Calculating T-Storm height??
05-04-2012 | 02:59 PM
#1
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From: Citation driver
Calculating T-Storm height??
Any guidence on calculating the height of a t-storm based on your distance from the strorm and radar tilt? Apparently there is an equation for it but I have not been able to find it......help?
PS. I have heard it is an interview question
PS. I have heard it is an interview question
05-04-2012 | 04:57 PM
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From: Gear Thrower
SIN A = X/Y
A= Elevation
X= alt diff between aircraft and target
Y= slant range
So alt diff formula is:
X= A x range x 100
Ex. Aircraft has 6 degree beam, you are at 20,000 feet and the range to target is 20 miles. So take half of radars beam width to figure:
3 x 20 x 100 = 6000 so target alt is either up or down depending on the tilt of beam in this case we will say up so:
X = 26000 feet
A= Elevation
X= alt diff between aircraft and target
Y= slant range
So alt diff formula is:
X= A x range x 100
Ex. Aircraft has 6 degree beam, you are at 20,000 feet and the range to target is 20 miles. So take half of radars beam width to figure:
3 x 20 x 100 = 6000 so target alt is either up or down depending on the tilt of beam in this case we will say up so:
X = 26000 feet
05-04-2012 | 08:22 PM
#4
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Just use the 60 to 1 rule!
One degree is equal to approximately 100' per nautical mile (6026' feet).
So...
Your altitude in thousands of feet + (Radar elevation in degrees to top of storm x miles to storm)/10 = thunderstorm height.
Example:
At FL200 you have a thunderstorm at 40 miles showing the tops at 4 degrees radar elevation.
20 + (40x4)/10 = Tops at FL360
Make sense? You divide by ten to turn the hundreds of feet into thousands...
I know very little about wx radar so you may have to factor beam width etc... see above.
One degree is equal to approximately 100' per nautical mile (6026' feet).
So...
Your altitude in thousands of feet + (Radar elevation in degrees to top of storm x miles to storm)/10 = thunderstorm height.
Example:
At FL200 you have a thunderstorm at 40 miles showing the tops at 4 degrees radar elevation.
20 + (40x4)/10 = Tops at FL360
Make sense? You divide by ten to turn the hundreds of feet into thousands...
I know very little about wx radar so you may have to factor beam width etc... see above.
05-05-2012 | 05:25 AM
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SIN A = X/Y
A= Elevation
X= alt diff between aircraft and target
Y= slant range
So alt diff formula is:
X= A x range x 100
Ex. Aircraft has 6 degree beam, you are at 20,000 feet and the range to target is 20 miles. So take half of radars beam width to figure:
3 x 20 x 100 = 6000 so target alt is either up or down depending on the tilt of beam in this case we will say up so:
X = 26000 feet
A= Elevation
X= alt diff between aircraft and target
Y= slant range
So alt diff formula is:
X= A x range x 100
Ex. Aircraft has 6 degree beam, you are at 20,000 feet and the range to target is 20 miles. So take half of radars beam width to figure:
3 x 20 x 100 = 6000 so target alt is either up or down depending on the tilt of beam in this case we will say up so:
X = 26000 feet
So....while you're heads down doing all of that math on paper, you'll probably fly into another cell right in front of you.
05-05-2012 | 06:56 AM
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05-05-2012 | 01:13 PM
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This must be a strictly academic exercise, since the tops of many powerful cells don't return anything on the radar... and I wouldn't cross anywhere near them. I certainly wouldn't use the formula to try and top something.
But interesting non the less as I've not seen these before.
But interesting non the less as I've not seen these before.
05-05-2012 | 03:02 PM
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From: Gear Thrower
SIN A = X/Y
A= Elevation
X= alt diff between aircraft and target
Y= slant range
So alt diff formula is:
X= A x range x 100
Ex. Aircraft has 6 degree beam, you are at 20,000 feet and the range to target is 20 miles. So take half of radars beam width to figure:
3 x 20 x 100 = 6000 so target alt is either up or down depending on the tilt of beam in this case we will say up so:
X = 26000 feet
A= Elevation
X= alt diff between aircraft and target
Y= slant range
So alt diff formula is:
X= A x range x 100
Ex. Aircraft has 6 degree beam, you are at 20,000 feet and the range to target is 20 miles. So take half of radars beam width to figure:
3 x 20 x 100 = 6000 so target alt is either up or down depending on the tilt of beam in this case we will say up so:
X = 26000 feet
So....while you're heads down doing all of that math on paper, you'll probably fly into another cell right in front of you.
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