Dynamic Weather Interface

[SkyObscure]

Hello

I have been playing around with dynamic weather in the ME, but frankly, I am far from understanding how it works. In some respects I would question if it works, more so following my latest effort. 
 

The main issues come from the user interface. Basically, the user selects a system, applies a pressure deviation from ISA hits, hits generate and there you go. Dynamic weather created. In doing so it throws out your pressure system with a whole bunch of absolutely meaningless numbers, starting with the coordinates which bear no resemblance LAT/LONG, or MGRS meaning if you want to place the centre of the system in a particular location it’s incredibly difficult.

Next theres pressure spread, with another huge 6 digit number which is fairly meaningless. I know what it’s trying to accomplish, I’m damned if I know how to make it work.

Ellipticity? Shape of the system no doubt, but again the number is meaningless in terms of a cyclonic system or creating a trough.

Pressure Excess? No idea. 

Rotation, again no idea. In the real world, rotation around a system is largely dictated by system type and pressure gradient force.

What is apparent, is that any attempt to change any of the above numbers just generates a whole bunch of new random numbers giving the user no idea how it affects the outcome, or what it’s actually doing.

Prior to this rant I was attempting to create a set of conditions based upon two adjacent areas of low pressure. However, it appears that although it is possible to add multiple systems, only the one selected when you hit generate seems to have a bearing on the outcome. It also appears that you can’t add a low and a high. What is also clear (and makes me think the system doesn’t work) is that Boyles law is completely ignored. Looking at the centre of my Low right now and 1), with back to the wind, the low pressure is not always on the left; 2) There’s fletches near the centre of the low which are divergent rather than convergent (though with no visible isobars it’s not easy to tell).

I have zero experience when it comes to writing code and I don’t doubt that making something as complex as a dynamic weather system work must be a big undertaking. However, in terms of the user interface, having something meaningful to work with would be really helpful to those of us with a basic understanding of weather who want to create a given set of conditions.

Personally, I would use a select and drop/drag system for a given pressure system, just like every other object in the mission editor. Remove pressure deviation and just add the QNH in the centre of the system in hPa. If a user adds a single system, then allow them to apply a pressure gradient, or base it on the strength of the high/low (pressure spread is ambiguous at best with meaningless numbers). The higher the number the greater the wind strength. If the user adds more than one system and sets QNH the pressure gradient takes care of itself.

i assume that the present system already looks at likely stability and humidity of an airmass based on the selected map, the strength of the big H or L and where it falls, otherwise other handy inputs for the user might include dew point and environmental lapse rate.

As I said, I don’t know what it takes to make things like this work, but with AI becoming as clever as it is, I would be amazed if you couldn’t create a system whereby the user inputs some basic data as above, hit generate,  have it fill in the gaps and have it come up with something vaguely realistic.

Final request on the subject of weather, and I don’t doubt it’s been mentioned before: TAF, METAR and ATIS, please! What is the point of having incredibly detailed high fidelity aircraft when there is no actual need to adjust the altimeter sub scale (let alone dare I say it, turn on the pitot heat or anti ice).

Cheers

[draconus]

Dynamic weather is currently not working correctly and is not supported - that should explain it

Here's how it should work: https://airgoons.com/w/DCS_Reference/Editing_Dynamic_Weather

Some other thread:

Edited October 11, 2024 by draconus

[SkyObscure]

Yeah, that definitely would explain it .

Thanks for the tutorial, I’ll take a look. Though I stand by my assertion it’s not user friendly and could be made so much easier *Awaiting barrage from people who do understand programming telling me it can’t*. 
 

Cheers!

[Ironhand]

On 10/10/2024 at 7:41 AM, SkyObscure said:

I have been playing around with dynamic weather in the ME, but frankly, I am far from understanding how it works. In some respects I would question if it works, more so following my latest effort. 
 

The main issues come from the user interface. Basically, the user selects a system, applies a pressure deviation from ISA hits, hits generate and there you go. Dynamic weather created. In doing so it throws out your pressure system with a whole bunch of absolutely meaningless numbers, starting with the coordinates which bear no resemblance LAT/LONG, or MGRS meaning if you want to place the centre of the system in a particular location it’s incredibly difficult.

Next theres pressure spread, with another huge 6 digit number which is fairly meaningless. I know what it’s trying to accomplish, I’m damned if I know how to make it work.

Ellipticity? Shape of the system no doubt, but again the number is meaningless in terms of a cyclonic system or creating a trough.

Pressure Excess? No idea. 

Rotation, again no idea. In the real world, rotation around a system is largely dictated by system type and pressure gradient force.

What is apparent, is that any attempt to change any of the above numbers just generates a whole bunch of new random numbers giving the user no idea how it affects the outcome, or what it’s actually doing…

Basically, it was designed to randomly generate moving weather on the map. Toss in some numbers and, then, hit “generate” until you get something you like and save it. It was not designed to give you precise control over anything. If you know what you’re doing and edit the generated weather file itself, you could gain that control. But that took a lot of work.

At one point, I was able to generate some spread sheets (this was many years ago) that made it much easier to get what you wanted, where you wanted it. Unfortunately, they no longer seem valid. I might take another look at some point. Has dynamic weather started generating clouds again? For awhile, it was just generating wind patterns.

EDIT: Just checked. Clouds are generated but it now takes much more wind differential between the zones than it used to.

Edited October 13, 2024 by Ironhand

[SkyObscure]

Many Thanks, Ironhand

i checked out the instructions provided by Draconus and had drawn the conclusion that I was expecting far too much from it, never mind the fact that it was an overly complicated process.

Presets it is, I guess.