First things first.
STORM CHASING is DANGERIOUS
and its well worth paying attention to where you are and how vulnerable
you could be.
Now I am not going to rewrite the safety
rules so I sending you to a very good link on "Storm
Chasing with Safety, Courtesy, and Responsibility" by
Charles A. Doswell III. National Severe Storms Laboratory. This
is an American site but the information is relevant to us here
in the UK.
I carry the following equipment when on
a chase.
Mobile Phone (07717 857202 if you want to
text me or call)
2m/70cm Radio fixed in the car. Portable may follow. (Amateur
Radio - 2E0KPO is the call sign)
GPS device (Garmin GPS+ in my case)
Compass (Useful for getting a heading to an event)
First Aid Kit
Cameras (I have a Digital SLR, Canon 10D and a Sony Video Camera,
after all I want to be able to save that moment)
Laptop Computer with GPRS connection to get the latest weather
data (it also has a wireless network card if needed)
Tripods
Protective clothing.
Most of my storm chasing happens around the Midlands.
There are a few ways to get in touch with me if
you want to report a weather related event to me or comment on
the accuracy of the data such as the lightning page or just help
out.
Sending a SMS text is the best option, I
will try to get back to you ASAP but be aware I may be in a position
where I can't reply straight back. (use 07717 857 202)
I will also be on Amateur radio and around
the Midlands I will most likely be using 145.500MHz and GB3CF
(this is a repeater with an input freq of 145.000MHz and and output
of 145.600MHz, Tone CTCSS C (77.0Hz). My radio is duel band so
I will be monitoring both at the same time. M0KPO is the call
sign.
I can be found listening on 145.500MHz and
GB3CF in most cases when I am at my home QTH, Burton upon Trent,
Staffs. I can operate on HF if needed but you will need to contact
me first to arrange this as I only go there when I am DX'ing.
If you are a base station, understand the weather
and have an internet connection by your radio maybe you would
like to help with feeding information to myself and the other
chasers then please contact us. There are several web sites on
the net that give live or almost live data that is very useful
to a storm chaser. A good example is my lightning
page, for me to use it when mobile I have to stop the car,
log on and get the data.
This all takes time, time I could be
using to get to the location I need to get to for some reason.
Some useful links.
http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/weather/light0900.htm - My Lightning Page - 1 minute update
http://www.estofex.org - European Storm Forecast Experiment, area of probable storms
http://www.wetteronline.de/eurobli.htm - 30 minute update lightning data
http://www.strikestaruk.com - new service for 2 minute triangulated lighting data from Boltek
lightning detectors
http://www.meteorologica.info/ - Lots of useful charts
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/midlands/rain.shtml - Rain Radar 1 hour update plus other information for the Midlands
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/rain.shtml - Rain Radar 1 hour update plus other information for the
UK
http://www.avbrief.com/ - Subscription service for radar (£29 PA), the best you
will get in the UK
http://www.torro.org.uk - TORRO - The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation or 'TORRO'
is a privately supported research body, serving the national and
international public interest. Founded in 1974, data-collection,
research and co-ordination is undertaken by the Directors of TORRO,
which is supported by some 300 to 400 observers, investigators
and other contributors. Most supporters are British, with a smaller
number from elsewhere in Europe and across the world. TORRO Staff
are composed of professional and amateur meteorologists, with
academic qualifications ranging from nothing to doctorates: the
only requirements are an interest in the subject area, enthusiasm
and a desire to add to the body of scientific knowledge for the
good of mankind.
So there you go, if you want to contact me I given
you as many options as possible.
I look forward to talking to you or receiving any
information you have and don't forget you can report a weather
event directly to TORRO if you wish.
Steve Warren
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