I've noticed of late that there often appears to be an area of rain in NE
England to the south of Newcastle showing up on the rainfall radar. It's
there again at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of wet
stuff on the ground (or anywhere else across the UK for that matter).

I have already e-mailed the Met Office, but have not received a reply as
yet. I'm assuming this must be some kind of computer glitch Just wondering
whether anyone has experienced any rainfall this afternoon in this corner of
the country?

Regards... DAVID.

"David Allan" wrote in message
...
I've noticed of late that there often appears to be an area of rain in NE
England to the south of Newcastle showing up on the rainfall radar. It's
there again at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of wet
stuff on the ground (or anywhere else across the UK for that matter).

I have already e-mailed the Met Office, but have not received a reply as
yet. I'm assuming this must be some kind of computer glitch Just wondering
whether anyone has experienced any rainfall this afternoon in this corner
of the country?

Regards... DAVID.


There's probably enough depth of cloud in the north to give the odd shower
but I'm fairly certain those returns are spurious as I noticed them there
over the weekend too. There could be a number of reasons, such as two radars
interfering with each other, but normally in this type of situation it's due
to anomalous propagation. The following page helps to explain it
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporat...actsheet15.pdf

Jon.

Thanks Jon,

I notice that a new rainfall radar installation at High Moorsley, Co Durham,
came online recently and wondered whether the point you made about
interference may be the answer. Although there is some cloud cover around
just now, there certainly wasn't a few days ago and the rainfall radar was
still showing a patch of rain just below Newcastle.

On the other hand, it could be being caused by the collective tears of all
the Newcastle footy fans following their recent fall from the Premiership!

Regards... DAVID.


"Jon O'Rourke" wrote in message
...
"David Allan" wrote in message
...
I've noticed of late that there often appears to be an area of rain in NE
England to the south of Newcastle showing up on the rainfall radar. It's
there again at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of
wet stuff on the ground (or anywhere else across the UK for that matter).

I have already e-mailed the Met Office, but have not received a reply as
yet. I'm assuming this must be some kind of computer glitch Just
wondering whether anyone has experienced any rainfall this afternoon in
this corner of the country?

Regards... DAVID.


There's probably enough depth of cloud in the north to give the odd shower
but I'm fairly certain those returns are spurious as I noticed them there
over the weekend too. There could be a number of reasons, such as two
radars interfering with each other, but normally in this type of situation
it's due to anomalous propagation. The following page helps to explain it
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporat...actsheet15.pdf

Jon.

"David Allan" wrote in message
...
Thanks Jon,

I notice that a new rainfall radar installation at High Moorsley, Co
Durham, came online recently and wondered whether the point you made about
interference may be the answer. Although there is some cloud cover around
just now, there certainly wasn't a few days ago and the rainfall radar was
still showing a patch of rain just below Newcastle.

On the other hand, it could be being caused by the collective tears of all
the Newcastle footy fans following their recent fall from the Premiership!

Regards... DAVID.

Lol, yes, perhaps a flood warning needs to be in force for some time up
there ;-)

Jon. (up the Cherries !)

On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:08:16 +0100, David Allan wrote:

I notice that a new rainfall radar installation at High Moorsley, Co
Durham, came online recently and wondered whether the point you made
about interference may be the answer.

The location of south of Newcastle would match the location of the new
radar... Durham is a bit misleading it's the other side of the A1M between
Durham and Hought-Le-Spring.

Looking at the http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/radar/index.html
page it doesn't look to be included there yet as there is still a big dip
in the side over the north sea more or less opposite newcastle. I'd expect
to see a significant bit of that dip filled and a new arc appear between
the arcs above and below.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"David Allan" wrote in message
...
|
| On the other hand, it could be being caused by the collective tears of all
| the Newcastle footy fans following their recent fall from the Premiership!
|
| Regards... DAVID.
|
That was the first thing that sprang into my mind, too. You have got to feel
sorry for them all, though.

I go through that sort of thing almost every year. I HATE FERGUSON! Said as
a true Aberdonian.

jim, Northampton

On Wed, 3 Jun 2009 00:17:11 +0100, "jbm" wrote:

I HATE FERGUSON! Said as
a true Aberdonian.

Is that the constant gum chewer?
R

"David Allan" wrote in message
...
I've noticed of late that there often appears to be an area of rain in NE
England to the south of Newcastle showing up on the rainfall radar. It's
there again at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of wet
stuff on the ground (or anywhere else across the UK for that matter).

I have already e-mailed the Met Office, but have not received a reply as
yet. I'm assuming this must be some kind of computer glitch Just wondering
whether anyone has experienced any rainfall this afternoon in this corner
of the country?

Regards... DAVID.

Actually, having looked at it again it doesn't resemble the usual type of
anaprop pattern and may well be interference of some form that's not being
removed consistently. Martin, Bernard, etc, any ideas ?!

Jon.

"Jon O'Rourke" wrote in message
...

Actually, having looked at it again it doesn't resemble the usual
type of
anaprop pattern and may well be interference of some form that's not
being
removed consistently. Martin, Bernard, etc, any ideas ?!



.... don't know enough about the configuration of the newer radars, but
I note that this 'clutter' is around the origin of the 'Durham' radar
and only switches in when that radar is (apparently) coupled to the
network (to judge from the edge over the North Sea). This suggests
that the on-site firmware (assuming such is still used) isn't removing
the local clutter properly before being sent to Exeter for inclusion
in the radarnet processing algorithms.

Martin.


--
Martin Rowley
West Moors, East Dorset (UK): 17m (56ft) amsl
Lat: 50.82N Long: 01.88W
NGR: SU 082 023