High altude looking

[lee1hy]

In the f16 aerial refueling picture, the clouds look low and the altitude is very high.

 

The altitude of the dcs looks very low, but when a new cloud system comes out, is it possible to look like a photo?

 

[Florence201]

The new cloud system should allow various layers, volumes etc. Yet to be confirmed exactly what we'll get next month

[VampireNZ]

On 3/27/2021 at 3:36 AM, lee1hy said:

In the f16 aerial refueling picture, the clouds look low and the altitude is very high.

 

The altitude of the dcs looks very low, but when a new cloud system comes out, is it possible to look like a photo?

 

 

Cloud base and height is not something you just 'design' into the sim to make it look nice. There are specific environmental factors involved with determining the current cloud base. Luckily these factors are easily found using the current ATIS (which I am still hoping for in DCS.....one day).

 

Here’s how to calculate a cloud base:

1. Find the difference between the temperature at the surface and the dew point.
2. Divide the difference by 2.5.
3. Multiply the result by 1,000.
4. This will then give you the height above ground level.
5. Add the elevation of the airfield and this will give height above sea level.

So for example, at 18 deg C surface temp and 10 deg C dew point. The cloud base will be 3,200 feet AGL, with a cloud temp of 8 degrees (so less than +10 deg and visible moisture = anti-ice on if flying through clouds). 

 

Another way is = (Air temperature at surface – dew point temperature) x 400.

 

Cloud height will depend on cloud type and temp etc. So for example in the tropics you get tower cu that grows at a crazy rate right in front of your eyes to huge heights. To the point that if your in an old aircraft, Say a P-3 Orion that can only pressurize up to around 28,000', the cloud tops could be higher than that and you have to find a way around them. Which is tricky when they are building so fast and closing gaps right in front of you!

Where in other places with 'normal' temperate climates the clouds could only be say 5,000' high or less.