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Met Éireann: why are they still using imperial measurements?

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  • 02-01-2011 5:52pm
    #1
    Dionysus
    Registered Users Posts: 3,420 ✭✭✭


    I was listening to that extended weather forecast (12.55) on RTÉ Radio 1 a day or so ago and I noticed that during the sea area forecast the meteorologist referred to miles throughout it. I know Met Éireann finally changed to metric some years back so was surprised at this. Is there a reason why they're still holding on to the imperial system for the sea forecast? Is there no metric alternative?

    Thanks.


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    #2
    Mothman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    Wind strength is in Knots or Beaufort scale, the visibility is in miles.

    My answer to your query is speculation with regard to a standard format between UK and Ireland. No idea what units the rest of Europe use for thier sea areas.


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    #3
    Su Campu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,279 ✭✭✭Su Campu


    Even European countries use imperial for marine forecasts, and of course it's widely used in aviation too. It's not just a Met Éireann thing.


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    #4
    Judge
    Registered Users Posts: 507 ✭✭✭Judge


    The shipping forecast uses nautical miles not normal miles (1 nautical mile = 1.15 miles). It's preferred in sea and air navigation because it's easier to read charts etc. using nautical miles instead of kilometers. Something to do with the Mercator Projection and how the curve of the earth can be divided into arcs of longitude, I believe.


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    #5
    Su Campu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,279 ✭✭✭Su Campu


    1 nautical mile is defined as 1 minute of latitude, so for every degree (60 minutes) north or south you travel, you cover 60nm (or 69 statute miles).


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