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WFO DAVENPORT
COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PLAN
Ray Wolf (Ray.Wolf@noaa.gov)
Science and Operations Officer
February 1997
update September 1999
Introduction
This training plan is based on the goal of developing a well rounded and scientifically astute warning and forecast meteorologist. This is based on our responsibility to provide the highest quality service possible utilizing the wealth of new technology at our disposal. This training program covers all operational personnel and is divided into twelve segments: (1) Convective Weather, (2) Winter Weather, (3) Forecast Process, (4) Numerical Weather Prediction, (5) Hydrology, (6) Research, (7) AWIPS (8) WSR-88D, (9) Forecast Operations, (10) Forecaster Support, (11) Systems, and (12) Intern.
Segments 1 through 6 compose the SCIENCE unit. It relies on published literature, case studies, computer-based learning, and interaction with the SOO, Hydrologist and experienced Forecasters to develop an understanding of the environment and processes associated with various types of significant weather. Forecasters will also develop an understanding of the methods and tools used in the forecast and warning process. Additionally, seminars by invited speakers, the SOO, and staff will be conducted aimed at specific topics to supplement particular objectives.
Segments 7 through 12 compose the OPERATIONS unit. It is aimed at developing proficiency in a number of areas relating to routine and significant weather operations, developing an understanding of related NWS policies, and developing a knowledge of the County Warning Area and our user communities. These segments include proficiency is using remote sensing tools, computer systems and software, issuing summary and forecast products, and collecting and disseminating weather and climate information.
This plan is flexible and modifications are made as needed to support operational requirements and to incorporate advances in the science. Staff progress through this training program is monitored by the SOO and tracked on the annual performance plan.Science Unit - Convective Weather
Science Unit - Forecast Process
Science Unit - Numerical Weather Prediction
Operations Unit - Forecast Operations
Operations Unit - Forecaster Support
Science Unit - Convective WeatherGoal: To develop or enhance (1) forecast and warning skill for severe convective weather and flash flooding and (2) an understanding of the warning process.
Topics: Bow Echoes, Derechos, Squall Lines, Downbursts, MCSs, Supercells, Tornadoes, Flash Floods, Warning Process
Resources: Readfile, one-on-one follow-up, disaster surveys, CBL modules, seminars, case studies, WSOMs, external visits
Readfile topics and one-on-one follow-up:
_____Bow Echoes _____Derechos _____Squall Lines _____Downbursts _____MCSs _____Supercells _____Tornadoes _____Flash Floods _____Radar CBL Modules:
_____COMET Heavy Precipitation and Flash Flooding _____COMET Convective Storm Matrix: Buoyancy/Shear Dependencies _____COMET Anticipating Convective Storm Structure and Evolution _____COMET An MCS Matrix v. 1.0 _____NWS/CR HP Supercells
Web-based Modules:
_____COMET MCS Module (also part of An MCS Matrix v. 1.0) Seminars:
_____Convective Weather _____Severe Storm Environments _____Warning Decision Making _____MCS/Squall Lines _____Storm Surveys Disaster Surveys:
_____Andover Tornado _____Plainfield Tornado _____Fort Smith Tornado WSOM Chapters:
_____C-40 Severe Local Storm Warnings External Visits:
_____County/City Emergency Preparedness _____Spotter Training
Goal: To develop or enhance forecast and warning skill to improve forecasts of significant winter weather.
Topics: Precipitation Type, QG Theory, Potential Vorticity, CSI
Resources: Readfile, one-on-one follow-up, CBL modules, seminars, case studies, WSOMs
Readfile topics and one-on-one follow-up
_____QG Theory _____Winter Precip Type _____Potential Vorticity _____CSI CBL Modules:
_____COMET Extratropical Cyclones _____NWSTC An Introduction to Winter Precipitation Nowcasting _____Frontogenesis _____Winter QPF Seminars:
_____QG Theory _____Winter Weather _____Frontogenesis WSOM Chapters:
_____C-42 Winter Weather Warnings Science Unit - Forecast Process
Goal: To develop or enhance techniques and concepts to provide quality forecasts efficiently utilizing the wealth of information available via observations and NWP output.
Topics: Forecast Tools, Forecast Techniques, philosophy
Resources: Readfile, one-on-one follow-up, CBL modules, seminars, case studies
Readfile topics and one-on-one follow-up:
_____Synoptic/Mesoscale (general) _____Synoptic/Mesoscale (convective) _____Synoptic/Mesoscale (winter) CBL Modules:
_____COMET Forecast Process Seminars:
_____Forecast Process
Science Unit - Numerical Weather Prediction
Goal: To develop or enhance the understanding of numerical models and related output to improve the quality of forecasts.
Topics: MAPS/RUC, Eta, NGM, AVN, LAPS
Resources: CBL modules, seminars, NWP Training Guide, operational use of GRIB data
_____The Numerical Modeling Suite of NCEP - A Training Guide CBL Modules:
_____COMET Numerical Weather Prediction _____NWS/CR Numerical Model Suite of NCEP Seminars:
_____MAPS/RUC I _____MAPS/RUC II _____LampQPF _____Verification
Goal: To develop or enhance understanding of operational Hydrology and related issues to provide high quality river forecasts and warnings.
Topics: hydrologic operations, QPF
Resources: Hydro SDM/Reference manuals, readfile, one-on-one with Hydrologists/SOO, CBL modules, seminars, field trips, WSOMs
_____Program overview (one-on-one with Hydrologist) _____Hydrology Services Manuals _____WINQPF (one-on-one with Hydrologist) _____ALERT System Readfile topics and one-on-one follow-up:
_____QPF/Hydrology Disaster Survey:
_____The Great Flood of 1993 CBL Modules:
_____COMET Hydrology for Meteorologists: Headwater Forecasting Web-based Modules:
_____COMET Hydrology for Meteorologists: The Headwater Forecast Process
Seminars:
_____NWS/CR QPF Workshop
Hydrology Field Trips:
_____E-19 _____DCP _____COE _____Duck Creek WSOM Chapters:
_____E-20 Flood/Flash Flood Watch and Warning Program
Goal: To enhance knowledge in a particular scientific area, develop or enhance scientific writing skills, share findings with fellow professionals, and improve the warning and forecast program.
Topics: open - depending on the needs of the office and the interest of the participant
Resources: see below
_____A Guide for Operational Meteorological Research (one-on-one follow-up with SOO)
_____WATADS
_____Library/Data Resources
_____local study (in-house presentation)
_____local study (external presentation)
_____publication (CRH, NWA, AMS)
Goal: To develop skill in applying AWIPS technology in the operational work environment, and maximize the utility of personal customization features.
Topics: basic user operations, hardware operations, trouble shooting/NCF, ICWF, WHFS, WARNGEN
Resources: PRC, local office team/focal points, AWIPS manuals
_____OUT training
_____security policy
_____hardware operations
_____WAN/LAN operations
_____data flow
_____personal customization
_____fault recovery
_____ICWF
_____WHFS
_____WARNGEN
Goal: To develop or enhance skill in issuing warnings and short-term forecasts (METs) and fully utilize all operational aspects of the radar (METs and HMTs).
Topics: AWIPS operations, UCP/RPG/RDA operations
Resources: OSF modules and resource material, CBL modules, teletraining, proficiency exams
Block 1 _____AWIPS Job Sheets _____AWIPS Proficiency Exam Block 2 _____Introduction to the WSR-88D (web) Block 3 _____Radar Principles (text) _____Radar Principles-tele _____EXAM 1 (Blocks 2-3) Block 4 _____Velocity Interpretation (tele.) Block 5 _____Base and Derived Products (CD-ROM) _____EXAM 2 (Blocks 4-5) Block 6 _____Systems Operations/UCP Control (CD-ROM) _____EXAM 3 (Block 6) Block 7 _____COMET Convective Storm Matrix (CD-ROM) _____COMET Anticipating Convective Storm Structure and Evolution (CD-ROM) _____COMET MCSs: Squall Lines and Bow Echoes (web) _____COMET An MCS Matrix (CD-ROM) Block 8 _____Warning Decision Making I Workshop (residence) CBL Modules: _____COMET Workshop on Doppler Radar Interpretation _____COMET Boundary Detection and Convection Initiation _____OSF Precipitation Suite _____OSF Supercell Explorer _____OSF Scenarios 1,2,3 _____WATADS review cases
Operations Unit - Forecast Operations
Goal: To develop or enhance the ability to issue quality public and aviation forecast products with an understanding of the impact of those products on the user community.
Topics: Short-term forecast, zone updates, SWO, statements, TAFs, TWEBs
Resources: seminars, practice products and exercises, WSOMs
Seminars:
_____Area Forecast Discussion _____Zones _____Aviation Forecasting _____METAR/TAF _____Significant Weather Outlook External Visits:
_____Familiarization Flight _____CWSU _____FAA Tower/airfield _____Media WSOM Chapters:
_____C-11 Zone and Local Forecasts _____D-31 Aviation Terminal Forecasts _____C-21 Short Term Forecasts _____D-30 Transcribed Weather Broadcasts _____C-45 Meteorological Discussions _____D-80 Forecaster Familiarization Flights Proficiency
Public:
_____Area forecast discussion _____Short-term forecast _____Zone update _____Significant weather outlook _____Winter weather statements _____NPW statements
Aviation:
_____TAFs _____TWEBs
Operations Unit - Forecaster Support
Goal: To become a successful member of the forecast team with the skills necessary to perform routine and special operational duties, and to develop a basic understanding of the County Warning Area.
Topics: NWR, climate products, rawinsonde observations, phone recordings, SCO/SCD observations, hydrologic data collection
Resources: primarily on-the-job training, Station Duty and other Manuals, one-on-one
_____Operations Overview _____Review Station Duty Manual vol. 1 _____Review Station Duty Manual vol. 2 Surface Observations
_____Review FMH 1 _____Review NWS Handbook 7
Rawinsonde Observations
_____Review FMH 3 _____Review MicroArts Training Guide
Proficiency
_____NWR _____Climate products _____Rawinsonde observations _____SCO/SCD _____Hydrologic data collection _____phone recordings _____ASOS QC Goal: To develop an understanding of and proficiency in using the various operational software and hardware systems which support the forecast program, excluding AWIPS and the WSR-88D.
Topics: LAN, NWR, phones, SAC, operational software, ASOS, wind profilers, satellites, Intranet, Internet Homepage
Resources: computer systems, related manuals and documentation, one-on-one, CBL modules
Internal Operations (Hardware):
_____NORSTAR phone system _____NAWAS _____LAN/WAN/SAC NWR:
_____videotape _____CBL Module _____Job sheets Internal Operations (Software)
Product Generation
_____X-NOW _____WISE-II _____PC-LSR,Warntrk, Panda _____RAVE _____TAFcheck _____TAF/TWB sender
AFOS Emulators
_____Bubble _____Local Alarm Climate/Hydro
_____WINCLI _____EOM _____CopyASOSdata _____Rank _____RTP ______RR1
_____EZSHEF ____RVS(am,pm) _____ASOS viewer _____Climate viewer _____Precip sender Shift Admin
_____Shiftlog Web
_____Intranet _____Internet Homepage
External Systems
_____ ASOS web-based modules _____Wind Profiler manuals PDW Modules
_____Satellite Meteorology: Remote Sensing Using the New GOES Imager _____Satellite Meteorology: Case Studies Using GOES Imager Data _____Satellite Meteorology: Using the GOES Sounder Goal: To develop the fundamental skills and knowledge required of newly hired personnel in the NWS.
Topics: Data collection and dissemination, writing and broadcast style, hydrology, satellite and radar, aviation products, NWS and local office administration, diversity, coop program, CWA familiarization
Resources: NWSTC modules, residence and correspondence courses, CBL modules, Station Orientation Manual, one-on-one
_____Office tour and familiarization _____T and As _____CWA familiarization trip _____ccMail _____Station Orientation Manual _____Schedule (rotation and duties) PDW Module:
_____Diversity
PHASE 1 - 1st year (W = web-based; M = paper module; C = correspondence course)
_____Introduction to the NWS (W) _____Quality Control (W) _____NWS Directives System (W) _____SHEF (M) _____NWS Memorandum Standards (W) _____Hydrologic Services (C)
PHASE 2 - 2nd year (W = web-based; M = paper module; C = correspondence course)
_____Clear & Effective Communication (M) _____Skew-T, Log p Diagram (W) _____Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (M) _____Introduction to TWEB Forecasting (M) _____Aviation Operations (C) _____Hurricanes (M) _____Introduction to Severe Weather: Products and Procedures (M)
Coop Program Training NWSTC Coop Modules _____DAPM one-on-one _____Intro to the Coop Program 600 _____Review Coop binder _____Cooperative Program 610
Safety/Hazardous Materials:
_____office tour _____documentation overview _____videos (5)
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