Talk:Mount Diablo State Park
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[edit] Assessment
this article probably qualifies as GA, but needs to go through the nom process. Anlace 04:43, 25 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Viewshed
On talk page I can loosen my tongue a bit. The claim that there is more viewable area from Diablo than anywhere else except Kilimanjaro is commercially motivated. Viewfinder 18:13, 12 November 2005 (UTC)
According to this link it states that "on a clear day, views from its 3849 foot summit stretch more than 200 miles, Mount Diablo has one of the largest viewsheds in the Western United States" and "Brewer estimated that the view embraced 80,000 square miles, 40,000 in tolerably plain view – over 300 miles from north to south, and 260 to 280 miles from east to west".
While it is true that the viewshed is impressive, and the longest views stretch to 200 miles, the view over the flat plains and the sea does not. This distance can be calculated, in kilometers, by multiplying the square root of the elevation, in meters, by 3.85. This converts 1172m (3845ft) to 132km (82 miles). Within 82 miles, the maximum viewshed is 21,000 square miles, and much of that is cut off by local features. Beyond that distance, only the tops of ridges are visible, and then only on the sides that face the viewpoint, so the surface area viewable is quite small and probably increases the total viewshed to about 22,000 square miles. So the above mentioned estimate that the "view embraced 80,000 square miles" was not scientific and was probably motivated by the desire to create a sensation. Unfortunately it has created a myth that is still widely believed, and even, I am told, taught in schools. Viewfinder 19:08, 23 November 2005 (UTC)
Be sure to note that there is a phenomenon in which the view is extended because of the atmosphere bending light which allows a view of Mt. Shasta on the horison. Voodoom 4:31pm GMT, 19 January 2006
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- I am aware of atmospheric refraction and take it into account. Under normal atmospheric conditions Mount Shasta is not visible from Mount Diablo. But if there is a major atmospheric temperature inversion, the effect of refraction can increase, and this may, just possibly, allow Mount Shasta to be seen. But its distance is 242 miles, so the atmosphere would also have to be exceptionally clear. Viewfinder 05:55, 20 January 2006 (UTC)
The page needs a redirect from "Mount Diabolo" since many people believe that is how it is spelled. 169.230.94.22 00:51, 12 May 2006 (UTC)
