On November 3, 1998, programmers at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) made changes to the RH field in the ETA model. The definition of RH was set with respect to water at or above -15 degrees C and with respect to ice below -15 degrees. This has proved problematical for users who perform calculations with the RH to get dew point or specific humidity because the Family of Services and NOAAPORT only transmit one moisture variable (RH) from the ETA. A change notification has been submitted and will be implemented shortly. At that time, the RH calculations will be defined only with respect to water.
GOES-8 and GOES-10 Precipitatable Water (PW) data are now assimilated into the ETA model and should help improve the ETA's precipitation forecasts in the western U.S. For a concise and well-written explanation of derived precipitable water data from GOES satellites assimilated into the ETA model, read Kevin Schrab's (Weather Region Headquarters) new technical attachment at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrhq/98TAs/9840/index.html.
The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) will perform an end to end Y2K test of via GOES 7 starting on January 25th and ending on January 28th, 1999. The Office of Satellite Operations is planning this second end-to-end test of the GOES system as it will operate in the year 2000. Engineers will set the time in the GOES ground system components to December 31, 1999, and run through the transition to January 1, 2000 ending the test 24 hours after the new year begins. A GOES-8 data stream time-tagged in the year 2000 will be re-transmitted via GOES 7 into the GVAR ingest systems to test that all systems will correctly process the data. In addition a leap year test will be performed. NESDIS sees this as a unique opportunity for all GOES users to validate their systems for Y2K compatibility. Private sector satellite users are encouraged to participate in the test. Please contact Gary McBrien, Y2K coordinator, for more information at 301-547-5250.
On December 15, 1998, NESDIS transferred all operational data collection from NOAA-12 to NOAA-15. NOAA-12 was placed in a "semi-standby" status.
The test will in no way affect the data normally transmitted by GOES-8 or GOES-10 spacecraft.
In late April 1997, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to examine its national meteorological data buoy program as well as the Coastal Marine Automated Network (C-MAN). As of early 1997, thirty three buoys or C-MAN stations managed by NOAA no longer had the funds required to remain in operation. NOAA asked the NRC to recommend a distribution of observing platforms that would maintain National Weather Service (NWS) weather and forecast capabilities. The NRC report is now available on the web at http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/enter2.cgi?0309060885.html.
Click on "Image Version" to see the whole report.
An update of case studies on the WWW compiled by COMET in cooperation with the NWS Office of Meteorology is available at http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/projects/casestudies/execSummary/199810/.
Thirteen case studies can be searched, browsed, and ordered for FTP download through the CODIAC data management system. Go to http://www.joss.ucar.edu/cometCases/avail.html for a listing of and access to the case studies. The links will take you to a page describing the selected case study. From that page, you have several choices. First, you can select "Description/Summary" which will take you to more detailed information including a summary of the event and training exercises. Second, you can select "Data sets" to see list of all the data sets available for the project. Third, you can select "Sample Imagery" to view GIF images for each case study. If you follow the "Datasets" link, you can browse information on each data set and order the data you desire. For some data sets, you can also plot the data.
A new CD-ROM from COMET, Forecasting Aviation Icing: The Icing Event of 6 March 1996, has been sent to NWS forecast offices. The CD-ROM is a companion to the Professional Development Series- Forecasting Aviation Icing (see http://www.meted.ucar.edu/icing/). The CD-ROM contains a viewer to explore a data set of 3300 images, graphics, text, and derived products portraying an icing event that occurred over the continental United States on March 6, 1996. You can find information on purchasing this CD and others at
An excellent tutorial on the web investigates the radar characteristics of the fatality-producing tornadic storm in Hall/White County Georgia on 20 March 1998. Go to the Meteorology Education and Training (funded by NOAA) Homepage (http://www.meted.ucar.edu/index.htm) and click on the Hall/White County Storm Tutorial.
NASA Press Release 167-98 describes the arrival of GOES-L to Kennedy Space Center on a C-5 aircraft for launch in late March or early April. The press release details the entire schedule for GOES-L up to its check out as GOES-11 before the start of the 1999 hurricane season. Point to:
FEMA and NOAA have issued a joint press release urging awareness and preparedness as winter nears. You can access this release at http://www.fema.gov/nwz98/noaa1217.htm.
The good folks in the NWS Western Region have opened access to uniquely developed software applications in their local offices. These applications range from system/data monitors to meteorological applications to zone product formatters. Without any guarantee and provided as-is, feel free to download the applications if they work for you at:
Webmaster John Skoda has again skillfully converted two more technical attachments from a bygone era into PDF format for your viewing pleasure and posted them on our IM home page. They are:
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