F8, Chapter 27, Mountain Weather needs extensive updating
Jan 2, 2014 15:41:47 GMT -8
jimnelson likes this
Post by dougsanders on Jan 2, 2014 15:41:47 GMT -8
This Chapter is a good example of why The Mountaineers need to define FOTH audience. Refer to'Who is FOTH's audience?' freedom9bestpractice.freeforums.net/thread/72/who-foths-audience
If our concern is imparting practical knowledge to the NW climber then this Chapter is nearly worthless. It hasn't changed much since F2 (1967.)
It could be argued that no topic in FOTH would bring about a higher trip success rate than a basic understanding of forecasted NW weather. In addition to successful trips, this understanding would hugely improve safety and reduce SAR incidents.
For the most part this Chapter was not written for the NW climber. As a result it is neither a practical teaching tool or a useful reference.
The Chapter is 11 pages long.
2 pages on global weather,
2 page on thunderstorms and wind phenomena,
2 pages on cloud types,
1 page on using cloud, winds, and pressure to field forecast,
1/4 page on planning
2-3 sentences on decision making.
Contrast this with the longer, much more detailed, Chapter 16 discussion on avalanches.
Suggested adds:
*Basic understanding of forecasting process. “Around the world, weather balloons are launched simultaneously 2x/day, sending data to earth, supercomputers crunch and thus begins the next forecast cycle....”
*A general understanding of the US, Canadian and EU forecast models as they relate to the NW. This includes short term and extended forecasts as well as accuracy, precision, confidence, limitations and weaknesses.
*Time of day model outputs are available, especially the last one available to the climbing party.
*The NWS meteorologist's 'Forecast Discussion.'
*Tools for possibly accessing current forecasts from the field such as the NWS Weather Radio, applications, texts and websites.
*Discussion on trip calendaring versus weather reality. (In many places of the world one can calendar a weekend trip and have a pretty good probability of cooperating weather; less so in the NW where we should be planning for the weather as well as for the climb. For example, I tend to plan 2-3 trips for a specific weekend. The trips are located far enough apart that, in the event of an unfavorable forecast for the primary trip, there is a high probability one of the others will have an acceptable forecast.)
*Knowledge of the Climate Prediction Center 6-10 & 8-14 day probability forecasts.
The Chapter needs cross-reference and integration with other chapters which discuss weather such as Chapter 16, Snow Travel and Climbing, and Chapter 26, The Cycle of Snow to name a couple.
If our concern is imparting practical knowledge to the NW climber then this Chapter is nearly worthless. It hasn't changed much since F2 (1967.)
It could be argued that no topic in FOTH would bring about a higher trip success rate than a basic understanding of forecasted NW weather. In addition to successful trips, this understanding would hugely improve safety and reduce SAR incidents.
For the most part this Chapter was not written for the NW climber. As a result it is neither a practical teaching tool or a useful reference.
The Chapter is 11 pages long.
2 pages on global weather,
2 page on thunderstorms and wind phenomena,
2 pages on cloud types,
1 page on using cloud, winds, and pressure to field forecast,
1/4 page on planning
2-3 sentences on decision making.
Contrast this with the longer, much more detailed, Chapter 16 discussion on avalanches.
Suggested adds:
*Basic understanding of forecasting process. “Around the world, weather balloons are launched simultaneously 2x/day, sending data to earth, supercomputers crunch and thus begins the next forecast cycle....”
*A general understanding of the US, Canadian and EU forecast models as they relate to the NW. This includes short term and extended forecasts as well as accuracy, precision, confidence, limitations and weaknesses.
*Time of day model outputs are available, especially the last one available to the climbing party.
*The NWS meteorologist's 'Forecast Discussion.'
*Tools for possibly accessing current forecasts from the field such as the NWS Weather Radio, applications, texts and websites.
*Discussion on trip calendaring versus weather reality. (In many places of the world one can calendar a weekend trip and have a pretty good probability of cooperating weather; less so in the NW where we should be planning for the weather as well as for the climb. For example, I tend to plan 2-3 trips for a specific weekend. The trips are located far enough apart that, in the event of an unfavorable forecast for the primary trip, there is a high probability one of the others will have an acceptable forecast.)
*Knowledge of the Climate Prediction Center 6-10 & 8-14 day probability forecasts.
The Chapter needs cross-reference and integration with other chapters which discuss weather such as Chapter 16, Snow Travel and Climbing, and Chapter 26, The Cycle of Snow to name a couple.