List of topics to learn?
March 15th, 2010Feel free to add more, and say in which position it should be.
1) Basic weather: Clouds, Fronts, Low/High Pressure Systems etc..
2) Basic forecasting: (not sure what fits in this category!)
3) Storm Chasing Etiquette
4) Understanding Doppler Radar
5) Intermediate Weather: (not sure what fits in this category!)
6) Intermediate Forecasting: (CAPE, Lifted Index, Cap Strength etc..)
I haven't learned everything in these topics, I also haven't learned them in this order. But I thought it would be handy to keep a list, so If a complete newbie(like me) joins, they can see what they should learn.
So feel free to add more topics! Also say where in the list it should go.
I like Rob Wadsworth's opinion on HAM Radio use. Is it still the thing to have in this day of cell phones and technology? I was considering taking some courses and buying one, just to be that more valuable to any chaser that I should hook up with... or would it be more valuable to go with something more technology savvy to track storms with? My aim is to be of the most service with any chaser I team up with when I get out to the central plains this upcoming spring.
Thanks!
LOL!
Dr. Charles 'Chuck' Doswell wrote a paper on what is considered 'chasing etiqutte' and basic chasing principles.
Call it a primer or introduction if you like.
I feel it is essential to learn it and be quite familair with it.
I did; it's pretty much common sense and is not at all difficult.
STORMTRACK members would appreciate that very much if you did - IMHO...
Here is that paper:
http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~doswell/Chasing2.html
It's been taboo for years to assign newbies with questions a ton of "homework" which consists of the stock replies "attend a local spotter class" and "study up on basic meteorology", but these don't teach a person how to chase storms. Meteorology is a completely separate entity from physically chasing a storm. All the book knowledge you can soak up means nothing without real-world application. Learning to chase is completely different than learning to forecast. You can't do the former consistently, successfully without learning the latter. And the latter means nothing without the former. You have to start out clueless, and learn both as you go along.
I hate meteorology and numbers and formulas and all that crap, but I still learned some of it through chasing. After a while, even the most stubborn mind has no choice but to start asking questions about why this happens and why that happens. Some of the answers I learned through other chasers, forums, and books. Others I learned from seeing storms over and over and starting to put things together in my head. But the important thing is I learned from both sources. Chasing and forecasting are two separate things that require one another to be successful at either. You need to know how to predict (within reason) where storms might be to be able to see them, and you need to understand how storms work in the natural, real-time environment to be able to understand how to make a forecast. Staring at models means so much less when you've never stared at the sky.
You're clueless when you start, because you've never chased. We all were. Accepting that you're going to stumble a lot at first is the initial step to beginning a chase career. No one is great out of the box, even with the toys. But every time you chase, you're that much better. It's a beautiful process.
LOL!
Dr. Charles 'Chuck' Doswell wrote a paper on what is considered 'chasing etiqutte' and basic chasing principles.
Call it a primer or introduction if you like.
I feel it is essential to learn it and be quite familair with it.
I did; it's pretty much common sense and is not at all difficult.
STORMTRACK members would appreciate that very much if you did - IMHO...
Here is that paper:
http://www.cimms.ou.edu/~doswell/Chasing2.html
I've actually never read through that. When I was a rook, most established chasers considered me a joke and I wasn't about to take "advice" from any of them. Now that I've grown up a little bit, I'm as stubborn as I always was about leaning too much on the opinions/influence of others. I've always been a responsible driver, and when I started chasing, that never changed.
It's probably a good idea for most newbies to read that, I just always have to do things my own way.
I also suggest learning route planning, you got to know the road network to get out if you get into a sticky situation.
Yes, I was going to add the ability to properly read and understand maps and relate them to the ground. Not something that always comes naturally.
I would also point out that they are both electives.
There may very well may be more than I have listed below...
1) Basic to intermediate photography. Taking photos for yourself to share with family, to document the event for an onlime web page/journal, or to use in reporting to the NWS (I do that), and even to possibly make money from an interested News Service. Don't hold out for the last one - but it is possible only if you get good enough or are the only one to scoop the event.
YouTube gets a lot of storm chasers giving free videos of chases and/or chasers use YouTube to play sampler collections for sale. Getting familiar with a still cameras or videocams can cost you some time, but consider it time well-spent. It pays many dividends; mostly personal. When I sent my bro (an attorney) pictures from Kansas last Spring - he just about flipped. He wanted to do it too - but present responsibilities to clients made that impossible.
The cost at first is relatively low for either a point and shoot camera or a used video camera. After that - the intermediate level - can get downright expensive and take a much greater learning curve. Even if you do it for yourself, I have found it a lot of good clean fun - so long as you keep the cost within reason. I do still shots at this point, and I have invested/spent more than two thousand dollars so far.
2) HAM radios are a preferred way of communicating to other storm chasers. You will need to study for the license and pass the exam to use these radios. There are a few web sites that can train you and help you take your test for a very reasonable fee. It's a very practical means to chase with other storm chasers. I don't have this need as of yet, as I report via cell phone by dialing 911, then the County Emergency Manager, and then I log on to the NWS computer system to fill out a brief. But I am a eSpotter AND a freelance chaser. Your needs may well be met with a HAM license and radio.
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