/3 NANANGO 8PROSTON 25 RAINBOW
BEACH 23 ROSEDALE 29/2 SANDY CAPE 1TOWN OF 1770 3 WOOLOOGA 13 YARRAMAN
5IDA41Q25 RAINFALL SOUTHEAST COAST: (15)AMBERLEY 4 BEECHMONT 14 BEENLEIGH 16
BOONAH 19/3 BOREEN POINT 122BROMFLEET 1 CABOOLTURE 234/3 CANUNGRA 1 CAPE
MORETON 21COOLANGATTA 27 COORAN 88 CROWS NEST 8 DAYBORO 49 ESK 16 GATTON
15/3GOLD CST SEAWAY 32 HINZE DAM 31/3 KENILWORTH 52 KILCOY 39/3 LAKE
COOROIBAH 140 LANDSBOROUGH 195/3 LINDFIELD 24 LOGAN CITY 14LOWOOD 9 MACLEANS
BRIDGE 3 MALENY 61 MAROOCHYDORE 63 MAROON DAM 3MARY CAIRNCROSS 139 MIAMI 30
MOOGERAH DAM 6 MORAYFIELD 195MT GLORIOUS 38 MT MEE 115 MT NEBO 25 MT
TAMBORINE 4 NAMBOUR 207PALMWOODS 98 PEACHESTER 136 PECHEY 13/3 PT ARKWRIGHT
172 POINT LOOKOUT 17 ROMANI 17 SOMERSET DAM 18 TAROME 4 TEWANTIN
125TOOGOOLAWAH 17 YANDINA 224/2IDA41Q26

RAINFALL METROPOLITAN: ARCHERFIELD 2 BANYO 31 BOONDALL 27/2 BRISBANE AP 37
BROWNS PLAINS 5ENOGGERA 22 KALINGA 26 KURABY 3 LYTTON 53 MANLY 35 OXLEY
2REDCLIFFE 51 STRATHPINE 26 SUNNYBANK 2 TOOMBUL 42 TOOWONG 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
015

X-Sender: jacob at iinet.net.au
X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.1 (32)
Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 15:51:49 +0800
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
From: Jacob [jacob at iinet.net.au]
Subject: aussie-weather: IRC Meeting tonight, and some other points
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com


Just a reminder and to the new people on the list, that tonight is our
weekly IRC meeting on Austnet's #weather tonight

server: au.austnet.org
on the #weather channel.

Meeting starts at 9pm EDT, 8:30pm CDT, 8pm EST, 7:30pm CST and 6pm WST.

To the newcomers on the list, if you havent used IRC before, you can
download the best IRC Client http://www.mirc.co.uk/ use one of the austnet
servers, then type /join #weather

The channel is open 24 hours a day, but most of us visit on Wednesday night
for the weekly meetings.

Also, don't forget our sister #weather channel on undernet, if austnet is
quiet if you ever go there, or you also want to talk weather to people who
are located in the USA and around the world, then visit undernet #weather,
the best server to use now on undernet is NewYork.NY.US.Undernet.Org

Some points that people have raised to me about this list, is that try to
say where your located if you dont mention your city during your storm or
weather report etc.. so we know were you're at.

Another point some have talked about, is to try to avoid 1 line replies to
the list, unless you have to correct an error or something, because all it
does is flood the list of unnecessary emails.

Thanks.

Jacob from Perth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
016

From: "Michael Thompson" [michaelt at ozemail.com.au]
To: [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: live radar 
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 18:31:10 +1100
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Another alternative which ironically is cheaper than the single BOM product
is to get AUSTAR satellite TV. The weather channel there has radar, but it
may be 30-60 mins old at times, they also have sat pics.

Austar TV = $49 per month ( 24 channels )
BOm Radar = $55 per month

Regards
Michael


>thanks greg for that quick reply, i,m slowly working my way around the net,
>thanks again.
>rob.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
017

From: "Michael Thompson" [michaelt at ozemail.com.au]
To: [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: Re: Ultra-Violet
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 19:02:47 +1100
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

OK, I will give it a stab, please note that this is off the top of my head
and I have never really studied it. So if I am wrong I am sorry.

Light consists of long waves at one end - Infra Red and high waves at the
other - Ultra Violet. Infra Red strikes your skin and is absorbed and
converted to heat at the skin surface. Ultra Violet however penetrates into
the flesh before being absorbed, damaging your flesh cells in the process.

Ultra Violet is absorbed in the atmosphere to a small degree ( although
there are UV-A UV-B and C and I think one is bounced completely ), naturally
therefore the higher you are the less UV has been absorbed. Coolness does
not come into play as UV does not generate heat like Infra Red.

You can see a living example of light absorbion by simply going for a
snorkel in the ocean, as you dive deeper and deeper colours start
disappearing, red first, then yellows, but blue is the last the disappear.
Which leads me to think why are so many deep sea fish red, is that like an '
invisible' colour ?

Michael


>Does anyone know much about Ultra Violet Light? I live at around 1100
>metres and it seems that the air (whilst cooler) definately burns more
>up here. Can anyone help? I would reason it is to do with the thinner
>air etc.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Lindsay
>PS: Rainy/Misty, light s.easter and 13.5 degrees here in Upper
>mountains.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
018

From: "Michael Thompson" [michaelt at ozemail.com.au]
To: [aussie-weather at world.std.com]
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: Report on the feasibility of future chasing...
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 18:38:54 +1100
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Rules should only include instances where an individuals action may affect
the safety of the group. Personally I am happy to get out in the open with
lightning, but that is my choice. If others wish to stay I respect that too.

On the other hand you need to have rules if you find a yahoo at the wheel
whose driving endangers the group in the car, or to stop people parking
under trees during potential downburst situations.

Remember that car accidents are the single worse danger in storm chasing,
not core punching or lightning.

Michael



>I propose a rule (may it be the first the important ones)
>1. DO NOT get out of the car if lightning is less than 5 km away (i.e. 15
>seconds between the lightning and the thunder).
>2................................
>
>By the way I am hoping that this cyclone of the NW develops.
>--
>Michael Fewings
>Strike One Lightning Photos
>http://strikeone.com.au

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
019

Date: Wed, 03 Feb 1999 20:04:12 +1100
From: Keith Barnett [weather at ozemail.com.au]
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I)
X-Accept-Language: en
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
Subject: Re: aussie-weather: NSW observations
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Thanks Don..I've now deleted the previous (Gopher) bookmark..!

Don White wrote:

> Keith...
> you must be using the Gopher which hasn't been updated for a long
> time... go to the Bof M site, NSw, Obs and you'll find the current day's
> rainlist
> Don White

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
020

X-Sender: paisley at mail.cobweb.com.au
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 20:13:07 +0930
To: aussie-weather at world.std.com
From: Phil Bagust [mail.cobweb.com.au at indigo.cobweb.com.au]
Subject: aussie-weather: Suprise Adelaide Chase
Sender: aussie-weather-approval at world.std.com
Reply-To: aussie-weather at world.std.com

Hello All.

Well, I certainly didn't expect any action in 'Stability City' (AKA
Adelaide) today.  Nothing forecast.  Another hot day.

Had to work at Gawler, 45km north of town.  As I drove up I noticed nice Cu
with pileus over the ranges, but thought nothing of it.  Bound to die.

As the day wore on, nice congestus popped up, and then died.  That's
basically how I expected the day to end - but as I started the drive home I
noticed one cell over One Tree Hill (`30km NNE from Adelaide) had got much
bigger and blacker.  So I opted for the longer alternative route home
through the hills.

As I stopped at a good vantage spot, the cool outflow from this cloud was
already noticable.  Clouds were moving noticably in towards a dark lowering
from all directions.  With only occasional static on the radio something
was happening!  Pretty soon I noticed a classic precipitation cascade out
to the west, I got three shots as the 'foot' extended in textbook fashion.
Then the gust front hit me, about 30knots I'd say.  Then I noticed
rotation!  Out of this 'little' cloud!  I almost didn't believe it, but it
was definitely there, and in a clockwise sense!  I took another shot, it
only lasted 30 seconds.  Finally, after a little rising scud action, it
started to rain and the whole thing collapsed.

The moral?
1) Here in Adelaide we are desperate for any action at the moment
2) Even decidedly non-supercellular clouds can produce interesting weather

Cheers all

Phil 'Paisley' Bagust
paisley at cobweb.com.au