NAM BLIPMAP SouthEast Viewer BLIPMAP™ = Boundary Layer Information Prediction MAP Created by Dr. John W. (Jack) Glendening, Meteorologist
For experienced BLIPMAP users - requires javascript
Registration (free) and a valid registration cookie are necessary for this viewer to work.
"Registered-only" users can view "Thermal Updraft Velocity", "Buoyancy/Shear Ratio", and all "Previous Day" BLIPMAPs.
Subscribers can view all BLIPMAPs.
To register use the
New Registration Page
or see
Registration Information.
Registered users can subscribe at
Subscription Page ;
for further info, see
Subscription Information.
Registered/Subscribed users can Logon (get a new cookie) here
or
check their registration cookie status here.
For additional on-line information:
BLIPMAP HELP page
BLIPMAPs predict thermal soaring conditions resulting from surface
heating of the Boundary Layer, by post-processing numerical weather
model predictions to provide parameters suited to the needs of soaring
pilots. Users of this viewer are assumed to be familiar with
BLIPMAP and its parameters, as described on the SE 18Z BLIPMAP webpage and on the parameter
information webpage.
BASIC thermal forecast parameters
gives a short list of the parameters most important for thermal soaring.
DrJack sez:
(Latest 5 news items)
Jun 12: RUC run changes:
The RUC runs started failing today. I traced the problem to a
re-arrangement of the NCEP RUC output file parameters and have made
the necessary changes, so RUC BLIPMAPs are again being produced.
However, I also found that RUC topography heights have been slightly
altered - the new values are being used in the calculations but the
plotted BLIPMAP terrain will continue to be the old terrain until I
can make the necessary changes (though I suspect the differences will
be so small as to not be noticeable).
Jun 1:
Updated the
monthly BLIPMAP usage statistics.
Aug 25: Trigger temperature added to RUC miniBLIPSPOT:
As a result of a
Forum thread question I have added estimates of thermal "trigger"
times and temperatures to the RUC miniBLIPSPOT popups, obtained by
clicking on a map location in the javascript viewers. Note that
this depends upon the choice of a "thermal top" parameter and uses
linear interpolation over a 3 hour span, so the results are only
roughly approximate.
July 9: Firefox 2 warning:
Those who use the Firefox browser have likely gotten a popup
indicating that a new Version 2 is now available and requesting
permission to "upgrade" their current version. I suggest that
not be done as there has been occurrences of Version 2 not
properly storing/reading cookies, both at my site and others,
whereupon deletion of the existing cookie and download of a new one is
required to again get things working. Users already using
Version 2 should be on the lookout for cookie corruption
problems.
REGISTRATION and SUBSCRIPTION:
Freely available forecasts are: "Thermal Updraft Velocity" BLIPMAPs, "Buoyancy/Shear
Ratio" BLIPMAPs, all "Previous Day" BLIPMAPs, and all BLIPSPOTs.
Other forecasts require a yearly subscription fee of
$13 for either NAM or RUC forecasts and $20 for
both.
Registration (free) is needed for direct (no-nag-screen)
forecast access and to obtain a subscription.
New users can
Register here.
Currently registered/subscribed users can
Logon (get new cookie) here
or
view registration (cookie) status here.
More info is available at the
Registration Information and
Subscription Information webpages.
EMAIL POLICY: There are
many advantages to having one person's knowledge be shared and
available to others, so I expect most BLIPMAP issues to be handled through
the
DrJack Forum
and ask those who have a question or problem or experience which could
be of interest to others to post it there. This allows others to
comment on the matter if they have any personal experience and also
allows any response I make to be read by others. If you send me
an email, I will respond personally only if it's nature is not
appropriate for such posting - in other cases I will simply
reply with a request to post to the forum. FEEDBACK REQUEST:
I only look at the webpages and maps that I use personally or that I
suspect might contain an error. If you notice a consistent
problem with either, please post a message on the
DrJack Forum. T-SHIRTS:
Upon request, I've made available to others the T-shirts I created for myself.
Heros:
Thanks to John Whitney (F9) for slaying the file-eating
dragon inhabiting the original viewer and adding the "ListSAVE/LOAD"
feature.
I also want to personally thank those whose support is listed on the
Contributors webpage.
NAM BLIPMAP SouthEast Viewer
T-SHIRTS:
Heros:
Thanks to John Whitney (F9) for slaying the file-eating
dragon inhabiting the original viewer and adding the "ListSAVE/LOAD"
feature.
I also want to personally thank those whose support is listed on the
Contributors webpage.