Article on new BBC Weather graphics

Ok, I feel I should try, as a smart-arse Physics student, and defend weather radar!

Firstly, range doesn't come into it. Coherent radar (developed before doppler) can (well could a while back) see about twice as far as Doppler, and all the data is gathered from the network of radar sites before any forecasting is done. Forecasting itself is also a batch job, so unless you know there's imminent danger in a very specific location, you can't get a fast forecast.

Also, sorry cat, doppler radar can do a lot more than you realise when it comes to getting data from a scan. It can tell the difference between the type of precipitation, where in the system that precip is falling, not to mention the air patterns throughout a cross-section of the storm. Admittedly the cross-section isn't usually investigated because it's not cost effective or all that practical for long-range (time) forecasting. I'm just pointing out that they can get a lot of info within a few minutes.

The fact is that the forecasting is the weakest link in the chain. When predicting a chaotic system, a general trend is what we have to hope for. Take a look at the predicted path of hurricane Charley the other week - it took them all by suprise and that was a big mother! Chaos is a nasty thing. Two pendulums hanging off each other and both swinging is a chaotic system, we know that the general movement is going to be an osciallation, but we don't know exactly how that oscillation will behave!

It's also worth mentioning that there was many a flood warning operating in that area at the time. I suppose the authorities were damned either way with regard to what action to take.

(Have a gander Here to see what you can see inside a storm, it's pretty!)

Oh I do apologise for joining in the "heated debate" late... I was out having a life. Anyway.

Have we forgotten that the Met Office has a network of rain radar?

chiguy... if I had to create what my perception of an American would be, he/she'd be as arrogant and ignorant as you are. You do your fellow countrymen no favours. I'm sure they're not all like you.

<buys popcorn and fizzy drinks and settles back to watch round o2 of the most entertaining argument this summer on TVF>

Go, c@t! Go, c@t! Go, c@t!

etc...

Had to put the comma in, otherwise it sounded like I was talking about feline food...

Now, I have to say that chiguy here has reported a good lot of the posts in this thread as being abusive toward him. And -- objectively, as that is apparently my job -- he's right. And since chiguy has vociferously demanded that I do "my job," I feel I simply must do it in this case.

Everyone please, please just calm down for a second. Do you realise -- do you actually realise -- that you're all having aneurisms over doppler radar ? And as exciting as you've all made it out to be, it's still just a big thing that looks like a golf ball sitting in some field somewhere.

So, the people that are spitting the vindictive at chiguy -- let's stop it. Anything after this post will mean I get out my stick. And you can't say you've been warned, because you have. Right now. No more of this personal stuff. Yes, even you, c@t.

And chiguy, as marksi implied, you're not exactly making it easy for the rest of the class to like we Americans. Your haughty attitude is -- ahem -- exactly why I'm not voting for W. Let's have a bit of humble pie and take things down a notch, say.

This is the watershed, everyone: consider yourself duly warned. Anything substantially over the line after this post will result in administrative action. This is not -- repeat not -- a drill.

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I heard a rumour that Michael Fish is retiring today/this weekend? Can anyone over at TVC confirm this?

if it is true it will be the end of an era

His agent's website says that he leaves the Met Office in October:

I thought it was a pretty evenly balanced slanging match myself. Perhaps google colapsed under the strain of trying to win chiguys futile arguments for him.

I consider myself duly "told".

Ho hum.

Screw it, I'll take my chances.

Take your specs off so I can smack you.

It'll be a shame to see Michael Fish go. Is he really going to start a career in TV adverts?

No. That attitude is not okay. I am not here for your personal benefit, so you can sit smugly behind me whist I try to make a point in your favour.

You're gone, pal. I do not like to be played.

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