ALERT NEWSLETTER – April 2018

Hi Everyone,

Spring has sprung as they say, but, there is still a chill in the air. My Mom always said “it turns cold for Easter” and more times than not that has proven to be true.

As the Spring progresses so do the lawns needing attention, the campgrounds wanting a visit and us balancing needs vs wants, along with time available, which always seems to be in short supply.

But, such is life.

However busy your schedule may be, make sure to schedule time for YOU, for you deserve time and attention also, and remember that life was not designed to be lived on the sidelines. So go have some fun.

Just a brief reminder, that our next ALERT meeting will be on Tuesday April 10. At this meeting the Nominating Committee will issue its recommendations for the upcoming ALERT elections in May. Nominations from the floor will be allowed the night of the elections in May.

I hope to see you there!

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Proposed Amendment 7

To all ALERT Voting Membership (Operational Members and Support Members):

The Board of Directors has approved the following proposed amendment to go to a vote of the membership.

The purpose of this amendment is to better define and outline actions that ALERT’s Board of Directors would take, in the unlikely event that disciplinary action might need to be taken with one of its own. In the spirit of amateur radio’s commitment to furthering good-will, we are also seeking to make it fair to members if such a controversy ever occurs, with appropriate levels of response.

Bylaws Excerpt for Process:

Article XV, Section 1.

The Bylaws of ALERT may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting, provided the following has been observed:

The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors and read by the secretary at a regular meeting.

Written notice of at least one month has been given to the voting membership.

The proposal then shall be discussed and voted on at the next regular meeting.

Proposed Amendment 7, as approved by the Board of Directors (to be read at the April 10 meeting; this is part of the written notice requirement):

Amendment 7

Section 1

All members shall at all times comply with the Rules and Bylaws of the Alabama Emergency Response Team, local, state and federal laws or the norms of civilized conduct.

Section 2

Should members be charged with misconduct, as defined by the Rules and Bylaws of the Alabama Emergency Response Team, local, state and federal laws or the norms of civilized conduct, they shall be held accountable to a formal review by the Board of Directors.

Section 3

If after review by the Board of Directors it is recommended that action should be taken, dependent on the severity of the offense, the following actions will be taken:

1. The member shall be approached by two or three members designated by the Board of Directors and discuss the situation with that member.

2. If the member continues to act inappropriately, the member will be sent a formal Letter of Reprimand from the Board Of Directors, informing the member that should said behavior continue, that member will be expelled from membership from ALERT.

3. If after review by the Board of Directors it is recommended that action should be taken, upon Board vote that member will be disaccommodated, that member shall be expelled from ALERT and lose the privilege to operate as an ALERT member and be banned from the National Weather Service.

If the offense is of a severe nature Subsection 1 or 2 may be bypassed and summary dismissal action may be taken by the Board of Directors.

Regards,

Casey Benefield

President of ALERT

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Changes Are In The Wind

As many of you have probably heard, the ARRL has asked the FCC to alter HF frequency allocations to grant voice privileges to Technician Class Licensees on the 3.900 to 4.000 MHz, 7.225 to 7.300 MHz & 21.350 to 21.450 MHz Amateur bands. Basically the most heavily populated portions of the current General Class 75, 40 & 15 Meter Bands. The current HF Technician allocations in the 80, 40, 15 & 10 Meter Bands would remain the same, including 10 Meter voice privileges. For the 10,678 remaining Novices there would be no frequency allocation changes.

Per the ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-privileges-for-technician-licensees

“This action will enhance the available license operating privileges in what has become the principal entry-level license class in the Amateur Service”. “It will attract more newcomers to Amateur Radio, it will result in increased retention of licensees who hold Technician Class licenses, and it will provide an improved incentive for entry-level licensees to increase technical self-training and pursue higher license class achievement and development of communications skills.”

This proposal, for which the FCC is not yet soliciting comments, naturally has ignited a firestorm of comments.

Some think it’s the most logical, sensible suggestion in years, as “Technicians aren’t upgrading”, “the amateur population is graying, with young people not being interested I ham radio, with high tech options competing with attention” aka the “Ham Radio Is Dying Theory” though the number of ham radio licenses has never been higher, to which observers comment “but, how many are actually active or even alive?” “Opponents are just arrogant pompous old goats.” Etc.

Others point out that is just another example of “the dumbing down of America”, “nothing is blocking anyone, anywhere from the HF bands – all you have to do is just get off your duffs and upgrade” & “upgrading has never been easier, with readily to obtain study materials, and test sessions more frequent than ever.” “This takes away the incentive from ‘incentive licensing’”. “Just another scheme for the ARRL to get more members”, “People just want something for nothing, and since little effort is expended, little value will be felt either.” Etc.

I won’t delve into my opinions on this, except to say I’ve heard the “Ham Radio is dying” spiel since 1973, when I first started toying with the idea of getting a ham license. The reasons varied through the years, but, it’s an ever popular clarion call or lament. I have even heard folk using this as an ill-advised recruitment tool. Even as I was studying and upgrading I would hear this and think “why in the world would anyone want to respond to an invitation like this? “Come spend, or perhaps more accurately waste your time and money by joining our hobby, which will most certainly be dead in five years.” It didn’t make much sense in 1978 and it still doesn’t make much sense today.

Of course, it didn’t die, and isn’t dying. But, it “sounds good” so people buy into this theory.

Regardless of how you feel about this proposal, if the FCC does indicate they will entertain this proposal, they will ask for comments. When they do ask for comments, follow the procedure they will spell out for commenting and do so.

Do so preferably in a logical, coherent manner, minus name calling and whining, as those types of comments they usually just ignore.

Tell them your feelings on this, the reasons for your feelings, any alternate proposals or idea.

Whether you are for or against this, let your voice be heard.

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Mark’s Almanac

The Romans called April “Aprilis”, probably from the word “aperire”, which means, “to open”. This time of year being when buds open. It was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before Roman King Numa Pompilius added January & February in 700 BC.

Freezing weather comes to an end as Birmingham’s average last freeze is April 1, while Tuscaloosa’s is March 26. The record for the latest freeze date is April 21, 1953 for Tuscaloosa and April 23, 1986 for Birmingham.

April is less wet than March & rain becomes more localized and less widespread in nature. The sun heats the lower atmosphere near the ground and since the upper atmosphere is still cold, the warm air rises, reaches the dew point line, forms clouds & then it may rain. April is the first time in the spring season that favors local convective activity, which is why you have “April Showers”.

North Atlantic Tropical activity remains at a minimum. From 1851 to 2017 there has never been a Hurricane and only two Tropical Storms – Ana in 2003 and Arlene in 2017 which affected only shipping.

April is peak tornado month, with wide scale outbreaks possible. There are 2 ½ times the number of tornadoes as in March. 25% of the year’s tornadoes will have occurred by April 28.

From April 1950 to 2017, 8827 tornadoes were reported causing, as of 2017, 1771 deaths and as of 2013, 29,090 injuries.

As of 2017, Oklahoma leads the nation in killer violent tornados, having had 64, followed by Iowa with 54, Texas with 53, Kansas with 48 and Alabama 44.

As of 2015, Alabama ranks fourth in the number of April tornadoes, following Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. They along with Illinois belong to the “over 400 club” having had over 400 tornadoes since 1950.

As of 2017 Alabama leads the nation in F5 & EF5 tornadoes, having had 9, followed by Oklahoma and Kansas with 8, and two way tie for third between Iowa and Texas with 6.

As of 2016 Alabama leads the nation in tornado deaths with 633, followed by Texas with 552 and Mississippi with 477.

The counties most likely to be struck by violent EF5 tornadoes are Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Madison and Marion, all of which have been struck three times.

Tuscaloosa has been stuck by four F4 & EF4 tornadoes including 1932, 1975, 2000 & 2011.

The suburbs of Birmingham, including Oak Grove, Pleasant Grove, McDonald Chapel and Smithfield have been struck by two F4 & EF4 tornadoes in 1956 & 2011 and by two F5 tornadoes in 1977 & 1998.

My Grandfather, who passed away in 1958, once said “someday a big tornado is going to go right up Jones Valley and tear everything up”.

Indeed there is no logical or climatological reason why and an EF4 or EF5 tornado hasn’t struck or won’t strike the densely populated areas of Birmingham, including the high rises of downtown.

Whether it is due to “Divine Providence” or “random chance” otherwise known as “luck”, Birmingham has been spared.

When will that luck run out?

Some notable Alabama tornados in past Aprils include:

April 18, 1953 F3 Lee & Russell County 6 dead 195 injured

April 18, 1953 F3 Shelby County 8 dead 495 injured

April 15, 1956 F4 Jefferson County 25 dead 200 injured “McDonald Chapel Tornado”

April 18, 1969 F4 Montgomery, Bullock, Butler & Crenshaw Counties 2 dead 15 injured

April 3 & 4, 1974 “Super Outbreak” or produced at least eight tornadoes in Alabama, including four extremely intense and long-lived storms that swept the state killing eighty-six persons and injuring 949. The Huntsville area had an F3, F4 & an F5 tornado. The F4 tornado struck a half mile from where they were still digging out from an F3 tornado that had struck earlier in that day. Guin was literally wiped off the map, as was Xenia Ohio. The entire Eastern US and Southern Canada was affected during “The Day Of 100 Tornadoes”.

April 3, 1974 F5 Lamar, Marion, Winston, Lawrence & Morgan Counties 30 dead 230 injured

April 3, 1974 F4 Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker & Cullman Counties 3 dead 178 injured

April 3, 1974 F5 Limestone-Madison 28 dead 260 injured

April 4, 1977 F5 Jefferson County 22 dead 130 injured “Smithfield Tornado”

April 1, 1998 F3 Russell County 2 dead 23 injured

April 8, 1998 F5 Tuscaloosa & Jefferson County 32 dead 259 Injured “Oak Grove Tornado”

April 25 – 28, 2011 Super outbreak was the largest and deadliest tornado outbreak on record,

with 358 tornadoes in 21 states and southern Canada. April 27 alone had 211 tornadoes. Of 348

people killed, 324 were tornado related, the other 24 being non-tornado storm related deaths, such as straight line winds.

Alabama was hit by two distinct waves of tornadoes, the first hitting during the early morning hours resulting in 52 injuries and the second in the afternoon and evening resulting in 238 deaths and 1946 injuries in a total of 62 tornadoes.

April 27, 2011 F5 Marion County 18 dead 100 injured

April 27, 2011 F4 Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker & Blount Counties 13 dead 54 injured

April 27, 2011 F3 Marion County 7 dead 100 injured

April 27, 2011 F4 Greene, Tuscaloosa & Jefferson counties 65 dead 1500 injured

April 27, 2011 F3 Greene, Hale & Bibb counties 7 dead 50 injured

April 27, 2011 F4 Jefferson, St. Clair, Calhoun, Etowah and Cherokee counties 22 dead 81 injured

April 27, 2011 F4 Elmore, Tallapoosa & Chambers counties 7 dead 30 injured

April 3, 2012 F2 Tallapoosa & Chambers counties 1 dead 2 injured

April 28, 2014 F3 Limestone County 1 dead 30 injured

Always beware of the storms of April.

Days continue to grow longer as the Sun’s angle above the noonday horizon rapidly increases from 61.2 degrees at the beginning of the month to 71.4 degrees at the end. Daylight increases from 12 hours 33 minutes on April 1 to 13 hours 30 minutes on April 30.

Sunrise and sunset times for Birmingham are:

April 1 Sunrise 6:35 AM Sunset 7:08 PM

April 15 Sunrise 6:17 AM Sunset 7:18 PM

April 30 Sunrise 6:00 AM Sunset 7:29 PM

For other locations go to http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php and input the locations and dates you are interested in.

Mercury is directly behind the Sun on April 1 and then reemerges in the morning sky. Mercury reaches Greatest Western Elongation, or the highest point above the horizon, 27 degrees above the Sun on April 29. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

Venus, magnitude –3.9, shines low due west in twilight.

Mars, magnitude +0.5, in Sagittarius, rises around 2 or 3 AM, with Saturn nearby and closing.

Jupiter (magnitude –2.4, in Libra) rises around 11PM and shines as the brightest point in the late-night sky. It’s highest in the south, presenting the sharpest views in a telescope, around 3 or 4 AM, well before dawn.

A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details of Jupiter’s cloud bands, while a good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter’s four largest moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto as bright dots on either side of the planet.

Each night their positions will have changed as they continue the waltz they have danced with Jupiter for millennia uncounted.

Saturn, magnitude +0.5, in Sagittarius, rises around 2 or 3 AM. At beginning of dawn, Saturn and Mars are the two bright points close together in the south-southeast, above the fainter Sagittarius Teapot. Mars is the redder of the two.

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Saturn and Mars continue to draw closer to each other. The gap between them will shrink to 1.3° when they pass each other on April 2nd.

Saturn will reach Aphelion or his greatest distance from the Sun on April 11.

Saturn’s rings are currently tilted +25.5 degrees as viewed from Earth. Small telescopes will easily reveal his rings along with a small dot nearby, the moon Titan. The only moon with a dense atmosphere and the only moon besides Earth’s that has had a spacecraft land on its surface. The European Space Agency’s Huygens probe in January 2005, which is also the farthest landing from Earth a spacecraft has ever made.

Uranus will pass directly behind the Sun on April 18.

Neptune is hidden in the glare of the Sun.

The Moon will be the farthest distance from the Earth or Apogee on April 7, when she is 251124 miles from the Earth

April’s New Moon will occur April 15 at 8:58 CDT or April 16 at 1:58 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters, as there will be no moonlight to wash out the evening sky.

The Moon will be the closest to the Earth or Perigee on April 20, when she is 229108 miles from the Earth.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower which, runs annually from April16 – 25, peaks on the evening of April 22 and morning of April 23. This is a minor shower, with only 12 to 24 meteors per hour. These meteors sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds.

This shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861.

The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies for what could be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

April’s Full Moon was known as “Full Pink Moon” in Native American folklore as it marked the reappearance of pink wild ground phlox. This will occur April 29 at 7:58 CDT or 00:58 UTC, April 30. This moon was also called by various tribes, the “Sprouting Grass Moon”, “Growing Moon”, “Egg Moon” and “Fish Moon”, as this is when shad swam upstream to spawn.

Evenings in early April offer an excellent opportunity to view the zodiacal light. Zodiacal light is a faint, roughly triangular whitish glow seen in the night sky which appears to extend up from the vicinity of the sun along the ecliptical plane. It is caused by sunlight scattered by space dust in the orbital plane of the Earth.

From the Northern Hemisphere, early spring is the best time of year to observe this elusive glow after sunset. It appears slightly fainter than the Milky Way, so you’ll need a clear moonless sky and an observing site located far from the city. Look for the cone-shaped glow, which points nearly straight up from the western horizon, after the last vestiges of twilight have faded away.

This is the time of year when the dim Little Dipper – Ursa Minor – juts to the right from the North Star, Polaris, which is the end of the Little Dipper’s handle, during late evening. The much brighter Big Dipper curls over high above it, “dumping water” into it. They do the reverse in the fall.

Now that it’s spring, the signature fall-and-winter constellation Cassiopeia is retreating down after dark. But for mid-northern latitudes Cassiopeia is circumpolar, never going away completely. Look for it fairly low in the north-northwest these evenings. It’s standing nearly on end.

3708 planets beyond our solar system have now been confirmed as of April 26, per NASA’s Exoplanet Archive http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/

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This month’s meeting will be on April 10 at 7PM at the National Weather Service Forecast office at the Shelby County Airport.

If for some reason you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can still participate via telephone. The teleconference number is 1-877-951-0997 & and the participant code is 741083.

Hope to see you there!

Mark / WD4NYL

Editor

ALERT Newsletter

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