1. From wavelengths towards weather –
Redesigning Satellite Application Courses
Vesa Nietosvaara
Madalina Ungur

2. Wavelengths vs features: a non-meteorological example
X-Ray channel
0.001 to 10 nm
Ultrasound channel
0.1 to 1 mm
IR channel µm

3. Wavelengths vs features: a non-meteorological example
X-Ray channel
0.001 to 10 nm
Ultrasound channel
0.1 to 1 mm
Visible channel
IR channel µm

4. Available for African meteorologists.
EUMETSAT & African partners organize Satellite Application Courses for operational meteorologists
Available for African meteorologists.
Versions in EN and FR.
In 2013 a major change from a traditional classroom to a blended format.

5. Available for African meteorologists.
EUMETSAT & African partners organize Satellite Application Courses for operational meteorologists
Available for African meteorologists.
Versions in EN and FR.
In 2013 a major change from a traditional classroom to a blended format.
SAC-EN Online 2016:
Lesson 1: Earth-Sun-Atmosphere energy system
Lesson 2: Selective Absorption
Lesson 3: channel selection
Lesson 4: RGB recipes

6. We asked COMET to evaluate the courses and design a user survey for African Forecasting offices in 2016
Marianne Weingroff

7. Proposed changes: narrower goals clearer objectives
COMET evaluated the courses and designed a user survey for African Forecasting offices in 2016
Proposed changes:
narrower goals
clearer objectives
alignment with BIP-M and satellite enabling skills guidance
Activities consistent with objectives
Marianne Weingroff

8. COMET evaluated the courses and designed a user survey for African Forecasting offices in 2016
An example:
Learning Objective: “Explain brightness temperature, reflectivity and counts”.
Marianne Weingroff

9. COMET evaluated the courses and designed a user survey for African Forecasting offices in 2016
An example:
Learning Objective: “Explain brightness temperature, reflectivity and counts”. ?!
Marianne Weingroff

10. The African Forecasting Office Survey Results
Biggest needs: detect and monitor convection, fog, and dust.
And further on:
Understanding single channel channels and products better
Using new satellite products
Using RGBs
Using satellite data in the forecast process
Using satellite data in conjunction with NWP

11. We used the evaluation and survey results to redesign the course
Action was needed!
We used the evaluation and survey results to redesign the course
We needed an expert group to create new meaningful activities

12. We used the evaluation and survey results to redesign the course
Action was needed!
We used the evaluation and survey results to redesign the course
We needed an expert group to create new meaningful activities

13. ASMET team worked September-December for creating weather exercises

14. ASMET team worked September-December for creating weather exercises
Emphasis on weather: Convection, Fog, Dust…
…for different African regions: Tropics / Midlatitudes...
… for various features (synoptic to meso-scale)
Creating discussion topics for each weather feature
COMET managed the process

15. We created altogether nine exercises

16. We re-designed the SAC course
Approach
Replaced instrument based approach with weather based approach.
ASMET exercises as a basis for practice cases.
Objectives
Re-defined the objectives.
Updated the course activities to better match the objectives.
Feedback
Improved the feedback mechanisms:
Forums, weekly learner feedback, participant self-reflections and instructor summaries.

17. We tested it in May-June SAC-EN 2017
Course delivered jointly by IMTR, SAWS, EUMETSAT.
55 participants from 30+ countries.
Over 80% completed the course.
Discussion Area

18. We tested it in May-June SAC-EN 2017
Course delivered jointly by IMTR, SAWS, EUMETSAT.
55 participants from 30+ countries.
Over 80% completed the course.
2 weeks Synoptic Systems
ASMET Exercises
Systems Discussion
Live Weather Briefing

19. We tested it in May-June SAC-EN 2017
Course delivered jointly by IMTR, SAWS, EUMETSAT.
55 participants from 30+ countries.
Over 80% completed the course.
2 weeks Mesoscale Systems
ASMET Exercises
Systems Discussion
Reflections

20. Participants Instructors Enjoyed the course in general.
Some Experiences
Participants
Enjoyed the course in general.
Fairly low amount of technical problems reported.
Participants wished for more interaction.
Instructors
Found the weather based approach meaningful.
Overwhelming task to follow up and give feedback for huge amount of forum postings.

21. Adding interaction (suggestions welcome!)
Future Work
Fixing bugs…
Adding interaction (suggestions welcome!)
Ideally organize the SAC around three components:
Basic online self-paced, unfacilitated course. Available from 2018 (by COMET).
Online facilitated course. Identification and interpretation of features.
Classroom course for eligible participants. Putting the acquired skills in into practice.

22. External evaluation helped us to re-design the course.
Conclusion
External evaluation helped us to re-design the course.
Checking the users’ needs before re-designing a course was beneficial.
The participants actively participated the re-designed course.