RUC BLIPMAP NorthCentral Viewer BLIPMAP™ = Boundary Layer Information Prediction MAP Created by Dr. John W. (Jack) Glendening, Meteorologist
For experienced BLIPMAP users - requires javascript
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"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
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or see
Registration Information.
Registered users can subscribe at
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for further info, see
Subscription Information.
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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 NC 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)
Dec 1:
Updated the
monthly BLIPMAP usage statistics.
Aug 27: Geographic maps update:
After a sudden revelation, and two days of work, I am now producing
composite blipmaps which are congruent with the non-composite
blipmaps! As a consequence, the SkewT and mini-Blipspot PopUps
now work for the composite blipmaps.
Aug 25: Geographic maps now availables:
"Geographic maps" are now available on the forecast index webpages,
the regional viewers, and the univiewer. For the viewers, one
can "switch" or "swap" back and forth between a forecast and the
geographic map to better orient oneself.
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).
View ALL recent news items here 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
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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.