Hi,Just an understanding question.I am located now (0800Z), virtually in FS, on Asyut Intl (HEAT), where the METAR is CAVOK. I am surprised that ASV6 generates a dense layer of clouds just where the HEAT METAR is located. I was preparing a flight to Saudi Arabia (OETB), and all the METAR stations on my flight path are CAVOK as well.If I disable the cloud generation with CAVOK, I obviously get a clear sky. I would have expected a few sparse clouds but not such a thick layer.Can someone explain why I get such a difference ? Note : I'm using B500 version with default settings except TAF generation (but the TAF message is also CAVOK).Edit : before posting this message I enabled back cloud generation, I got a refresh, and... no clouds ! Anyway, I post this question !ThanksAlain

Hi,Please update to B503!It could have been the automatic random cloud generation combined with other settings such as Fog generation and Haze Layer generation.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://dot.kelder.net:8080/fseconomy/

Jim,I updated to B503, and disabled fog generation and haze layer, and got the same thick clouds with CAVOK everywhere ! (see attachment)Alain

Hi,Can you take a shot of the main ASv6 screen also?Please post your ASv6.ini file.Thanks!Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://dot.kelder.net:8080/fseconomy/

OK JimHere we go !I also added a FS screen capture : the clouds now at 2100z seem to be more stratus-like and at higher altitude.I did not change any setting.Hope it will help you !Alain

Hi,Night shots don't help me!!A few other suggestions:Update to B503Lower your Suppression Ceiling to 4000Force Lowest Ceiling OffGlobal Writes Off, yes I saw you have Auto Global Writes On.Thanks!Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://dot.kelder.net:8080/fseconomy/

Hi JimYeah I have to admit the night screenshot was not such a good idea !I tried to change the parameters you mentioned in your previous post.The results seem to be random : sometimes I get a clear sky, sometimes I get clouds, even for the same settings. I did not find any correlation between any parameter and the presence or absence of clouds. At each weather refresh, there seems to be a random selection of sky pattern...I attach a couple of (day) screenshots : AGTW = Automatic Global Write Toggle, FLC = Force Lowest Ceiling.There should have been a screenshot with AGTW OFF and a super clear sky, but the file was > 150 kb.Not sure if it will help !!?Anyway thanks for your support and for ASV6 I'm using for each flight for at least 2 years !Alain

Hi,The results are going to be random, because the clouds are going to be random. So I suggest:Suppression Ceiling 4000 if you fly low and slow.Force Lowest Ceiling OffAutomatic Global Writes OnIf you don't care for the random clouds when CAVOK then you can disable the randonm cloud options, though the upper clouds are not what you are seeing.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://dot.kelder.net:8080/fseconomy/

Hi Jim,My initial question was more about the statistics of cloud generation when CAVOK.I know that, in theory, CAVOK means no clouds below 5000 ft and visibility higher than 10 km. But when I am located at a weather station with a CAVOK METAR, I do not expect to get an overcast layer at 6000 ft and a visibility of 11 km !I would rather expect to have a statistical distribution of cloud coverage with, say, an average of 1/8 at 15000 ft with a standard deviation of +/- 1/8 and +/- 5000 ft... From what I get on my screenshots, this is apparently not the statistical parameters you used to create your cloud randomness. But maybe I miss something.Another idea is that this statistical distribution could be dependant upon the location and time of year. What I mean is that a CAVOK in summer in Saudi Arabia should not generate the same clouds as a CAVOK in autumn in Western Europe. A suggestion would also be to take into account the surrounding weather stations : if all the stations are CAVOK within a radius of 100 NM, there should be less probability to get thick clouds. But I agree I can do that manually by enabling/disabling the CAVOK cloud generation.Don't take this post as a critic, but more as a suggestion to improve a software that is already fantastic.Alain

Hi,Thanks for the ideas and words! I was just giving some work arounds in case you were not pleased with the outcomes!!Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://dot.kelder.net:8080/fseconomy/

Hi,With B503 the coverage levels for CAVOK-generated clouds are FEW and SCT only. Broken or overcast is not generated. Those clouds shown in your shots really look like there is influence from other stations nearby with heavier cloud cover (FS9 thus interpolates/influences actual depiction).In any case, I have looked at the code and made a few improvements to lighten the coverage even further (more bias to FEW) and extend the altitude range with more bias to higher (10-15K) instead of lower (5-10K) levels. This is still influenced by temperature and dewpoint however. The lower the spread, the lower the altitude of any potential clouds. Hopefully these changes give more expected results, to be released in an update soon.Indeed, the ideal solution would consider how CAVOK is used in various regions with seasonal influence, while also considering the source of the data and how accurate any automated equipment is for measuring cloud coverage. I.e. if an auto station that simply can't report clouds above 5K reports CAVOK there is a much higher chance of clouds above that point. If a manual station or auto that can measure up to FL200, for example reports CAVOK then the result should heavily bias towards CLEAR. The real problem is huge inconsistencies in how data is reported, capabilities of reporting equipment, and use of CAVOK in general. Thanks for the input and we'll consider it all in future development!Best,

Hi, Damian>Those clouds shown in your shots really look like there is influence>from other stations nearby with heavier cloud cover (FS9 thus>interpolates/influences actual depiction).I have to agree, because I only looked to the weather stations under my flight path (to the east, in this case), and not 360

Hi Damian, An interesting thread. My reactions were similar when I first saw that the system relies on Metars to determine cloud etc. there must be quite a large percentage of occasions when the Metar gives a totally unrepresentaive picture of the sky in the area. Is there any possibility of using (in addition) SYNOP observations with their increased cloud detail? Possibly the source is not available or too expensive?Mervyn (ex forecaster)

Hi Mervyn,Not familiar with availability of SYNOPs. Do you have any links you can e-mail me? Would appreciate it! [email protected],