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April 5th, 2004, 18:59
| #1 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North East; KFRG
Posts: 66
|  true or magnetic?? I was trying to determine if winds are true or magnetic for the following reports. Here is what I found out from AIM: ATIS - true Metar/Taf - true Winds Aloft - true However, recently I checked Metars right after landing and saw that the winds on the report were identical to the ones advertised in ATIS. Anyone can explain? Thanks. |
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April 5th, 2004, 20:23
| #2 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Texas
Posts: 514
| Re: true or magnetic?? If winds on the ATIS are true, and winds in the METAR are true, shouldn't they be equal?  Ok, in order to answer your question when you figure out where you went wrong, what airport are you talking about?  |
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April 5th, 2004, 20:44
| #3 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: ??
Posts: 4,600
| Re: true or magnetic?? As far as I know, ATIS, and any wind check given by tower is supposed to be given in Magnetic. This is to save you from having to figure out the diff. between Mag and True for wind correction purposes. METAR's are referenced to true (according to my good 'ol Aviation Weather Services book). My guess would be that maybe ATC just read the METAR when they broadcast the ATIS. |
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April 5th, 2004, 22:41
| #4 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Texas
Posts: 514
| Re: true or magnetic?? Yep, ATIS is in magnetic. I'll bet the magnetic varation at the OP's airport is small enough that they don't need to convert from mag to true when doing the METAR. |
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April 6th, 2004, 07:14
| #5 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 887
| Re: true or magnetic?? If you hear it they are magnetic...if you read it they are true. with the exception of a winds aloft and metar brief from a FSS briefer. Of course hes reading those anyways.... |
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April 6th, 2004, 07:45
| #6 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North East; KFRG
Posts: 66
| Re: true or magnetic?? [ QUOTE ] ATIS - true Metar/Taf - true Winds Aloft - true [/ QUOTE ] Sorry, I meant ATIS - MAGNETIC. I was on an autopilot when I typed it up :-) [ QUOTE ] I'll bet the magnetic varation at the OP's airport is small enough that they don't need to convert from mag to true when doing the METAR. [/ QUOTE ] No, it's in NY area. The variation is 14 degrees. |
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April 6th, 2004, 19:47
| #7 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 277
| Re: true or magnetic?? Visibility is in statute miles. Wind speed is in nautical miles / hour. Don't you just love it! |
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April 8th, 2004, 13:55
| #8 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 45
| Re: true or magnetic?? When meteorologists first determine the wind is it in true or magnetic direction? |
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April 8th, 2004, 20:44
| #9 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 1,752
 | Re: true or magnetic?? Not to state the obvious, but are you sure a new METAR wasn't put out between the time you heard the ATIS and the time you checked the METAR after getting out of the plane? The ATIS is usually changed at 53 minutes passed the hour, but it can be done upon reciept of any official weather. |
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