http://www.drjack.info/RASP/index.html

Whereas the Dr. Jack's RUC and NAM BLIPMAP soaring forecasts available in the U.S. are obtained by post-processing files output by the "equations of motion" meteorological models run by the U.S. Weather Bureau, RASP BLIPMAPs are obtained from independently running an "equations of motion" model by someone who has installed the freely-available RASP program on their local PC. This independent run has notable advantages over reliance on government-run models:

RASP forecast grids allow higher resolution than provided by government models (though of course subject to limits of practicality). Since the definitive "equations of motion" are employed, the full influence of topographic features can be ascertained (which cannot be done via interpolation). RASP provides full control over output times, plotting, area covered, etc. This allows operators to specifically tailor forecasts for their local region. RASP BLIPMAP plots provide soaring-specific forecasts, the parameters soaring pilots want to know, which government forecasts do not.

http://www.drjack.info/twiki/bin/view/RASPop/WebHome

The RASP (Regional Atmospheric Soaring Prediction) program produces high-resolution (1-12km) meteorological forecasts to help soaring pilots plan their flights. High resolution is particularly useful for those locations where soaring conditions can vary dramatically over short distances, as in or near complex terrain. Forecasting terrain-forced phenomena, such as terrain-channeled winds and terrain-induced convergence, requires that the terrain to be resolved and RASP is capable of providing finer-scale resolution than can be obtained from government-run models, which must cover a much larger area.

RASP generates BLIPMAP (Boundary Layer Information Prediction Maps) forecast maps, which display parameters specifically tailored for soaring pilots such as thermal strength, maximum thermaling height, etc. This is accomplished by performing a "sounding analysis" at every grid point location. (The plotting routine can also be modified to plot any variable produced by the model.)

Forecasts can be produced for anywhere on earth, though forecasts outside the US usually must use a less fine resolution because they must be nested within a global model having coarser resolution than is available for the US.

Recently I have been using the RASP runs produced for New South Wales http://blipmap.walsys.net/NEWSOUTHWALES/univiewer.html and for Victoria (and southern NSW) http://www.xcsoar.org/rasp/Benalla/univiewer.html. I have been very impressed with the accuracy of these forecasts. They have been particularly helpful in planning for tasks (at Forbes and Bogong) and determining launch sites (at Bogong). These RASPs can be found along with other weather sites at the Oz Report Oz weather site: http://ozreport.com/ozweather.php.

The Univiewers implemented for these RASPs are particular helpful, allowing me to download about sixty RASP images in a few minutes the night before and in the morning (the models are run to provide a forecast for the next day as well as a forecast for that day in the morning). I have forecasts for every hour 8 AM through 7 PM, for thermal strength, cloud base, top of the lift, surface, average through the thermal column and top of the lift winds, and probability of overdevelopment. I very much appreciate these hourly forecasts which are not generally available with the wider area BLIPMAPS (or BLIPSPOTS). There are many other soaring parameters that are forecasted which you can use if you personally find them useful.

Numerous RASPs have been implemented by glider, hang glider and paraglider pilots for their areas. You can see which ones are available at the URLs above. You too can implement a RASP using the freely available software. You just need a computer with a fast internet connection that can run or is running Linux. You computer can used to do the calculations, draw the pretty pictures and serve up the images to enquiring pilots. You can even ask for donations or subscriptions to pay for this service.

I found the NSW and Victorian RASPs to be quite accurate (except when mid level clouds were approaching, and since I know this, I can discount the model when I see this happening). The only problem was that the Victorian RASP took in too big an area, that the Mt. Buffalo place name on the graphs covered the area that I was most interested in. I would like a RASP dedicated to this area. The Victorian RASP was implemented by glider pilots, so the area encompassed it what interests them.

Thanks again to the glider pilots that have implemented these wonderful soaring forecasting tools, John Wharington and Bernard Baer. I have donated personally to Bernie and Vicki Cain donated $50 to Bernie from the Forbes Flatlands meet: http://blipmap.walsys.net/NEWSOUTHWALES/index.html.

I'd love to see RASPs for the various areas in Europe, say like at Laragne where I will be flying in the pre-Worlds.

John Wharington <<email>> writes:

By the way, have you guys tried the table interface to RASP? http://www.xcsoar.org/rasp/Benalla/RASPtable.html. It's my favourite. Could be cleaned up and made a bit prettier but better than the Univiewer.

Bernard Baer <<email>> writes:

I like the way if you click on the graphic on the table interface it progresses to the next hour.

Morgan Sandercock is currently putting the finishing touches to a Javascript app that scrolls through each hourly map in the same way that the BoM radar images do.