ARA Tools of the trade
Pertinent website to determine if station is transmitting
http://eddn.usgs.gov/msgaccess.html
“All clocks” on a EBAM or ESAMPLER should be set to UTC time. The NC EBAMS have
THREE CLOCKS: EBAM monitor clock, the CR800 Clock, and the transmitter Clock .
The EBAM & CR800 clocks need be both set to UTC time.
The transmitter will do so when it ascertains a satellite lock
through the GPS unit.
This site is an instantaneous site.
The data is there within seconds as soon as it is transmitted. It is an
essential step before leaving any deployment site.
GOES HEADER THAT PRECEDES 16 CHANNELS OR DATA FIELDS
Julian
Fail Sigl Freq Mod Data Chnl Spcrf Uplnk Msg
NESDIS ID YrDayTime Code Strn Off Indx Qual Rcvd Rcvd Stat Len
323C9794 12155145522 G
47
5
N
N
80
W
XX 00040
XX refers to data source code if an uplink is used: key ones for natural resource management are:
Code
Description
Location
Contact
d1
NIFC W1
Boise
J. Gray
d2
NIFC W2
Boise
J. Gray
UB
Bkup@WCDA
Wallops
Mcmath
UP
Primary @WCDA
Wallops
Mcmath
XE
Sioux Falls E
EROS
Schwitalla
XW
Sioux Falls W
EROS
Schwitalla
Phone#
208-387-5476
757-824-3446
443-498-5605
Fields
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Communication with the GOES Transmitter
COMET
communication software with Data Logger
Time zone
conversion chart
critical for reviewing Intel. data in
the local or fire time
11
Approx. Conversion Tool for pressure and altitude
0
ft
0
m
is
1013.25 mb/hPa 14.696
psi
760.00
mmHg
29.921
inHg
50
ft
15.240
m
is
1011.42 mb/hPa 14.669
psi
758.63
mmHg
29.867
inHg
100
ft
30.480
m
is
1009.59 mb/hPa 14.643
psi
757.26
mmHg
29.813
inHg
200
ft
60.960
m
is
1005.95 mb/hPa 14.590
psi
754.52
mmHg
29.706
inHg
300
ft
91.440
m
is
1002.31 mb/hPa 14.537
psi
751.80
mmHg
29.598
inHg
400
ft
121.92
m
is
998.689 mb/hPa 14.485
psi
749.08
mmHg
29.491
inHg
500
ft
152.40
m
is
995.075 mb/hPa 14.432
psi
746.37
mmHg
29.385
inHg
600
ft
182.88
m
is
991.472 mb/hPa 14.380
psi
743.67
mmHg
29.278
inHg
700
ft
213.36
m
is
987.880 mb/hPa 14.328
psi
740.97
mmHg
29.172
inHg
800
ft
243.84
m
is
984.298 mb/hPa 14.276
psi
738.28
mmHg
29.066
inHg
900
ft
274.32
m
is
980.727 mb/hPa 14.224
psi
735.61
mmHg
28.961
inHg
1000
ft
304.80
m
is
977.166 mb/hPa 14.173
psi
732.93
mmHg
28.856
inHg
2000
ft
609.60
m
is
942.129 mb/hPa 13.664
psi
706.65
mmHg
27.821
inHg
3000
ft
914.40
m
is
908.117 mb/hPa 13.171
psi
681.14
mmHg
26.817
inHg
4000
ft
1219.2
m
is
875.105 mb/hPa 12.692
psi
656.38
mmHg
25.842
inHg 12
5000
ft
1524.0
m
is
843.073
mb/hPa
12.228
psi
632.36
mmHg
24.896
inHg
6000
ft
1828.8
m
is
811.996
mb/hPa
11.777
psi
609.05
mmHg
23.978
inHg
7000
ft
2133.6
m
is
781.854
mb/hPa
11.340
psi
586.44
mmHg
23.088
inHg
8000
ft
2438.4
m
is
752.624
mb/hPa
10.916
psi
564.51
mmHg
22.225
inHg
9000
ft
2743.2
m
is
724.285
mb/hPa
10.505
psi
543.26
mmHg
21.388
inHg
10000
ft
3048.0
m
is
696.817
mb/hPa
10.106
psi
522.66
mmHg
20.577
inHg
15000
ft
4572.0
m
is
571.820
mb/hPa
8.2935
psi
428.90
mmHg
16.886
inHg
20000
ft
6096.0
m
is
465.633
mb/hPa
6.7534
psi
349.25
mmHg
13.750
inHg
25000
ft
7620.0
m
is
376.009
mb/hPa
5.4536
psi
282.03
mmHg
11.104
inHg
30000
ft
9144.0
m
is
300.896
mb/hPa
4.3641
psi
225.69
mmHg
8.8855
inHg
35000
ft
10668
m
is
238.423
mb/hPa
3.4580
psi
178.83
mmHg
7.0406
inHg
WILDLAND SMOKE IMPACT on VISIBILITY
For AIRCRAFT OPERATION
TODAY’S FORECAST – Tuesday, August 18th
Airport /
Heli-Base
Illinois Valley
Applegate
Ashland
Medford
Prospect
Toketee
Grants Pass
Agness
Visual Rating
Good
Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Good
Good
Good
Hours
expected
to occur*
8am – 12pm
Visual Range
for Operational
period 08-20 Hrs.
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
3-5 mi visibility
< 1 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
Comments
Visual Range
for Operational
period 08-20 Hrs.
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
>5 mi visibility
Comments
TOMORROW’S FORECAST – Wednesday, August 19th
Airport /
Heli-Base
Illinois Valley
Applegate
Ashland
Medford
Prospect
Toketee
Grants Pass
Agness
Visual Rating
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Hours
expected
to occur*
*to be completed only for Very Poor and Poor Visibility Ratings for the operational period between 08 – 20 Hrs.
Visibility is checked with the sun at your back and relative humidity < 70 % (preferably < 60%).
This report is to provide guidance for aircraft operations at Heli-Bases with regards to the impacts of wildland smoke on visibility.
Each Visibility Rating Class is described by an adjective term which represents a visibility in miles, critical values at which visibility
in miles can occur and the documented range of PM ₂.₅ that has resulted in reduced visibility.
NOTES:
In making this visibility projection Crescent and Collier Butte Fires are major and equal contributors for today’s smoke
production with contributions still from Stout. With light wind speeds expected (<5mph) inland smoke will collect, pool
and persist in local areas. Smoke plume drift will certainly be influenced by topography. Collier Butte will benefit from a
moderate northerly flow sending smoke to the southward. Weather and fuel conditions permit continuing burnout
operations.
PROSPECT HB is expected to have a visual rating of Poor early this morning during operational hours. It is expected to last
from 8 am – 12 pm improving through the afternoon. This impact for Prospect HB will repeat itself Tuesday but is expected
to start improving at the beginning of the operational flight period. Poor visibility is expected from 4 to 8 am.
Agness HB for Tuesday is expected to experience decreasing visibility from 12 – 3 pm and thereafter improving. The visual
rating expected is Poor with a range of 1–3 miles.
DISCLAIMER:
The values above are a synthesis of Bill Malm’s work of visual range versus PM2.5 concentration and Susan O’Neal’s
summary and analysis of approaches linking visual range with PM2.5 concentrations. Because of much uncertainty and
complexity, these values in the table cannot be taken as absolute. Yet, they may be able to provide operational guidance
and ability to assist in the wildfire aviation planning. It is a start and in time these values can be adjusted. Your feedback
is welcomed.
Contact information,
Gary Curcio (252-624-7635, [email protected])
Janice Peterson (206-484-4353, [email protected])
Mike McGown (208-994-1316, [email protected])