On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 16:34:23 +0100, "Jon O'Rourke"
wrote:

Changes are on the way..
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/webchanges.html

Jon.


In response, I sent the following email to


In response to your request for users of the Met Office website to provide
suggestions for improvement, I would like to make the following suggestion.

Bearing in mind the interest amongst members of the public regarding the timing
and intensity of precipitation, and their often very short term forecasting
requirements, can I suggest that the rainfall radar charts be of higher
resolution, and updated more frequently.

I realise that that would entail an adverse commercial decision on your part, as
these data are now available to interested users on a subscription basis, so it
would mean a loss of income to yourselves. However, I do feel strongly that
present weather is "de facto" in the public domain, and should be freely
available, regardless of how it was obtained.

Unlike raw satellite images, the rainfall radar image is easily understandable
by the average educated layperson, and there is no technical reason why such a
person may not use the chart, suitably animated, for short-term personal and
trivial forecasting needs, such as putting out the washing or mowing the lawn.
Crown copyright of such images is assumed, preventing unauthorised commercial
use.

Although there is a slight risk some commercial and aviation forecasting revenue
may be lost, I think the risk is small.

A decision to provide an upgraded rainfall radar chart would also be in line
with the new Chief Executive's emphasis on public service.

Yours,

Martin Rule
Met Office Employee 1965-1985