Gliding/Photography Weather Watchers with Barra Best

It is all around us. It connects us. Should it be weaned from the West,

Reina from the east, or the Sun above, it is our weather.

We have been forecasting our weather for centuries. We once looked at

plants and animals for hints about what the weather would do. We got

rain was on the way if cows were lying down, frogs croak, pine opened

and the will of sheets and carols. Proverbs were our barometer. Red sky

at night, Shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, Shepherd's

warning. These were natural forecasting methods, but today, our

weather team at the most up-to-date scientific data at their fingertips

to bring you an accurate forecast. As our weather is so changeable, it

makes it very interesting for forecasters because each day is

different in one way or another. So we need lots of things. Computer

models, satellite imagery and observations from the ground. We

collate these and work out what is going to happen for the next few

days. But as Angie explains, where we live plays a part as well. People

often ask why the weather is so changeable here in Northern Ireland

compared to other areas, especially those on similar latitudes, and a

lot has to do with positioning. Take, for example, more school. It

is more or less on the same latitude as ourselves but it is in the middle

of a large land mass. In contrast, we are positioned at the edge of the

Atlantic Ocean. What does not heat up at the same rate and a lot of our

weather is coming across that water of the Atlantic so we do not get the

same extremes. The opposite happens in the winter months. Over the land,

it cools down extremely quickly, plummeting temperatures. The seed

modifies our temperatures and it doesn't kill down at the same rate

here and that is why we have a moderate climate. -- cool. I am

going to go out and experience how that climate shapes our lives and I

am starting with my head in the clouds.

I have come to the Ulster gliding club to meet Alan McKellen, and even

though I am taking to the skies, I will not be in a plane, but a

glider. An aircraft that does not have an engine and relies solely on

the weather for power. You have to put this on. Obviously, this is just

for emergencies. There we go. Brilliantly. To get off the ground,

we need a bit of help. We will be off in about three seconds. One,

two, three. And we are up. We are going to go to 3000 feet

today. That is quite high up something that does not have an

engine. One way the gliders stays up is by using a thermal, which is a

stream of rising warm air. What do you know to look for at this stage?

We tried to interpret the clouds ahead of us and we look for a nice,

young wispy clouds which is an invitation -- indication of a

thermal to starting to grow. And we have lots of nice puffy clouds. And

you are in a privileged position because you have all sorts of

weather coming from different directions that helps you. A

multitude of different types of weather. The skill of a glider pilot

is interpreting the weather on the day and making the best use of it.

That is what the sport of gliding is all about, extracting the awesome

amount of energy which can be in the atmosphere. It is time to release

ourselves from the top plane and fly solo. OK, off we go. Now. We are

doing it ourselves. That is it. Look at that. That is beautiful. It is

the weather now that is literally allowing us to fly without an

engine. Absolutely. We are soaring. It is a bit scary. The flying club

is ideally situated at the foothills of a mountain and Alan is going to

use the mountain range to gain altitude. The wind hits the mountain

and has nowhere to go but up, taking cars with it. So that big burst,

that was the left. So the ridge lift is basically the wind hits the

bottom of the mountain and essentially pushes us up into the

air? Yes, we get left all the way along there. You are going to give

me a heart attack. Well, that is just a very small

taste of the energy that can be in the atmosphere. This must be how

birds feel. This is really just harnessing the power of the weather.

Absolutely. That is what soaring and gliding is all about.

You really do get a buzz from it. Absolutely. There is nothing like

the bars when you land. It is a sense of achievement. I'll will turn

round back towards the general direction of the airfield. OK. That

is a long way down. We generally think of clouds as there being a

chance of rain and what do we do, bring the Washington. But we harness

it for this. The weather might be keeping is airborne, but how do we

land this thing? Oh, now I know what they mean by a wing and a prayer.

Here we go. Almost touched down. Fantastic. I am surprisingly -- that

was surprisingly smooth. I did not know what to expect there.

Thankfully, I did not take my parachute. And from gliding, which

relies on clouds, to a profession that requires a cloudless sky.

Across the lake is the initial peninsular I'm going there to meet

up with the photographer Martin Gardner. Her photographs are

landscapes featuring consolations and the Milky Way. Martina, you have

a lot of night-time photographs here. What are you interested in

about photography? I was always interested in photography, but in

the last four or five years, I have become interested in night-time

photography. There is just something about being out there and looking up

and enjoying the stars. I just can't help myself. I just love it. It

can't be as easy as that. Look at this could -- photograph. You can do

is go out and think you will get that. No, to catch the Milky Way, it

has to be the right time of the month, when there is little or no

moonlight and you also need an absolutely clear sky, so trying to

get the two on the one night, that is the difficult part. What are the

chances of both of the things happening at the same time? Well, we

have picked the right day. There is no moon. And the weather, I am not

too sure about. Maybe you know better. Well, why don't we have a

look. As we can see, some breaks in the cloud and hopefully that will

continue and we will have some photographs like this. Yet,

fantastic. We are off to the most northerly tip on the island of

Ireland with the white Atlantic Ocean in front. You will have heard

of this place because there is a weather station there. And the

weather element, which distinguishes this from other stations throughout

the country is the wind speed. Storm Force 12 winds regularly recorded.

Well, it looks like we are in luck. Some clear skies. Yes, it is always

good when you see some clear skies. You have been here before when it

has been like this and you have got some amazing shots, so perhaps we

will get some tonight. Yes, it will get a clear sky even in one

direction then we will be able to work with it, so I am quite

optimistic so far. This is the spot you reckon we will get a good shot

from. Yes, we will get a good shot of the tower from here and the sky

is looking even better than I thought it might. We did have a look

at the weather earlier and it did say that the cloud was going to

clear for us so it looks like it has done so. Yes, it is really shaping

up nicely. I am really excited. OK, so tripod, camera, that is ours. So

we just line it up here and try to get all of the tower in and leave

space for the stars as well. Not looking too bad so far. No, the main

thing is we have plenty of sky so when that fills with star is it will

be looking good. It is not a bad night to be out. I am sure you have

been here when it has been worse. It is the windiest place in Ireland.

Yellow M having no wind is really something. So we will set back and

wait for that perfect shot. It might not be windy, but it is very cold.

It is no wonder the Romans cold Ireland the land of winter. Yellow

light years. We are ready for a shot. You have to stay still. Ready

and action. Deep breath in. I do not want to be able on the landscape.

Here goes. That looks great. Come on down and have a look. OK, breathe

out? Let's have a look. That looks fantastic. That has really come out

well. We haven't got all the stars I would like. Some stars at the top.

The weather hasn't completely let us down. A great day, great photograph.

It has been quite cold but it has been worth it. Maybe not as starry

as my dear -- Martina would have liked, but I think it is perfect.

The relationship we have with the weather is a complex one. We do

enjoy sunshine and we might complain about gays being wet and cold but

brain is refreshing and wind is bracing. -- days being wet. I like

to think there is no such thing as bad, only different types of good

weather. There is scientific evidence that a profusion of red

hair, fair skin and freckles is the result of living in a sun starved

climate. I am living proof, so there you have it. No doubt that the

weather is part of who we are and what we are. Until next time,

goodbye. but the vast majority of people

in Northern Ireland Being a Muslim makes

everything easier for me. Ten different noses, ten

different selfies. How cool is that? I am more than just the beard

or the nation's favourite dish. There's 4 million different ways

to understand what British Asian is. mixed with fish and chips

and visions of five rivers, this is a modern-day collision.

That's just how we're living. I could be a boxing champ,

AND build your computer. We are everything that the past

has made us, and we are the future.