Marfa Gliders RAP BLIPMAP Great Plains Viewer
BLIPMAP = Boundary Layer Information Prediction MAP
Created by Dr. John W. (Jack) Glendening,  Meteorologist  
For experienced BLIPMAP users - requires javascript  
Registration (free) and a valid registration cookie are necessary for this viewer to work
Registered users can view all BLIPMAPs.  To register use the New Registration Page or see Registration Information.  Registered users can Logon (get a new cookie) here or check their registration cookie status here
For additional on-line information:  BLIPMAP HELP page

BLIPMAPs predict thermal soaring conditions resulting from surface heating of the Boundary Layer, by post-processing numerical weather model predictions to provide parameters suited to the needs of soaring pilots.  Users of this viewer are assumed to be familiar with BLIPMAP and its parameters, as described on the GP 21Z BLIPMAP webpage and on the parameter information webpageBASIC thermal forecast parameters gives a short list of the parameters most important for thermal soaring. 


BLIPMAP NEWS (Latest: Apr 18, 2024)


Current Day:        The "current day" changes shortly after 2Z   Forecast Availabily
Current Times: 


   Server Fund: April 10, 2023:  $1290
Blipmap Forum:
 Latest: Fri Oct 20 2023 "Re: Default area not remembered by app" [Dean]


DrJack sez:
  (Latest 5 news items)

April 16, 2024:  NWS data file problem:  Download of the National Weather Service datafiles used for input data is now failing for both NAM and RAP, so no model updates.  Am looking into problem, don't know now whether another suitable file can be found.
April 17, 2024 update:  Has been major outage at NCEP center, dunno problem but they've sent out an 'all hands on deck' message as they try to recover.
April 18, 2024 update:  Have switched to alternate source for datafiles, appears to be working.

April 15, 2024:  Server Costs: 
    Yearly Expenses:  website ~$600 + registration ~$100 = $700 / year
    Yearly Income:  2023: $539
 

REGISTRATION:
All BLIPMAPs are now freely available to registered users.  Registration (free) is needed for direct (no-nag-screen) forecast access.  New users can
Register here.  Currently registered users can Logon (get new cookie) here or view registration (cookie) status here.  More info is available at the Registration Information webpage. 
EMAIL POLICY: 
There are many advantages to having one person's knowledge be shared and available to others, so I expect most BLIPMAP issues to be handled through the Blipmap Forum and ask those who have a question or problem or experience which could be of interest to others to post it there.  This allows others to comment on the matter if they have any personal experience and also allows any response I make to be read by others.  If you send me an email, I will respond personally only if it's nature is not appropriate for such posting - in other cases I will simply reply with a request to post to the forum. 
FEEDBACK REQUEST: 
I only look at the webpages and maps that I use personally or that I suspect might contain an error.  If you notice a consistent problem with either, please post a message on the Blipmap Forum.
 

BLIPMAP SERVER FUND STATUS
April 10, 2023:  $1290
(to be be updated ~yearly)
OR

Become a "Donor" subscriber


Medal Heros: Thanks to John Whitney (F9) for slaying the file-eating dragon inhabiting the original viewer and adding the "ListSAVE/LOAD" feature.  I also want to personally thank those whose support is listed on the Contributors webpage.

Bookmark for this region's main viewer panel
Links to the identified location map for this region and to its key
Link to the latest BLIPSPOT forecasts for individual locations
Link to the 21Z RAP BLIPMAP webpage for this region
Link to the BLIPMAP UniViewer
Links to the BLIPMAP Archive Viewer and RAP Archive Viewer with IGC overlay
Link to the BLIPMAP HELP webpage - for additional on-line information