• A student is looking for help on tropical cyclone prediction. Please fill out the survey linked to this thread: https://stormtrack.org/threads/storm-and-hurricane-intensity-prediction-survey.32957
  • After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

Non contact infrared thermometers and cloud bases

Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
515
Location
Laguja, Estonia, Europe
I recently got myself a non contact IR thermometer. Now I am wondering whether it is possible to measure the temperatures of the cloud bases? I have done some test readings and they look promising(like temperature of cirrus clouds corresponding to 5 miles height). However, can you point me some tips how to measure the clouds if the measurement is actually possible. Should I change emissivity(it is 0.95 by default)?

It's optics ratio is 1:1 (distance:spot), full range accuracy ±2% of reading or 2°C whichever is greater.

I apologize if I posted this in wrong category.
 
I checked the manual and it didn't say any specific distances. I guess things would be fine when it would be widespread cloud coverage with stable base height. Readings are quite logic as well...
 
The only problem is the you can't target a specific area as it reads a very wide area. The one I have reads a 1 inch area at 12 inches away. The farther out you go, the wider the area that it reads is. So, at 5 miles or so, I imagine its reading a very large portion of the sky. Its 2:11 am am here with clear skies and I just pointed mine up at the stars. It read -1 degree F. I just checked NWS and it says the air temp is 17 F. So I'm not sure if that is a good reading or not.
 
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