Leonids 2002 : Weather over western Europe

Casper ter Kuile and Michel Vandeputte



Forecast by the AVN modelrun valid at november 19, 2002 at 00:00 UT
It is not easy to find out from this forecast where to observe the Leonids best



Weathersituation including fronts valid at november 19, 2002 at 00:00 UT (Bracknell)
Now one recognises the fronts moving in from the west across the Iberian peninsula



NOAA photo's on November 19, 2002 at 02:47 UT by the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station
These infrared pictures show only small clear spots over Europe, notably in the north-eastern area of Spain, along the medditerranian coast of France and at Denmark where a coldfront just passed from the north.
Other area's of Europe are covered by low clouds or mist which both are hard to recognise on infrared photo's
Note too the great front which obscures the western parts of the Iberian peninsula



NOAA-12 (left) and NOAA-15 (right) infrared photo's of the eastern part of Spain on November 19, 2002 at 05:26 and 06:57 UT respectively
You will recognise the Pyrenees at upper right and the north-eastern coastal area of Spain free of clouds
Most of south-eastern Spain is covered by high cirrus clouds which made observing the Leonids difficult while the near full moon illuminated these clouds



NOAA photo on November 18, 2002 at 02:52 UT by Deutsche Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR).
Most of the eastern part of Spain is still free of any cloudcover but central Spain and Portugal do have a lot more clouds, mostly high cirrus.
But note too the great front still has to make its way onto the Iberian peninsula and at this moment is located on the atlantic.



NOAA photo on November 19, 2002 at 02:41 UT by Deutsche Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR).
This is the night of the Leonid outburst which should occur about 80 minutes after this picture is made.
At this moment only the upper right area of Spain is still free of clouds. Also the western part of Spain seems to be clear.
But the south-east, were most teams are located, is covered by large fields of cirrus clouds which makes observations troublesome.
The great front is now entering the western part of the Iberian peninsula.



NOAA photo on November 19, 2002 at 05:25 UT by Deutsche Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR).
The Leonid 2002 storm is now over and is well observed by observers located in the north-east such as well-known Dutch meteorologist Jacob Kuiper.
Other area's in Spain such as the south-east seem to be clear at the moment this picture is taken but to late now.
The great front now covers almost the whole of Portugal and parts of western Spain.
The great front reached us while we arrived at Castillejar on november 20 at about 17 UT.




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back.gif This page was last modified on December 2, 2002 by
Hans Betlem and Casper ter Kuile