"Tom Bennett" wrote in message
...
Looking at the previous thread has prompted me to ask something I've been
wondering about for a while. Why doesn't thickness appear on any of the
forecast charts until T +36 hrs and later? (I'm looking at the UKMO
charts on Wetterzentrale).

It doesn't appear on any of the archived charts either. Is that because
it's a forecasting tool and isn't used in real time (or marked on archived
charts) or am I just looking at the wrong charts?

Can't see anything on the ng FAQ (apologies if it's there and I've missed
it)

- Tom.

I've pondered this in the past and (somewhat embarrassingly) don't know the
answer; Martin ? I would hazard a guess that in the past when the analysis
and T+24 had tracking on most of the pressure centres an additional
thickness overlay would have often resulted in the charts looking quite
cluttered. One other thought is that forecasters tended to use a collection
of 4-up NWP chart to T+36 (MOLFAX ?) as routine which included the
1000/500mb thickness field, thus the fields were always close at hand. I
don't see any reason why the T+24 at least doesn't have thickness lines
now - I might ask a few questions in the 'house'.

Jon.