We can't even agree on how to spell it! :) Actually, FHWA was pushing metric pretty hard when Congress prohibited it (ca 1995) from forcing metric on the States. Theoretically, it could happen state by state if individual states chose to accept it. However, the fact is that FHWA and DOT have given up and removed all the metric messages from MUTCD and SHS and moved metric dimensions (for the physical sign blank) to an appendix. Congress speaks with forked tongue as this is NOT how you would treat the preferred system of weights and measures. "Direction" provided by Congress is much like the motion of a rudder-less ship. Given that all the examples and specifications for metric sign messages have been deleted (effective 2009 edition), I am unclear whether a new metric-message sign is even legal in the United States anymore. Nothing says it is illegal, but no guidance is given either. I think if it is not in MUTCD, it may be necessary to seek Federal approval for a proposed sign. --- On Sat, 3/17/12, Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]> wrote: From: Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:51532] RE: millibar depreciated To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 4:26 AM In contrast, the UK uses yards, not feet for distances. Why can’t both nations agree on a single, neutral unit. How about the metre (or meter)? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: 09 March 2012 01:31 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:51502] RE: millibar depreciated Golf and (American) football are exceptions where yards are used. Yards are not permitted on road signs. Distances less than 1/4 mile are usually feet, occasionally tenths of mile, but not yards. The MUTCD does not contain the word yard (or symbol yd). My dental floss is 40 m / 43.7 YD. --- On Thu, 3/8/12, Michael Payne <[email protected]> wrote: From: Michael Payne <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:51501] RE: millibar depreciated To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, March 8, 2012, 7:02 PM It's been my impression that the use of yards is almost always in association with something that is really meters and all they do is change the word and the distance is yards. i.e. The other person was 500 m away becomes 500 yards away. Domestically in the US the measurement is feet. Mike On 08/03/2012, at 01:47 , Zach Rodriguez wrote: Canada does use kilopascals, as seen here: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0512 — but Australia uses hectopascals, as seen here: http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/australian-forecasts/act/sth-tablelands/canberra Canada, in my experience (which may be incorrect), seems to be the only country to use kilopascals in meteorology. What I've noticed is that, here in the States, again speaking from personal experience, regular atmospheric pressures are given in inches of mercury (often just stated as "inches", which drives me even further up the wall), but the pressures of tropical storms and hurricanes are given in millibars. No conversion to inches of mercury is given, nor are millibars talked about as if they're unusual. If one switches Weather.com into metric, the pressures are unfortunately displayed in millibars. (It seems BBC Weather also uses millibars — http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2643743 ) Why can't they just switch to hectopascals for all pressures? Zach Rodriguez (Semi-related side notes: more and more often, I've been hearing people talk about distance—usually a range of distances—in yards, sadly, in non-sports-related contexts, where, often, yards dominate usage of feet. Because a range is usually given, or stated as "about __ yards", it would be incredibly easy to replace yards with metres, but, alas, it is not usually done.) On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 14:36, <[email protected]> wrote: Canada has settled on the kPa. I think Australia has done the same. Why would you not do the same? John F-L -----Original Message----- From: Hillger, Don Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 8:23 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:51493] RE: millibar depreciated >From the World Meteorological Organization: 3.1.2 Units and scales The basic unit for atmospheric pressure measurements is the pascal (Pa) (or newton per square metre). It is accepted practice to add the prefix "hecto" to this unit when reporting pressure for meteorological purposes, making the hectopascal (hPa), equal to 100 Pa, the preferred terminology. This is largely because one hectopascal equals one millibar (mbar), the formerly used unit. The scales of all barometers used for meteorological purposes should be graduated in hPa. Some barometers are graduated in "millimetres or inches of mercury under standard conditions", (mm Hg)n and (in Hg)n, respectively. When it is clear from the context that standard conditions are implied, the briefer terms "millimetre of mercury" or "inch of mercury" may be used. Under these standard conditions, a column of mercury having a true scale height of 760 (mm Hg)n exerts a pressure of 1 013.250 hPa. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael Payne Sent: Wednesday, 07 March 2012 12:36 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:51491] millibar depreciated I'm trying to get my company to replace millibar with hectopascal in company manuals and was looking for an authoritative source that states this. Anyone have an idea? I was under the impression that millibar was depreciated. In my travels as a pilot worldwide it seems the pressure stated most outside north America is hectopascals for atmospheric pressure, mainly because it's the same as a millibar. I do have http://www.unitconversion.org/pressure/bar-conversion.html, but would prefer a website with more authority, a government or educational website would be best.. Wikipedia does not seem to have this included, with good sources I'd include it. Regards, Michael Payne ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4856 - Release Date: 03/07/12
