Sadly I have recently found out that Charles James Boyden died in April at the
age of 96.

He was head of Forecasting at Bracknell in the 1960s but perhaps he is most
famous for his "Boyden" instability index used for forecasting thunderstorms and
still taught today.

Will.
--

" Inner peace is a state of mind "
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Sadly I have recently found out that Charles James Boyden died in April at
the
age of 96.
He was head of Forecasting at Bracknell in the 1960s but perhaps he is most
famous for his "Boyden" instability index used for forecasting thunderstorms
and
still taught today.


I knew him when I was an AXO at Bracknell 1964-66. Difficult for me to
assess him from my junior position but I found him a charming man, and quite
diffident, despite his status. Many of the senior people were like that. I
remember "CAS" Lowndes with particular affection.
I wonder if my first boss, Valerie Hurst (née Normanton) is still alive.
She would be nearly 80. A bit fearsome, but basically charming and er . . .
rather attractive, in a way.

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.

"Will" wrote in message


Sadly I have recently found out that Charles James Boyden died in April at the
age of 96.

He was head of Forecasting at Bracknell in the 1960s but perhaps he is most
famous for his "Boyden" instability index used for forecasting thunderstorms and
still taught today.

Perhaps a post about the Boyden instability index will serve as a
memorial as well as an explanation for the rest of us?


--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

Heard from a former colleague of mine (who is writing a history of
Bomber/Strike Command Met - see latest 'Weather'), that R.F. ('Ron')
Zobel, who was my AD(CF) when I was a low-life assistant in CFO in the
60's is still around: he is 92, and is apparently in good health and
spirits.

Martin.

"Michael Mcneil" wrote in message
news:67423425dd3206733afc77974862aff4.45219@mygate .mailgate.org...

Perhaps a post about the Boyden instability index will serve as a
memorial as well as an explanation for the rest of us?

Ref: Boyden, C.J., 1966: A simple Instability Index for use as a
synoptic parameter. Met.Mag, 92: 198-210
(from var. internal Meteorological Office publications)

I = (Z - 200) - T
where Z = (700-1000) hPa thickness in dam;
T = 700 hPa temperature in degC.

Thunder is probable if I=94/95 in the UK.
Hail and non-thundery, but 'heavy' showers I= 93/94.

You will note that there is no mention of *humidity*, so a subjective
assessment has to be made about this - is there enough moisture to
sustain wet convective towers. Some of the others (e.g. Jefferson) do
include dew points etc.

I vividly remember having to plot these charts in CFO on the fly - i.e.
with three other upper air charts (each covering much of the Northern
Hemisphere). The data are still output via the NIMBUS system in the Met
Office. Instability indices seem to have fallen out of favour: that
after Boyden is just one of many, but the US still use them extensively
and I wonder if we might do so as well?

Will Hand might have more thoughts on the use or usefulness of such
having looked at the problem from both sides as it were.

Martin.

Perhaps on a less technical note we should note that it was Boyden as head
of forecasting was responsible for the design of the original Bracknell
forecast room. In particular the large picture windows with a view to
thesouth west and the small balcony from which the Senior man could 'sniff
the air' and which I believe some wag christened 'Boyden's Leap'. Later he
was also responsible for instigating the 'Outstation Colloquia' which
replaced the former Monday Discussions.