1. Introduction to the National Weather Service Howard University School of Atmospheric Science Ken Waters NWS Regional Scientist National Weather Service Pacific Region Headquarters Honolulu, Hawaii June 1, 2005

2. Outline An overview of the National Weather Service An overview of the National Weather Service A sample research area for NWS: GIS Technology A sample research area for NWS: GIS Technology

3. Department of Commerce (DOC) Department of Commerce (DOC) –National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service National Weather Service –Annual Budget $850M NWS Mission: NWS Mission: " The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community. "

4. National Weather Service Organization National Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD National Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD Support staff in Silver Spring Support staff in Silver Spring Numerous other support facilities around the country such as the National Training Center in Kansas City, and the National Severe Storms Lab in Norman OK Numerous other support facilities around the country such as the National Training Center in Kansas City, and the National Severe Storms Lab in Norman OK –Six Regions (6 regional headquarters, 122 forecast offices): –Eastern (Bohemia NY) –Central (Kansas City MO) –Southern (Fort Worth TX) –Western (Salt Lake City UT) –Alaska (Anchorage AK) –Pacific (Honolulu HI) –National Center For Environmental Prediction (NCEP) (Camp Springs, MD) Nine centers around the country producing national products and guidance Nine centers around the country producing national products and guidance

5. Location of Forecast Offices

6. NWS Staff NWS Staff –As of 2005: 4832 employees, including: 2348 Meteorologists 2348 Meteorologists 520 Meteorology Technicians 520 Meteorology Technicians 288 Hydrologists 288 Hydrologists 516 Information Technology specialists 516 Information Technology specialists 432 Electronics Engineer/Technicians 432 Electronics Engineer/Technicians 118 Physical Scientists (oceanographers, physicists, etc.) 118 Physical Scientists (oceanographers, physicists, etc.) 610 Other fields (administrative support, etc.) 610 Other fields (administrative support, etc.)

7. NWS Systems AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System) – In every forecast office; LINUX-based system used for visualization of weather/hydro data (incl models) and issuance of products AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System) – In every forecast office; LINUX-based system used for visualization of weather/hydro data (incl models) and issuance of products IFPS (Interactive Forecast Preparation System) – Graphical editing of forecast grids of surface elements IFPS (Interactive Forecast Preparation System) – Graphical editing of forecast grids of surface elements NEXRAD – Doppler radar network NEXRAD – Doppler radar network NOAA Weather Radio (All-Hazards) – Radios that can be programmed to alert for specified counties and warnings NOAA Weather Radio (All-Hazards) – Radios that can be programmed to alert for specified counties and warnings

8. Products of National Weather Service Warnings, Watches, and Advisories (tornado, severe thunderstorm, marine, flash flood, wind, heat, hurricane, tsunami, surf, etc.) Warnings, Watches, and Advisories (tornado, severe thunderstorm, marine, flash flood, wind, heat, hurricane, tsunami, surf, etc.) Aviation (terminal forecasts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, graphical outlooks) Aviation (terminal forecasts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, graphical outlooks) Marine (surf, coastal, offshore, high seas forecasts and oceanic charts) Marine (surf, coastal, offshore, high seas forecasts and oceanic charts) Public forecasts (zone forecasts, state/area forecasts) Public forecasts (zone forecasts, state/area forecasts) National Digital Forecast Database National Digital Forecast Database Numerical Models Guidance Numerical Models Guidance Climate Forecasts and Summaries Climate Forecasts and Summaries Hydrological warnings and summaries Hydrological warnings and summaries ….plus much more! ….plus much more!

10. National Digital Forecast Database 2.5 km to 5.0 km resolution grid across entire country 2.5 km to 5.0 km resolution grid across entire country Forecasts out to 7 days of temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity Forecasts out to 7 days of temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity Becoming the primary public forecast “product” for the NWS rather than text products Becoming the primary public forecast “product” for the NWS rather than text products Legacy text products are derived from complex computer programs that interrogate the grids Legacy text products are derived from complex computer programs that interrogate the grids Power users (AccuWeather, Weather Channel, etc.) can download the national grids and use to produce their own customized forecast products Power users (AccuWeather, Weather Channel, etc.) can download the national grids and use to produce their own customized forecast products MORE INFO: MORE INFO:http://weather.gov/ndfd/

11. Typical Forecast Office Meteorologist-in-charge (GS-14 or 15) Meteorologist-in-charge (GS-14 or 15) Warning Coordination Meteorologist (GS-13 or 14) Warning Coordination Meteorologist (GS-13 or 14) Science and Operations Officer (GS-13 or 14) Science and Operations Officer (GS-13 or 14) Information Technology Officer (GS-13) Information Technology Officer (GS-13) 5 Lead Forecasters (GS-13) 5 Lead Forecasters (GS-13) 5 Journeyman Forecasters (GS-12) 5 Journeyman Forecasters (GS-12) 2 Meteorological Interns (GS-5 to 11) 2 Meteorological Interns (GS-5 to 11) Meteorological Technicians, Electronics Technicians, and other support staff Meteorological Technicians, Electronics Technicians, and other support staff

12. Requirements to become meteorologist in NWS Basic Requirements: Degree: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included: Degree: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included: –At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of: Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;* Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;* Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale); Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale); Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation. Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation. –Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.* –Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.* –At least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science. *There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major. *There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major. OR OR Combination of education and experience--course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Combination of education and experience--course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Most meteorologists entering the NWS start at Met Intern level (GS-05 [~$28,000/yr]) although higher placement is available for holders of advanced (graduate) degrees or relevant experience (typically military) Most meteorologists entering the NWS start at Met Intern level (GS-05 [~$28,000/yr]) although higher placement is available for holders of advanced (graduate) degrees or relevant experience (typically military) Most existing meteorologists are working at GS-11 through GS-13 ($45k-$84k) Most existing meteorologists are working at GS-11 through GS-13 ($45k-$84k)

13. Getting Into the NWS Entry Information: Entry Information: –http://www.weather.gov/eeo/StudentRe searchOpportunities.htm http://www.weather.gov/eeo/StudentRe searchOpportunities.htmhttp://www.weather.gov/eeo/StudentRe searchOpportunities.htm Jobs Online at: Jobs Online at: –https://jobs1.quickhire.com/scripts/doc.exe

14. …switching gears… A research application example of some work being done in NWS blending operations with new technologies. THE GOAL: integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) principles into the National Weather Service.

15. Background National Weather Service issues four types of short-fused warnings: – –Tornado Warnings (TOR) – –Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (SVR) – –Flash Flood Warnings (FFW) – –Special Marine Warnings (SMW) Issued normally for one county at a time – –Can lead to a large false-alarm area, especially in the case of large or irregular-sized counties Verification has been strictly county-based Legacy dissemination methods all tied to counties: – –NOAA All-Hazards/Weather Radio Uses SAME alert code based on counties – –Internet displays – again, based on counties

16. WARNGEN –Allows forecaster to graphically highlight the area of greatest threat –Creates a template text product for the warning, including proper headers, issue/expiration times, county UGC codes –ALSO: includes latitude/longitude vertex points for the pathcast, or polygon warning --- LITTLE USED by NWS, partners, and public

17. Using GIS with Polygon Warnings Polygon vertices well-suited to include in GIS Polygon vertices well-suited to include in GIS Mechanism was established to strip off the lat-long polygon information, database the polygons, and create real- time GIS shapefiles Mechanism was established to strip off the lat-long polygon information, database the polygons, and create real- time GIS shapefiles Using only open source (“freeware”) software Using only open source (“freeware”) software –Code written in Perl –Polygon values formatted in ESRI “gen” format –Use “gen2shp” and “txt2dbf” packages

18. County vs. Polygon Latitude/Longitude points at the bottom of all TORs, SVRs, FFWs, and SMWs. Latitude/Longitude points at the bottom of all TORs, SVRs, FFWs, and SMWs.

19. Polygon Advantages Shows specifically where the threat is Shows specifically where the threat is More accurately shows warning area on systems displaying warnings graphically More accurately shows warning area on systems displaying warnings graphically Reduction of risk area to public Reduction of risk area to public Better graphical description capabilities Better graphical description capabilities Wider local distribution via cell phones, PDAs, etc. Wider local distribution via cell phones, PDAs, etc. Increase NWS role in the confirmation part of the warning process Increase NWS role in the confirmation part of the warning process Private sector starting to turn to polygons Private sector starting to turn to polygons Allows NWS to refine warnings to true threat area Allows NWS to refine warnings to true threat area Allows us to track and set goals for false alarm area Allows us to track and set goals for false alarm area Better warning quality Better warning quality Keeps NWS in technological step Keeps NWS in technological step

20. Polygon Eliminates Area False Alarmed Polygon Advantages

21. Prototype Test

22. Jackson MS Apr 5-7 “Trial by fire”

23. And now, some examples, using 2004 warnings

24. Tornado Warnings -- 2004

25. Tornado Warnings Florida 2004

26. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

28. Tendency to align warnings to county borders continued in 2004

29. Flash Flood Warnings

30. Special Marine Warnings

31. Flash Flood Warnings still very “county-based”

32. Applications For Viewing Polygon Warnings CONUS map showing warnings, updated each minute: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/ CONUS map showing warnings, updated each minute: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/ http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/ ArcIMS map service for historical viewing: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/ ArcIMS map service for historical viewing: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/ http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/ Texas A&M Site (warnings + radar): http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/warn.html Texas A&M Site (warnings + radar): http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/warn.html http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/warn.html Iowa Mesonet: http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings.phtml Iowa Mesonet: http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings.phtml

33. Display of warnings only http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/

34. Busy Day….!

35. ArcIMS Map Service http://www.prh.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/warn.html

36. Includes LSR data from SPC

37. Iowa Environmental Mesonet http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings.phtml

38. The Challenges Internal to NWS Internal to NWS –Forecaster paradigm shift to focus on weather threat –Workload issues keeping track of warnings Ensuring events don’t slip between nearly adjacent warnings Ensuring events don’t slip between nearly adjacent warnings –Verification measures Changes to GPRA baselines Changes to GPRA baselines Special verification issues (e.g., multiple warnings for same county) Special verification issues (e.g., multiple warnings for same county) –Software WARNGEN error -- periodically issues 2-point polygons well out of CWA WARNGEN error -- periodically issues 2-point polygons well out of CWA External to NWS External to NWS –Dissemination! Many TV Stations not prepared to display polygons Many TV Stations not prepared to display polygons –Niche market for private sector (e.g., WeatherData) NOAA All-Hazards Radio NOAA All-Hazards Radio –Technical limitation: location is based only on county –New generation of NWR needs to allow users to input either lat/long or nearest city to take advantage of polygon technology

39. Questions? Updated every minute for TOR, SVR, FFW, SMW, as well as SPC watches Updated every minute for TOR, SVR, FFW, SMW, as well as SPC watches Available at: Available at: –http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hq/regsci/gis http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hq/regsci/gis Ken Waters Regional Scientist NWS Pacific Region Honolulu, Hawaii Ken.waters@noaa.gov (808) 532-6413