NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Frank Reed
Date: 2025 Oct 28, 10:08 -0700
Hurricane Melissa, the monster tropical cyclone striking Jamaica about 80 miles west of Kingston has an estimated central pressure of 892mb. Suppose you step outside in the eye of the storm (very dangerous!). Through a break in the clouds, you measure the Sun's altitude. Suppose it is 45° exactly (just for this scenario). What would be the correction for refraction at that air pressure? Also, if you add in air temperature of 80°F, then what would you get for the refraction? If instead you were flying in an airplane (assuming normal sea level weather conditions), at what altitude would you have to fly to see identical refraction conditions?
Sincere best wishes for personal safety (and minimal cost!) to everyone in the hurricane's path, including NavList member and frequent contributor, Al Stewart. Stay safe.
Frank Reed
