Phil Hart
22-10-2010, 10:40 PM
To aid planning for the 14th November 2012 solar eclipse in Cairns, it would be great to capture a sequence of satellite images and corresponding forecast model charts throughout November 2010 and 2011. This would aid selection of optimum sites and also teach us a lot about how to make decisions on the day before the eclipse (eg. how accurate the models are).
I can try and manually save a series of satellite images and model charts every morning for a month but there must be better ways to do it than that! Can anybody help?
Here's what I'd like to capture at a minimum for each day in November 2010:
7:30am Queensland black & white infrared satellite image from weatherzone (or other source). Need to be registered (free)
Day ahead cloud forecasts from US Global Forecast System for Total Cloud, Low Cloud, Middle Cloud and High Cloud. Either via SkippySky or direct from US site (instructions at bottom of page here: http://philhart.com/content/cloud-forecasts-astronomers)
Day ahead 'synthetic cloud forecast charts' from Australian BoM 'ACCESS-A' weather model available here (cropped to match Queensland satellite image): http://www.cawcr.gov.au/staff/ljr/projects/Forcs/ani_a.html
Check out my page on cloud forecasts (http://philhart.com/content/cloud-forecasts-australian-astronomers) for a whole lot more background on weather and cloud forecasts.
Notes:
Satellite Images: Ideally would capture complete satellite image sequence for each day in November, but 7:30am image is probably best single choice. Earlier in the day, the sun is low and contrast between ground and low cloud in the satellite image is poor. Any later in the day and cloud starts to change significantly with solar influence. (A little later than eclipse time is probably valid to reflect lower heat gain on eclipse morning).
Skippy Sky: If we ask really nicely, Andrew Cool may be able to setup a forecast page for Far North Queensland, or all of Queensland to match the satellite image?
Synoptic Chart: Probably also worth capturing a synoptic chart to go with each day as well. eg http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml
(http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml)
Let me know if anybody can setup a routine to capture this kind of stuff more easily than I can?!
cheers
Phil
I can try and manually save a series of satellite images and model charts every morning for a month but there must be better ways to do it than that! Can anybody help?
Here's what I'd like to capture at a minimum for each day in November 2010:
7:30am Queensland black & white infrared satellite image from weatherzone (or other source). Need to be registered (free)
Day ahead cloud forecasts from US Global Forecast System for Total Cloud, Low Cloud, Middle Cloud and High Cloud. Either via SkippySky or direct from US site (instructions at bottom of page here: http://philhart.com/content/cloud-forecasts-astronomers)
Day ahead 'synthetic cloud forecast charts' from Australian BoM 'ACCESS-A' weather model available here (cropped to match Queensland satellite image): http://www.cawcr.gov.au/staff/ljr/projects/Forcs/ani_a.html
Check out my page on cloud forecasts (http://philhart.com/content/cloud-forecasts-australian-astronomers) for a whole lot more background on weather and cloud forecasts.
Notes:
Satellite Images: Ideally would capture complete satellite image sequence for each day in November, but 7:30am image is probably best single choice. Earlier in the day, the sun is low and contrast between ground and low cloud in the satellite image is poor. Any later in the day and cloud starts to change significantly with solar influence. (A little later than eclipse time is probably valid to reflect lower heat gain on eclipse morning).
Skippy Sky: If we ask really nicely, Andrew Cool may be able to setup a forecast page for Far North Queensland, or all of Queensland to match the satellite image?
Synoptic Chart: Probably also worth capturing a synoptic chart to go with each day as well. eg http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml
(http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml)
Let me know if anybody can setup a routine to capture this kind of stuff more easily than I can?!
cheers
Phil