a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
All things Field Day
Bruce Pigott, KC1US writes:
“Between tower raising, generator fueling and late night wanders around the site, being at Field Day can be dangerous. One person should be on the look out for hazardous situations.
“Here are some notes from having been responsible […] at the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society and […] also some observations at other sites…”
Bill Ricker, N1VUX writes on CEMARC-List:
The Field Day planning season is well under way. And so the EMA Section Field Day Directory is being updated. But this requires input from the clubs, too.
Please check your club’s listing — if you can confirm same as last year, or have changes, please drop us an email. Also, if you have prior years’ scores (or pictures) that aren’t reflected (or linked), drop us an email on that too.
FD2005_Directory_Enhancements
* Updated ICS/FD memo
* 2005 Logo
* links to 2005 rules changes
* 2004 Scores
* Links to Google Maps for street maps
* History page ehnahnced with past Section site maps or tour-maps linked and preserved, with old logos
* ALL Menus syncronized
* 1999 Scores added to history (Plus HPARC History 1993-Present)
* Commentary on 2005 rules changes
73,
Bill, N1VUX
EMA FD Directory Editor
Miles Mann, WF1F writes on BARS mailing list:
This weekend it may be possible to listen to the Crew on board the ISS. And if you are a licensed Ham, you may even get a chance to talk to them directly by ham radio, too.
Voice Tips:
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/issvoicetips.html
Packet Tips:
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/isspacketmanual.html
The Space Station will be transmitting on 145.800 FM. If you have a proper licens you can try to call them using the posted Uplink channel. The uplink channels are different depending on what part of the world
you are located in.
Channel 1 145.800.0 RX 144.490.0 TX Voice North America
Channel 2 145.800.0 RX 145.990.0 TX Packet (Worldwide)
Channel 3 145.800.0 RX 145.200.0 TX Voice (Region 1Europe, Africa)
Audio from the 2002 field day links with Susan Helms on ISS
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/issaudiofiles.html
—
From the Amsat BBS June 22, 2004
by Scott H. Stevens / N3ASA
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station may participate in Field Day operations this year. Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, may participate in Field Day activities as time permits.
Fincke should be operating as NA1SS, 1 Alpha, ISS. If Padalka can participate then he should sign RS0ISS, 1 Alpha, ISS.
ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth G. Ransom, N5VHO, sent Field Day operating instructions and pass times to the ISS support team at Johnson Space Center for relay to Fincke. Best pass times sent to Mike are for June 27 and include:
07:53 – 08:11 UTC Southern & NE U.S.
09:27 – 09:47 UTC Western U.S.
11:03 – 11:23 UTC Northwest U.S.
14:15 – 14:35 UTC Northeast U.S.
15:51 – 16:11 UTC Central U.S.
17:27 – 17:43 UTC Southwest U.S.
The plan is for Fincke to be on voice using the standard ISS voice frequencies for contacts in ITU region 2 of 144.49 up and 145.80 down in the FM mode. If Padalka participates, he will also operate on the same 2 meter frequency set and they will probably trade off on passes.
The prospect of two operators being available and operating simultaneously is possible since ARISS now has 2 radios on board. One of them is a dual band and that makes activation of another band possible though not guaranteed. If we are fortunate enough to have 2 operators on at the same time, one of them would operating on 437.55 simplex in the FM mode while the other is on the standard 2 meter FM split voice frequency. Keep in mind that the Doppler shift in the 70 centimeter band is significantly greater than on 2 meters.
Doppler will be the biggest challenge for earthbound hams trying to work ISS on 70 cm. The Doppler on 70 cm is plus or minus 10 kHz. Most radios include 5-kHz tuning steps, and to work ISS on voice you will need to get within 3 kHz of the ISS receiver frequency. Setting up memories on a 5kHz stepped radio would require 5 memory channels. Start with channel 1 at the beginning of the pass and proceed to the next as the pass progresses.
TX Channel RX Channel Doppler
1 437.540 437.560 +10
2 437.545 437.555 +5
3 437.550 437.550 0
4 437.555 437.545 -5
5 437.560 437.540 -10
Ideally, you would be able to have tuning steps of 2 kHz and the table would look like this:
TX Channel RX Channel Doppler
1 437.540 437.560 +10
2 437.542 437.558 +8
3 437.544 437.556 +6
4 437.546 437.554 +4
5 437.548 437.552 +2
6 437.550 437.550 0
7 437.552 437.548 -2
8 437.554 437.546 -4
9 437.556 437.544 -6
10 437.558 437.542 -8
11 437.560 437.540 -10
As with any amateur radio operation aboard the ISS, the crew gives of their free time to participate and as such may not be available on every pass or more pressing events may preclude any participation at all. It is planned that if the crew is unable to participate that the packet station will be on and available for ground stations to work each other via the packet digipeater using ARISS as the alias for the callsign in UNPROTO mode using 145.99 up and 145.80 down.
Keep in mind that an EVA is scheduled just a few days before Field Day and the crew will still be in the process of getting back to a normal schedule when Field Day is in full swing.
73 & good luck on Field Day!
Scott H. Stevens / N3ASA
NNNNNNNN
Marexmg Web page
http://www.marexmg.org
Information on the crew’s activities aboard the Space Station, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG
Until we meet again
DOSVIDANIYA Miles WF1F
The 2004 EMa Field Day page is now up and running at the Section Field Day page. Thanks to a tremendous amount of effort and hard work by Bill Ricker, N1VUX with additional assistance from Peter Grace, KB1CVH, the Field Day page is a wonderful compendium of every resource one could want: directories of all clubs and groups operating in the section, including past scores, maps, locations (GPS coordinates, too!) and contact numbers. Also included is a full description of the Field Day rules. Be sure to check this out!
Current and past field day information appears in this area. The date for Field Day 2004 is Sat/Sun 26-27 June 2004. You can view the rules (w/o forms) at http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/index.html#FD
The 2m simplex frequency to meet other FD stations is 146.550. Remember 146.52 is offlimits during the FD weekend.
=== Note from N1VUX ===
To Club Officers and FD Chairs:
Please review the information I have on your radio club on the EMA ARRL Field Day website. In particular, please note if your current site is correctly described. Proof read the driving directions (which the EMA SM or his Staff and possibly the NE Div staff will you to find your site, along with maps based on Lat-Long) Click the Topo link if your listing has one to check the Lat-Long pos. If the Red Cross doesn’t come up exactly on your site (unlikey unless we nailed it last year), please click on your exact site on the topo map and mail me back the URL of the topo when you’ve got the red-cross just where you want it. If your site doesnt have a Topo link, you can give me the street address and which side of the building / parking lot, or you can browse around on Maps.Yahoo.com or Topozone.com or any similar mapping program and mail me the URL. Or read the Lat-Lon off your GPS or Map. This website is no longer tracking official club contact information for ARRL Affiliate clubs. You can now make those corrections online. The EMA FD website would like updates for club FD contacts, contact info for non-Affiliated clubs (although we’d encourage you to become Affiliated Clubs of course!). If you will have special technology demonstrations or modes (PSK31, Satelite, …), you can note that. Note the “Visits” entry … this shows who from ARRL/ARES staff think are going to visit you … that have told me. Check it again closer to FD too.
Thanks,
Bill Ricker N1VUX
n1vux
Note For GPS & APRS users
All Lat/Long coords are either Topo NAD27 or unknown; to get WGS84/NAD83 Lat/Lon (native mode for GPSs), use the CoordXvert link courtesy of jeEep.com which will give you all three formats (D.dd, D.M.m, DMS.s) for both grids (or toggle your GPS into NAD27 mode while entering ’em by number, same as you would reading off a topomap if you want to be really accurate).
Updates to n1vux [please]
Bill Ricker, N1VUX has updated the Eastern Massachusetts Field Day web site at http://ema.arrl.org/fd.
The site is an amazing compendium of Field Day facts and information. It features: the new 2004 ARRL Field Day logo; EMA 2003 scores, as reported by ARRL Contest branch; 2004 Field Day rules; each site’s county; sites linked to NWS zone forecast; rules commentary; projected Field Day visits by EMA ARRL staff and much, much more.
Please visit the site and review/update your club’s or field day group’s information today!
The September, 2003 QST’s “ARRL in Action” column features a photo taken by Boston ARC member Ramon Kolb, KX1T. The column and accompanying photos highlight visits to Field Day sites across the U.S. by Section Managers and other League field organization volunteers. Shown in the photo are (l-r): Bill Ricker, N1VUX; Phil Temples, K9HI; Paul Olivieri, N1ZKR and Bill McIninch, KA1MOM.
A group of amateurs spearheaded by Tom Kinahan, N1CPE are planning an Amateur Radio exhibit/message fair for the Milford Hospital “Monster” Field Day September 13, 2003. The fair celebrates events from one hundred years ago.
“We’re trying to re-create a bit of the magic of Marconi 100 years ago,” commented N1CPE.
Below are minutes from the first organizing meeting.”At our organizing meeting in attendance were: Bruce Piggot KC1US, Steve Schwarm, W3EVE, Fran Belliveau KA4FRH and Tom Kinahan N1CPE.
We’re not being asked to “coordinate” or help them run the events of this day. We’re only doing a display of Ham Radio.
1) We need a CW person/demonstrator that can do a good demonstration for kids, and come up with the appropriate keys / oscillators and materials.
2) We need Signage. We would like to have signage to talk about FARA, Ham Radio, Marconi, CW, and NTS how messages get through.
These are assumed to be our biggest issues.
We will need 40 feet of tables to go under a tent provided by N1CPE/Wellesley ARS. It’s 20′ x 10′.
We expect to apply for a special event callsign (Under W1FY).
We would like to demonstrate the phonetic alphabet as a different “code” for kids. Need a poster/handouts.
We calculated that we’ll need 120V@ 10A or a 1200- 2000 Watt generator. This sill be supplied by the MRH.
Fran and Steve will arrange the HF antenna given the field layout.
We put together a “blurb” for the advertising for our part of the event. We will run a “message Fair” and a ham radio demo using HF and 2m,70cm FM.
We want to be able to use the name of Framingham ARA as our group, and will apply for a special event callsign of K1H, N1H, or W1H for this event.
We’ll need to have some scheme for special event QSL cards.
-Tom K.
Field Day photos from 18 different sites, taken by K9HI, W1MPN and others have been posted to the web site for your viewing pleasure.
The EMA FD Homepage now has the staff/leadership tour list and map. Our Tourists were, in rough rank of mileage,
Phil K9HI and Mike W1MPN carried the two copies of the Proclamation with them. Expect picture links to appear on EMA ARRL, ARES, and FD pages soon.
Our ARRL Staff resident at a FD site included (with some overlap(*))
See the tour list and map for more details.
KD1CY writes on http://ares.ema.arrl.org:
“Since there will be many Amateurs out this weekend setting up these stations, many of which outdoors, we would like to briefly discuss the weather for Field Day weekend.
“At this time, the threat for thunderstorms and the potential for at least scattered severe weather is confined to Friday Afternoon and Friday Night from roughly Noon-9 PM. There is the potential for at least scattered severe weather tomorrow with at the very least pulse type activity. In any event, thunderstorms are a good bet for much of the region. Any Field Day sites planning to do setup on Friday should pay close attention to the weather and if threatening weather approaches seek safe shelter immediately.
“Even if severe weather does not occur at your specific site setup, lightning is one of the biggest threats to setup of these sites. Do NOT take chances. If thunderstorms approach, stop setup work and seek safe shelter. Lightning can strike as much as 20 miles away from the parent thunderstorm. Also, if you have antennas setup make sure they are properly grounded to avoid the loss of antenna equipment as best as possible. The current forecast now has the Saturday and Sunday dry with no threat of thunderstorms. [Full story]
Current weather models suggest that Tropo-Ducting and Tropo-Enhancement conditions will persist after the Friday cold front into Field Day weekend, through the normal end of contest 18Z Sunday (as opposed to official end 21Z for late starters). 146.550 FM Simplex, the 2m SSB calling, and 220/440 are worth trying for DX. There may even be 6m Tropo openings.
Bill N1VUX
[Article contributed by our SKYWARN Coordinator, Rob, KD1CY]
Hello to all….
Since there will be many Amateurs out this weekend setting up these stations, many of which outdoors, we would like to briefly discuss the weather for Field Day weekend. At this time, the threat for thunderstorms and the potential for at least scattered severe weather is confined to Friday Afternoon and Friday Night from roughly Noon-9 PM. There is the potential for at least scattered severe weather tomorrow with at the very least pulse type activity. In any event, thunderstorms are a good bet for much of the region. Any Field Day sites planning to do setup on Friday should pay close attention to the weather and if threatening weather approaches seek safe shelter immediately. Even if severe weather does not occur at your specific site setup, lightning is one of the biggest threats to setup of these sites. Do NOT take chances. If thunderstorms approach, stop setup work and seek safe shelter. Lightning can strike as much as 20 miles away from the parent thunderstorm. Also, if you have antennas setup make sure they are properly grounded to avoid the loss of antenna equipment as best as possible. The current forecast now has the Saturday and Sunday dry with no threat of thunderstorms.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to even likely for Friday. Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day setup tomorrow should have a way to stay in contact with their local SKYWARN Repeater where SKYWARN Net Controls and perhaps even our Ops at NWS Taunton will be on the air looking for reports and we can higlight location of the storms for all concerned. For Saturday and Sunday, no thunderstorms are expected but if the forecast changes, Field Day sites should make an effort to monitor their local SKYWARN repeater. Severe Weather Coordination messsages for severe thunderstorm potential on Friday will most likely be issued this evening if conditions look the same as they do this morning.
This week is also lightning safety awareness week nationwide. Information on lightning safety can be obtained from the following web-site:
Also, local NWS Forecast offices are issuing statements on lightning safety. Below are the last 4 statements issued by NWS Taunton for lightning safety awareness week:NOUS41 KBOX 231348
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
945 AM EDT MON JUN 23 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART ONE – LIGHTNING SAFETY OUTDOORS…
EACH YEAR ABOUT 400 CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE…AT SPORTS EVENTS…ON
THE BEACH…MOUNTAIN CLIMBING…MOWING THE LAWN…OR DURING OTHER
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. ABOUT 80 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND SEVERAL HUNDRED
MORE ARE LEFT TO COPE WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES. MANY OF THESE
TRAGEDIES CAN BE AVOIDED. FINISHING THE GAME…GETTING A TAN…OR
COMPLETING A WORK SHIFT ARE NOT WORTH DEATH OR CRIPPLING INJURY.
LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES AS MUCH AS 10 MILES AWAY FROM ANY RAINFALL.
THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A DOCUMENTED CASE OF LIGHTNING STRIKING 34 MILES
AWAY FROM THE RAIN IN THE THUNDERSTORM. AT LEAST 10 PERCENT OF
LIGHTNING OCCURS WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLOUDS IN THE SKY…JUST BLUE
SKY. MANY OF THE LIGHTNING FATALITIES OCCUR AHEAD OF THE STORM
BECAUSE PEOPLE TRY AND WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE SEEKING
SHELTER. YOU ARE IN DANGER IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER…THAT MEANS
THAT LIGHTNING IS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD STRIKE YOUR LOCATION AT
ANY MOMENT.
ON AVERAGE 20 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS DIE…80 PERCENT
SURVIVE BUT 70 PERCENT OF THEM SUFFER SERIOUS LONG-TERM EFFECTS.
HERE ARE SOME SAFETY RULES…MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
ON THE WEB AT WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV
1. POSTPONE ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY AND DON/T WAIT FOR THE RAIN. GO
QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING…NOT A CARPORT…OPEN
GARAGE…OR COVERED PATIO. IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS AVAILABLE…
GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE. THE STEEL FRAME OF THE
VEHICLE PROVIDES PROTECTION IF YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING METAL.
2. BE THE LOWEST POINT. LIGHTNING LIKES TO STRIKE THE TALLEST
OBJECTS. IF HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ABOVE THE TREELINE…YOU
ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT. QUICKLY GET BELOW TREELINE AND GET INTO A
GROVE OF SMALL TREES. ASIDE FROM THIS SITUATION HOWEVER…YOU
SHOULD AVOID TREES. IF YOU ARE IN AN OPEN FIELD…LIKE A FARM OR A
BASEBALL OR SOCCER FIELD…YOU ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT. DUGOUTS OR
GAZEBOS AFFORD LITTLE PROTECTION. IF YOU CANNOT GET TO AN ENCLOSED
BUILDING OR VEHICLE…CROUCH DOWN ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET.
3. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY FOR DARKENING CLOUDS AND LISTEN FOR
THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT…GO TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
4. GET OFF BICYCLES…MOTORCYCLES…AND DO NOT LEAN ON VEHICLES.
5. WATER IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY. GET OUT OF THE WATER
IF BOATING OR SWIMMING. GET OFF THE BEACH. DO NOT STAND IN
PUDDLES…EVEN IF WEARING RUBBER BOOTS.
6. AVOID METAL. DO NOT HOLD GOLF CLUBS…FISHING RODS…TENNIS
RACQUETS…OR TOOLS. LARGE METAL OBJECTS CAN CONDUCT LIGHTNING.
SMALL METAL OBJECTS…SUCH AS BELT BUCKLES…CAN CAUSE BURNS.
7. STAY SEVERAL YARDS AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE. DO NOT SHARE A
BLEACHER BENCH OR HUDDLE IN A GROUP.
8. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO…FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS
ARE IN THE FORECAST. NEXT TO HEAR ANY SHORT TERM FORECASTS ABOUT
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. ALSO…TO HEAR IF THE WARNING ALARM TONE IS
ACTIVATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL IN ADDITION TO LIGHTNING STRIKES.
$$
GAF
NOUS41 KBOX 241858
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
257 PM EDT TUE JUN 24 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART TWO – LIGHTNING SAFETY FOR BOATERS…
SMALL BOATS ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES AND
ALSO TO STRONG WAVE ACTION. OBVIOUSLY…THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOT
TO VENTURE FAR FROM PORT WHEN BAD WEATHER IS IN THE FORECAST AND TO
RETURN TO PORT IF BILLOWING CUMULUS CLOUDS…SOON TO BE
THUNDERSTORMS…ARE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE. IF YOU ENCOUNTER STRONG
CHOPPY WAVES ON THE WAY BACK TO SHORE…YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO
QUARTER THE WAVES. IN OTHER WORDS…DO NOT CUT ACROSS THEM
PERPENDICULARLY…RATHER CUT ACROSS THE WAVES AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE.
IF UNABLE TO RETURN TO SHORE BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES…SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE…
…STAY LOW IN THE CENTER OF THE BOAT. DO NOT BE A STAND-UP HUMAN
LIGHTNING MAST.
…SHORTEN THE SAILS.
…KEEP ARMS AND LEGS IN THE BOAT. DO NOT DANGLE THEM IN THE WATER.
…DISCONNECT AND DO NOT TOUCH MAJOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT…SUCH AS
THE RADIO…UNTIL THE STORM HAS COMPLETELY PASSED. REMEMBER THAT
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AHEAD OF OR BEHIND THE STORM BY AS MUCH AS 10
OR MORE MILES AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA.
IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO ALWAYS HAVE INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD WHO ARE
COMPETENT IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) AND FIRST AID.
A LIGHTNING PROTECTIVE MAST CAN BE PURCHASED. THESE GENERALLY
DIVERT A DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKE WITHIN A CONE-SHAPED RADIUS TWO
TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE MAST. THEREFORE…THE MAST MUST BE PLACED
SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO PLACE ALL PARTS OF THE BOAT UNDER THIS
CONE-SHAPED ZONE OF PROTECTION. IN ADDITION…PORTABLE LIGHTNING
PROTECTION SYSTEMS EXIST. THESE CONSIST OF MASTS AS JUST
DESCRIBED…CONNECTED BY A FLEXIBLE COPPER CABLE TO A SUBMERGED
GROUND PLATE OF AT LEAST ONE SQUARE FOOT. THE MAST IS MOUNTED NEAR
THE BOW AND THE GROUND PLATE IS DROPPED OVERBOARD. THE CONNECTING
COPPER CABLE SHOULD BE FULLY EXTENDED AND STRAIGHT. THE BOATERS
SHOULD STAY LOW IN THE MIDDLE OR AFT PORTION OF THE BOAT.
SOME OF THE PRECEDING MESSAGE WAS EXCERPTED FROM A PAPER WRITTEN BY
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.
$$
MCJ
NOUS41 KBOX 251239
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
840 AM EDT WED JUN 25 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART THREE – THE SCIENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE…
AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THERE ARE 1800 THUNDERSTORMS IN PROGRESS
SOMEWHERE ON THE EARTH…WHICH AMOUNTS TO 16 MILLION THUNDERSTORMS
EACH YEAR! LIGHTNING RESEARCHERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TODAY
OF THE PROCESS THAT PRODUCES LIGHTNING…BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO
LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOLAR FLARES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE…THE
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD OF THE EARTH…AND ICE IN STORMS. WE KNOW THE
CLOUD CONDITIONS NEEDED TO PRODUCE LIGHTNING BUT CANNOT FORECAST THE
LOCATION OR TIME OF THE NEXT STROKE OF LIGHTNING.
LIGHTNING OCCURS IN VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS…INTENSE FOREST FIRES…
SURFACE NUCLEAR DETONATIONS…HEAVY SNOWSTORMS…AND LARGE
HURRICANES…BUT IT IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS FORM IN AIR THAT IS MOIST…UNSTABLE…AND HAS A
TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THE AIR TO RISE…SUCH AS A COLD FRONT. RISING
MOTIONS IN THE STORM BUILD THE CLOUD TO AS HIGH AS 6 TO 10 MILES
ABOVE SEA LEVEL. ICE FORMS IN THE HIGHER PARTS OF THE CLOUD.
THE ICE PARTICLES VARY FROM SMALL ICE CRYSTALS TO LARGE HAILSTONES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COLLISIONS BETWEEN THE PARTICLES WHICH CAUSES A
SEPARATION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES. POSITIVELY CHARGED ICE CRYSTALS
RISE TO THE TOP OF THE STORM AND NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES AND
HAILSTONES DROP TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER PARTS OF THE STORM.
ENORMOUS CHARGE DIFFERENCES DEVELOP.
A MOVING THUNDERSTORM GATHERS ANOTHER POOL OF POSITIVELY CHARGED
PARTICLES ALONG THE GROUND THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STORM. POSITIVELY
CHARGED PARTICLES RISE UP TALLER OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES…HOUSES…
AND TELEPHONE POLES. THE PARTICLES CAN EVEN MOVE UP YOU…HAVE YOU
EVER BEEN UNDER A THUNDERSTORM AND HAD YOUR HAIR STAND UP? IF SO…
YOU MAY BE THE LIGHTNING TARGET.
THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA IN THE STORM SENDS OUT A CHARGE TOWARD
THE GROUND CALLED A STEPPED LEADER. IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN
EYE. WHEN IT GETS CLOSE TO THE GROUND…IT IS ATTRACTED BY ALL OF
THESE POSITIVELY CHARGED OBJECTS AND A CHANNEL DEVELOPS. YOU SEE
THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER IN THIS CHANNEL AS LIGHTNING. THERE MAY BE
SEVERAL RETURN STROKES OF ELECTRICITY WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED CHANNEL
THAT YOU WILL SEE AS FLICKERING LIGHTNING. THE LIGHTNING CHANNEL
HEATS RAPIDLY TO 30,000 OR MORE AND THE RAPID EXPANSION OF HEATED
AIR CAUSES THE THUNDER. SINCE LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND IN
THE ATMOSPHERE…THE SOUND IS HEARD AFTER THE LIGHTNING. IF YOU SEE
LIGHTNING AND HEAR THUNDER AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME…THE LIGHTNING
IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
NOT ALL LIGHTNING FORMS IN THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA LOW IN THE
THUNDERSTORM CLOUD. SOME ORIGINATES IN THE CIRRUS ANVIL AT THE TOP
OF THE STORM WHERE THERE IS A LARGE POSITIVE CHARGE. A STRIKE
ORIGINATING IN THIS AREA IS CALLED A POSITIVE FLASH. IT IS
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS. IT FREQUENTLY STRIKES
AHEAD OF OR BEHIND A THUNDERSTORM…AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA…THUS
CATCHING PEOPLE BY SURPRISE…LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. POSITIVE
STRIKES TYPICALLY LAST LONGER…SO FIRES ARE MORE EASILY IGNITED.
ALSO…THEY USUALLY CARRY A HIGH PEAK ELECTRICAL CURRENT WHICH
INCREASES THE LIGHTNING RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
$$
FIELD
NOUS41 KBOX 261218
PNSBOX
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1000 AM EDT THU JUN 26 2003
…NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK…
…PART FOUR – MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING…
THE UNITED STATES AVERAGES 73 REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS PER
YEAR…WHICH MAKES IT THE SECOND LARGEST STORM RELATED
KILLER…EXCEEDED ONLY BY FLASH FLOODS. A LIGHTNING STRIKE CAN
RESULT IN CARDIAC ARREST AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY…BUT SOME DEATHS
CAN OCCUR A FEW DAYS LATER IF THE PERSON IS RESUSCITATED BUT
SUFFERED IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. BECAUSE THIS MAY OCCUR DAYS
LATER…THE NEWS STORY MAY NOT MAKE THE NEWSPAPER OR OTHER MEDIA
OUTLETS. THUS…THERE IS AN UNDER REPORTING OF INJURIES AND DEATHS
FROM LIGHTNING. THE FIGURES MORE REALISTICALLY ARE ABOUT 100 DEATHS
PER YEAR NATIONWIDE.
HOW DO LIGHTNING INJURIES AFFECT PEOPLE? LIGHTNING TENDS TO BE A
NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY AND MAY AFFECT THE BRAIN AND BOTH AUTONOMIC
AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS. WHEN THE BRAIN IS AFFECTED…THE
PERSON OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY WITH SHORT-TERM MEMORY…MULTI-TASKING…
AND CAN BE IRRITABLE…EASILY DISTRACTED…AND HAVE A PERSONALITY
CHANGE. SURVIVORS INITIALLY MAY COMPLAIN OF INTENSE HEADACHES…
RINGING IN THE EARS…DIZZINESS…NAUSEA…VOMITING…OR OTHER
POST-CONCUSSION TYPES OF SYMPTOMS. IRREGULAR SLEEP PATTERNS MAY
OCCUR. SEIZURE-LIKE ACTIVITY MAY OCCUR WEEKS TO MONTHS AFTER THE
INJURY.
PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP AFTER THE INJURY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
EXPRESS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND MAY BECOME EMBARRASSED WHEN THEY
CANNOT CARRY ON A CONVERSATION. AS A RESULT THEY MAY ISOLATE
THEMSELVES AND BECOME EASY TO ANGER. DEPRESSION BECOMES A BIG
PROBLEM. SURVIVORS OFTEN BECOME EXHAUSTED AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS OF
WORK AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED JOB TASKS.
ANOTHER COMMON…OFTEN DELAYED…PROBLEM FOR SOME SURVIVORS IS
INTENSE PAIN. THE PAIN MAY NOT BE FROM HEADACHES BUT IN THE
BACK…PERHAPS FROM COMPRESSION AND DISC INJURY FROM THE INTENSE
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS WHICH MAY THROW A PERSON SEVERAL YARDS AT THE
TIME OF THE INJURY. THE PAIN MAY ALSO OCCUR IN AN EXTREMITY…AS
NERVES BEGIN TO SLOWLY REGENERATE. DECREASED LIBIDO AND IMPOTENCE
OFTEN ARE REPORTED.
ANATOMIC TESTING…SUCH AS AN X-RAY…CT SCAN…MRI…OR BLOOD TEST
OFTEN SHOW UP AS NORMAL. SOMETIMES FUNCTIONAL TESTS ORDERED ARE
TESTING THE WRONG THING. AN ELECTROMYOGRAM…OR EMG…MEASURES ONLY
THE MOTOR FIBERS…WHICH ARE SELDOM AFFECTED BY LIGHTNING INJURY.
SMALLER PAIN CARRYING NERVE FIBERS ARE NOT TESTED BY EMG. THUS A
NORMAL EMG RESULT CAN MEAN LITTLE FOR SOMEONE WITH PAIN. LIKEWISE…
THE STANDARD EEG PRIMARILY MEASURES SURFACE READINGS OF THE BRAIN
AND MISSES SEIZURE ACTIVITY IN SEVERAL DEEPER REGIONS.
MORE USEFUL IS A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF HOW A PERSON/S BRAIN IS
WORKING…NEUROCOGNITIVE OR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. THESE TESTS
ARE ADMINISTERED BY A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST FAMILIAR WITH LITERATURE IN
THIS AREA…NOT BY A PSYCHIATRIST. THESE ARE PEN AND PAPER TESTS
LASTING 6 TO 8 HOURS AND TEST MEMORY…IQ…ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY…
ETC. LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS USUALLY HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC
PATTERN OF DEFICITS.
HELP DOES EXIST FOR LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS AND PHYSICIANS
ALIKE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB…GO TO WWW.LIGHTNING-STRIKE.ORG
OR CALL 1-910-346-4708.
$$
FIELD
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
The Massachusetts National Guard is drilling its communications capabilities in a rather unusual way this Field Day weekend: by utilizing ham radio! KB1IIF, the Massachusetts National Guard Amateur Radio Club, will be operating their first Field Day effort this weekend. The club, based in Milford, MA, will be setting up in their new Mobile Command Center at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod. Unfortunately, due to the heightened security level here in the U.S., there will not be any public access to the site. Jim Oliveto, WB1DSF is the Trustee of the club station and will be sending us photos of the event. Watch for a follow up story after Field Day. Best of Luck to this new group on their first Field Day!
The 2003 EMa Field Day page is now up and running at http://ema.arrl.org/fd/. Thanks to a tremendous amount of effort and hard work by Bill Ricker, N1VUX with additional assistance from Peter Grace, KB1CVH, the Field Day page is a wonderful compendium of every resource one could want: directories of all clubs and groups operating in the section, including past scores, maps, locations (GPS coordinates, too!) and contact numbers. Also included is a full description of the Field Day rules. Be sure to check this out!
The 2003 EMA Field Day page is now up and running at http://ema.arrl.org/fd/. Thanks to a tremendous amount of effort and hard work by Bill Ricker, N1VUX with additional assistance from Peter Grace, KB1CVH, the Field Day page is a wonderful compendium of every resource one could want: directories of all clubs and groups operating in the section, including past scores, maps, locations (GPS coordinates, too!) and contact numbers. Also included is a full description of the Field Day rules.
Be sure to check this out!
I am pleased to announce that Governor Mitt Romney has declared June 28, 2003 “Amateur Radio Day” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Governor Romney granted the proclamation today, in recognition of the more than 13,000 Massachusetts “Communications Volunteers” that give of their time and expertise in disaster situations and during public service events, statewide. Phil Temples – K9HI, asked that we request this proclamation of the Governor to coincide with Field Day 2003, our annual emergency preparedness exercise. [Please see picture of EMa leadership and State RACES Radio Officer accepting proclamation at the EMa Section Website.
I’d like to thank Phil for his encouragement and advice, Mike Neilsen – W1MPN for his input and data, Shawn O’Donnell – K3HI for his experience with Government Relations and Tom Kinahan – N1CPE forproviding a means to get the information into the Governor’s Office. We’d also like to sincerely thank Peter Judge, M.E.M.A. Public Information Officer, for delivering the request and press releases to the State House and Senator Cheryl Jacques for helping to push this proclamation through the proper channels. Congratulations to all those Massachusetts “Hams” that have worked very hard to give us the reputation that made this proclamation a reality. Enjoy your Field Day with a deserved sense of accomplishment!
Thanks and 73,
Jim Duarte – N1IV
ARRL Public Information Coordinator
Eastern Mass Section
The Town of Plainville, MA will be operating from their Emergency Operations Center during Field Day 2003.
According to SMHARC PR Manager, Jim Duarte – N1IV, the Field Day station will sign WC1PLV under the leadership of Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC’s Bruce Bumpus, N1OFC, Plainville EMA Director. Bruce will be assisted by Rick Myers, KB1FLR and a few members of the Sturdy club.
The WC1PLV operation will be on the air from 2:00 pm Saturday until around 7:30 pm, then again on Sunday from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Duarte noted that SMHARC will also conduct its traditional Field Day effort as W1SMH in North Attleboro, MA.
The Algonquin ARC station, N1EM will be on the air during Field Day from the Marlborough Emergency Operations Center at the Central First Station at 215 Maple Street (Route 85), according to KD1QS and KV1J.
“This will be a joint Algonquin Amateur Radio Club and Marlborough EMA activity highlighting the cooperative relationship between the two groups,” said Eric Williams, KV1J. He added, “Our goal is to increase awareness and to give area hams and hams-to-be a chance to get on the air.
The club will operate Field Day as a one-day event. Setup begins at 10:00 am Saturday; the station will operate from 2:00 pm until about 6:00 pm in the classroom at the Fire Station where the EOC is located.
—QRZ newsletter
Framingham ARA president Bob Hess, W1RH, has announced that FARA will operate this year’s Field Day at the State Emergency Management Agency Headquarters (a.k.a. “The Bunker”).
“We will operate in the new ‘F’ Class which requires operation from an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and mutual cooperation from the EOC and the radio club.” Hess added, “This is a match made in heaven.” Already, FARA members have surveyed the site. They report that it “looks very good.” Club members W1DCA and N1CPE were instrumental in arranging permission for the on-site operation. —FARA.org
Field Day will gain another entry class for the 2003 running of this highly popular operating event June 28-29. “Class F” stations will operate at emergency operations centers–or EOCs. The change renews the emphasis of Field Day’s 1933 origins as an emergency preparedness exercise as opposed to a routine contest–what former ARRL Communications Manager F.E. Handy, W1BDI, called “a test of the emergency availability of portable stations and equipment.” In Handy’s view, Field Day would focus attention “on the subject of ‘preparedness’ for communications emergencies.”
Please see complete statement in the Field Day area to the left.