Climate Symposia Offered for Science Officers and Climate Focal Points

NWS will offer the first in a series of new Climate Symposia for NWS Climate Focal Points and Science and Operations Officers (SOOs) at Weather Forecast Offices and River Forecast Centers during the week of March 25-29, 2002, in Boulder, CO. These symposia will provide a base level of understanding and application of climate cycles and variability, as well as a knowledge of climate products and services at the local level. The classes will be held in conjunction with the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET).

BACK TO TOP

NWS Installs First Micronesian Meteorologist-in-Charge at Chuuk

On March 8, 2002, Johnson Elimo became the first Meteorologist-in-Charge at the Chuuk station in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Elimo, a resident of Chuuk, received his degree in meteorology from the University of Hawaii and is the fourth graduate of the NWS Pacific Region Micronesian Training Program. Other graduates from this program are in charge of weather offices in Koror, Palau, and in Pohnpei and Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. The installation ceremony was attended by the Vice President of FSM and the Governor of Chuuk State, along with NWS officials. The National Weather Service operates five offices in U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands which are funded by the Compact of Free Association.

BACK TO TOP

Real time weather data, tsunami bulletins, earthquake messages, and other natural disaster information are now available at all NWS Pacific Region offices, including those outside the GOES-10 satellite footprint. Recently completed installations in Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau bring the total number of EMWIN stations in the Pacific to 28.

"EMWIN is a suite of data access methods which make available a live stream of weather and other critical emergency information to meteorological and emergency management personnel via satellite," said Jim Weyman, Acting Director, Pacific Region. "Communications can be unreliable in Pacific island countries. EMWIN serves as a valuable backup tool and in some locations may be the only reliable source of severe weather warnings."

For more information on EMWIN, see http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/index.htm. See the picture from WFO Tiyan in Guam of Warning Coordination Meteorologist Genny Miller and Lead Meteorologist Bill Ward by the new EMWIN dish at the top of this page.

BACK TO TOP

Individual and team efforts towards advancing NWS aviation services will be recognized through a newly established Aviation Awards Program. "All NWS employees are eligible, regardless of job classification, as long as the recognized effort is related to aviation," said Mark Andrews, Aviation Program Manager, NWS Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services.

Awards will be given on a quarterly and annual basis. The first quarterly award period covers January through March 2002. Individual and team award winners will be nationally recognized and receive an engraved plaque, as well as a cash award. Meteorologists-In-Charge, supervisors, or AWC Directors should submit nominations to their Regional Aviation Meteorologists, Office Directors, or NCEP Chief Operations Officers.

BACK TO TOP

Recruiting efforts have begun for a 10-week summer research program sponsored by NOAA's Office of Civil Rights and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). NWS plans to host 35- 40 students nationwide this year. The program provides high school, undergraduate, and graduate students with opportunities to participate in research and development in science, math, and engineering. Last year, NWS hosted 40 students; many who attend a Minority Serving Institution. ORISE accepts applications from students across the country and students are placed at various government agencies, including NOAA and NWS. This program is an excellent way for women and minorities to become exposed to the various career opportunities within the NWS. For more information on the program, go to: http://www.orau.gov/orise.htm.

BACK TO TOP

Working Together to Save Lives:
Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) Helps NWS to Deploy Drifting Buoys

A commercial shipping vessel recently helped NWS's National Data Buoy Center(NDBC) deploy some drifting buoys south of the Aleutian Islands, significantly improving the quantity of wind and wave data available for that area of the world.

Four Autonomous Profiling Explorer (APEX) Buoys were deployed by the Westwind Belinda, a Panamanian-flagged merchant marine ship operated by shipping company Borgestad Seattle, Inc. The shipping company and its seven ships have been a great supporter of the NWS Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) program, which relies on commercial vessels to provide marine observations to the NWS, said NDBC Director Paul Moersdorf.

The Ocean Quick Success Project was a first for the NWS, Moersdorf added, although VOS ships have previously deployed data buoys for other organizations.

"We wanted to procure these devices in a short period of time, identify a location and subsequent vessel that would pass near our intended positions and deploy the devices in what might be viewed as a short turn around time," Moersdorf explained. Another goal was to use minimal NDBC resources.

Cathy Woody, NDBC Oceanographer, headed the project team that developed the idea and selected the data sparse area south of the Aleutian Islands. David McShane, VOS Program Manager, assisted with the procurement and arrangements for ship selection and deployment.

"The General Manager of Borgestad eagerly supported what we wanted to do," said Moersdorf. "Captain Rajiv Bhandari, General Manager of Borgestad Seattle Inc., identified the Westwind Belinda as the most logical candidate given her schedule and our manufacturing and delivery schedule. We met the ship and profilers upon delivery in mid-December at the Weyerhaeuser Company facility in Longview, WA. This facility is one of the normal loading locations for this ship. The actual loading took less than thirty minutes and our subsequent acceptance testing and training of the crew took approximately six hours prior to the ship's debarkation."

The APEX buoys will provide NDBC with repeated upper ocean profiles during their average five-year life spans.

BACK TO TOP

Also On the Web...

• NWS's COOP Observer Program Featured in Online Publication
  In a recent article on the American Communications Foundation's (ACF's) website, NWS's COOP Observer Program was showcased. The ACF is an organization whose mission is to educate the American public on substantive issues such as education, children, youth and family, science and technology, the environment, democracy, religion, art and culture, and health care.

  In the article, NWS's observers are praised for their dedication. The article also highlights the importance of the program for the American public. To read the article, go to: http://www.acfnewsource.org/science/weather_volunteers.html.

• New Commerce Safety Website
  The new Occupational Safety and Health Program Web site is available through the Department of Commerce Home Page at http://www.doc.gov and the DOC Intranet site http://home.osec.doc.gov. "Safety in the workplace remains a top priority for both the Secretary and me," Deputy Secretary of Commerce Samuel W. Bodman wrote in a March 1 e-mail to all employees.
  

BACK TO TOP