I haven't purchased this yet, but knowing Stephen, I'm sure it is excellent
and thorough.

But I'm left wondering why do it?
The Met Office have an observations guide called "Spot On" IIRC.

http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

"Dartmoor Will" wrote in message
...
I haven't purchased this yet, but knowing Stephen, I'm sure it is excellent
and thorough.

It is

The Met Office have an observations guide called "Spot On" IIRC.

Must admit that I've never come across this. Searching the Met Office
website for "Spot On" draws a blank. Perhaps it was called slightly
different?

But Stephen's book is much more than a short observations guide, it's
perhaps more akin to a thoroughly updated Observer's Handbook, though
admittedly with a more general readership in mind than UKMO-trained
observers.

If I'm permitted a blatant plug (since the topic's been raised), we do have
Stephen's book available and in stock on our online shop with free shipping:

http://shop.weatherstations.co.uk/bo...stock-83-c.asp

John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk

"johnd" wrote in message
...

"Dartmoor Will" wrote in message
...
I haven't purchased this yet, but knowing Stephen, I'm sure it is
excellent and thorough.

It is

The Met Office have an observations guide called "Spot On" IIRC.

Must admit that I've never come across this. Searching the Met Office
website for "Spot On" draws a blank. Perhaps it was called slightly
different?


Hmmm perhaps it is not as available as I thought. I'm sure the name is
correct but as it is from memory I may be wrong of course.

But Stephen's book is much more than a short observations guide, it's
perhaps more akin to a thoroughly updated Observer's Handbook, though
admittedly with a more general readership in mind than UKMO-trained
observers.

If I'm permitted a blatant plug (since the topic's been raised), we do
have Stephen's book available and in stock on our online shop with free
shipping:

http://shop.weatherstations.co.uk/bo...stock-83-c.asp


Ouch! £25-99. At that price I'd expect free shipping :-)
Is there a Kindle version?

Will
--

"Dartmoor Will" wrote in message
...

Is there a Kindle version?

No e-book format that I've heard about, as yet anyway. It would clearly
classify as more of a low-volume, scientific textbook than a high-volume
Tesco best-seller which is inevitably the explanation for the price. I wish
it were cheaper but the publishers CUP obviously set the price - it's a
quality publication but probably not going to sell in 6 or 7 figures.

JGD

On Wednesday, October 10, 2012 3:40:07 PM UTC+1, wrote:

The Met Office have an observations guide called "Spot On" IIRC.

Yes Will, Stephen's book is excellent, and very similar to the old style observer's hand book those of us in the climatological network used to conform to exacting Met offive standards back in the day.

As John says, it has a much broader appeal with excellent sections for the amature observer, and brings technolgy up to date with a lot on AWS from the cheap to the sophisticted - I certainly recommend it, even if personally I didn't learn much new from it.

As for "spot on", you are spot on, though it is not abook but a file much like a ring binder - it is designed for MO climate station observers, and is very simple, no where near as good as the old style handbook, and not in Stephen's league IMHO.

Hope this helps

Steve Jackson
Bablake Weather Station
Coventry UK
www.bablakeweather.co.uk

"Steve Jackson" wrote in message
...

Thanks Steve. I wonder if the MetO will get a copy of Stephen Burt's book
for the National Met. Library? I hope so, then I can have a look at it.

Cheers,
Will
--

On Wednesday, October 10, 2012 6:17:28 PM UTC+1, Steve Jackson wrote:
On Wednesday, October 10, 2012 3:40:07 PM UTC+1, wrote:



The Met Office have an observations guide called "Spot On" IIRC.



Yes Will, Stephen's book is excellent, and very similar to the old style observer's hand book those of us in the climatological network used to conform to exacting Met offive standards back in the day.



As John says, it has a much broader appeal with excellent sections for the amature observer, and brings technolgy up to date with a lot on AWS from the cheap to the sophisticted - I certainly recommend it, even if personally I didn't learn much new from it.



As for "spot on", you are spot on, though it is not abook but a file much like a ring binder - it is designed for MO climate station observers, and is very simple, no where near as good as the old style handbook, and not in Stephen's league IMHO.



Hope this helps



Steve Jackson

Bablake Weather Station

Coventry UK

www.bablakeweather.co.uk

I totally agree with everything John & Steve have said regarding Stephen's book. It's also got added background facts which I always find interesting. I didn't appreciate that the same Stephenson family were responsible for many of Scotland's lighthouses, Treasure Island, and of cours, the screen. Talented family.

It was everything I expected & more.

Graham
Penzance

I should perhaps have linked to the more detailed description page, which
is:

http://shop.weatherstations.co.uk/th...burt-809-p.asp

Anyone looking for a more detailed resume of what's in Stephen's book, three
short reviews and a detailed chapter listing will find it here. The book is
actually 456 pages in total and so it really is a comprehensive guide for
observers at all levels.

John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk

On 10/10/2012 16:43, Dartmoor Will wrote:
Ouch! £25-99. At that price I'd expect free shipping :-)
Is there a Kindle version?

Why 'ouch' Will.

The amount of work that has gone into this excellent book by Stephen,
and the quality of my paperback version makes it rather a good buy.

I've read it from cover to cover, and over again as it is full of superb
little facts and details that I missed (or didn't absorb) the first time
around.

There is a Kindle version for £20.31.

I ordered my copy from Amazon for £24.60 with free p&p.

--
Nick G
Otter Valley, Devon
20 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk

"Nick Gardner" wrote in message
...
On 10/10/2012 16:43, Dartmoor Will wrote:
Ouch! £25-99. At that price I'd expect free shipping :-)
Is there a Kindle version?

Why 'ouch' Will.

The amount of work that has gone into this excellent book by Stephen, and
the quality of my paperback version makes it rather a good buy.

I've read it from cover to cover, and over again as it is full of superb
little facts and details that I missed (or didn't absorb) the first time
around.

There is a Kindle version for £20.31.


Great thanks. Kindle it is then!
No point in paying more than is necessary :-)

Will
--