Fieldwork Safety Page 3 of 7 This is the Mandatory Operational Code of Practice for Field Safety produced by the Field Studies Council. FSC OPERATIONAL CODES OF PRACTICE No. 1 : FIELD SAFETY Appendix 1 : Location-Specific Sources Of Local Weather Information Section 1. Section 5. Section 2. Section 6. Section 3. Section 7. Section 4.   National and regional weather forecasts and outlooks are provided by national and regional TV and radio broadcasts. Similar information is also provided on appropriate Teletext and Ceefax pages 'broadcast' by the TV companies. If a suitable television is available, such information can be more useful [than the actual broadcasts] in that it can be obtained at any time and can be gone through repeatedly until the viewer is satisfied that they have and have understood the information correctly. Both sorts of broadcasts are now also providing warnings of severe weather conditions if appropriate. However, actual TV weather broadcasts are now also providing information [when appropriate] on atmospheric pollution / ozone levels and on sun strength levels which may be potentially important with regard to respiratory disorders and to sunburn in relation to fieldwork activities. Similar information is also given at http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather. Similar information may also be obtained as polled fax transmissions directly from the Met. Office. The table below lists the individual types of information available, together with the appropriate fax number and the times at which the information is updated. Fax Number Product Update Times 0336 400 484 Surface Analysis Chart 0345 : 0945 : 1545 : 2145 0336 400 485 Surface Forecast Chart 0445 : 1045 : 1645 : 2245 0336 400 486 Synoptic Chart Interpreting As required 0336 400 487 Plotted Map of UK Reports 0030 & then 3-hourly 0336 400 488 Guide to Plotted Reports As required 0336 400 438 Guide to Satellite Pictures As required 0336 400 439 Satellite Picture [Atlantic] 0730 : 1330 : 1930 0336 400 437 Satellite Picture [UK] 0730 & then 3-hourly 0336 400 435 UK [Tomorrow & next 3 days] 0800 0336 400 410 UK [Today & next 4 days] 0800 0336 400 416 Forecast [North West UK] 0800 0336 400 417 Forecast [North East UK] 0800 0336 400 418 Forecast [Scotland] 0800 During periods of calm settled weather, information obtained from the above sources may be all that is required in planning and determining fieldwork activities. However it should be noted that, when referring to temperatures, windspeeds, etc., such forecasts are giving values which relate to sea level and inland locations. In relation to a specific fieldwork site, such values may be of little use and in fact could place a group at serious risk if, for example, the fieldwork site was in an upland or mountain area or on an exposed coast. Also [in relation to upland or mountain areas] such forecasts do not provide information as to cloud base levels or to freezing levels. Also [in relation to coastal sites] such forecasts do not provide information as to 'sea state'. It is also possible that a fieldwork site [either because of the TV or radio regions involved or because of the actual weather conditions involved] may fall on the 'boundary' of two different weather forecasts. If in any doubt, it is important that relevant Units seek specialised / detailed local weather information when appropriate [perhaps as guided / indicated by that obtained from national and regional information]. The information given in sections 4., 5. and 6. below may be of assistance in this respect. Weathercall provides local forecasts, according to 'county groups', by phone and by fax. Weathercall is operated by Scottish Telecom Interactive Services. The weather information used is supplied by the Met. Office. The system works by dialling an initial common number sequence, followed by a specific 2 digit code depending upon the area of the country that you wish to hear about. 09068 500 4[++] provides a 7 day forecast by telephone. 09065 300 1 [++] provides the current 24 hour forecast by fax. NB. There appear to be several other initial common number sequences which seem to depend upon exactly who is providing the service, eg. The Times provides its service on 09064 716 8 [++]. Other known sequences are 0891500 4 [++] and 0891505 3 [++]. However, it is understood that these 0891 numbers will become inoperable at some time in the future under the Big Number reorganisation of the UK telephone system. The important point is that they all use the same 2 digit area codes [as shown in the table below] and you hear / receive exactly the same area forecast no matter which service provider you use Code [++] Area 01 Greater London 02 Kent, Surrey, Sussex 03 Dorset, Hants, IoW 04 Devon, Cornwall 05 Wilts., Glos., Avon, Somerset 06 Berks., Bucks., Oxon. 07 Beds., Herts., Essex 08 Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambs. 09 Glamorgan, Gwent 10 Shrops., Hereford, Worcs. 11 W.Midlands, Staffs., Warwicks. 12 Notts, Leics, Northants & Derbys. 13 Lincs & Humberside 14 Dyfed, Powys 15 Gwynedd, Clwyd 16 NW England 17 W & S Yorks and Dales 18 NE England 19 Cumbria & Lake District 20 Dumfries & Galloway 21 W & Central Scotland 22 Edin, Fife, Lothian & Borders 23 E & Central Scotland 24 Grampian & East Highlands 25 Highlands & Islands 26 Caithness, Orkneys & Shetland 27 Northern Ireland Marinecall provides local forecasts for coastal / inshore waters, based upon specific areas around the UK coasts, by telephone and by fax. Marinecall is operated by Scottish Telecom Interactive Services. The weather information used is supplied by the Met. Office. The system works by dialling an initial common number sequence, followed by a specific 2 digit code depending upon the area of the country that you wish to hear about. 09068 500 4[++] provides a 5 day forecast by telephone. 09068 226 4[++] provides a current weather report by telephone. 09065 300 2[++] provides a 48 hour forecast by fax. NB. At the time of writing, there appear to be two other initial common number sequences, 0891 5053 [++] and 0891 5004 [++], which provide a similar service. However, it seems likely that these two sequences will be phased out [at some point in the future] as a result of the rationalisation of the whole UK telephone system. In the future, other 090 numbers may appear as other service providers come into operation. The important point it that they all use the same 2 digit area codes [as shown in the table below] and you hear / receive exactly the same area forecast no matter which service provider you use. Code [++] Coastal Area 51 Scotland North 52 Scotland East 53 North East 54 East 55 Anglia 56 Channel East 57 Mid Channel 58 South West 59 Bristol Channel 60 Wales 61 North West 62 Clyde 63 Caledonia 64 Minch 65 N. Ireland 32 Channel Islands In mountainous areas, the following services provide 24 hour weather forecast information : Lake District National Park - a voice recording on 017687 75757. Snowdonia - a voice recording on 09068 500449. a polled fax transmission on 0336 500449. A note with regard to using Weathereall and Marinecall services Telephone services are updated twice per day. Calls [at the time of writing] cost £0.50 / min. Fax services are updated twice per day. Faxes are a maximum of three pages long. Calls [at time of writing] cost £1.50 / min. They are polled transmissions so it may be necessary to set a fax machine to 'Poll' mode in order to receive a transmission. The operator provides various other services in relation to weather and travel information in the UK and around the world. A customer helpline [to both services] is offered on 0870 600 4242. An email address is weather@scottishtelecom.com. There are two web sites at www.marinecall.co.uk and www.weathercall.uk. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Page 3 of 7