One of the topics that came up on the long cross-country with Vick a few weeks ago was weather, and understanding it. Specifically we were talking about how the winds aloft forecasts are developed.

I've been looking at Skew-T Log-P diagrams a bit, and while I can't pretend to understand much of it, find the information available on this one chart pretty impressive. It seems to me that if one could understand all the concepts represented, one would have a pretty darn good understanding of a lot of weather concepts.

Anyone ever look at these or use them for practical purposes?


http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/upper/

-Bill

Bill,
We use these all the time in soaring. You are correct that you can glean tons of good information from these, winds aloft, convection layers, expected cloud heights, etc. I am not the most expert in reading these, but have a basic knowledge. Several of the guys down at North Carolina Soaring Assoc at Harnett County are quite good at reading Skew-Ts, namely Ray Galloway. If I remember right he put together a really good presentation on reading them (soaring oriented). If I can find his contact info I'll pm it to you.
Todd

Hey Todd, thanks a lot- that would be great. I've always had a great interest in weather, but have never found the time or opportunity to give it proper study.

Meanwhile, did we talk on the phone a few years ago back when you were buying your Stinson? And did you just have your Stinson out at the Woods' for annual? I'm just curious.

Cheers,
-Bill

I think we did talk just over a year ago when I was buying my Stinson. Jimmy Dean (who lives about 2 miles from me) ended up doing my insurance check-out. And I did take her to Wood's for the annual this year, figured he would do a very good job finding all the little things that needed to be done (I was correct).
I need to get over to Raleigh East sometime
Todd

Scott Dennstaedt has written a great series of articles for IFR Magazine about the skew-t log(p) charts. Links to the articles can be found here:
http://www.skewtlogpro.com/about-skew-t-log-p-charts/

RDUStinson wrote:

The upper LH corner looks like somebody squashed a skeeter on a pistol target. What's up with that?

It's been a long time since I did a bit of research flying but I think the bug smash is a representation of the weather balloon's track following it's release.
Or not.