Re: Is an altimeter useless?

<dold@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:dqgte2$kc9$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> After plenty of distractions about calibrating and pressing on the case, I
> am still left with puzzlement about my GPSMap 60cs.
>
> I looked at my local topo map carefully, and decided that the porch rail
> outside my office is at exactly 1085 feet. I don't think it matters
> whether I am correct.
>
> So, I set my GPSMap 60cs down on the porch rail. I let it sit for about
> fifteen minutes, powered on. Then I calibrated the altimeter to 1085 feet.
> As I pressed the button, I saw a spike, but it settled back.
> I left it sitting for one hour. I have an altitude plot that is gradually
> rising. My altitude is now 1118 feet.
>
> How is the altimeter of any value?
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

It's conceivable that your barometric pressure fell 0.03 in.Hg in one hour.
Do you have a storm approaching?
The current weather chart shows a high-pressure center just east of you,
and a major storm lying off the Pacific Northwest coast.
Ukiah's baro setting has fallen 0.03 inches only over the past 5 hours.

.

Quantcast