Internet IM Update, October 30, 1998

• Reprise of AMS Short Course on NWS Data Sources, Formats, and Use
• Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters
• Weather Resources for Educators
• GOES Scheduled Outages and the Leonids Meteor Showers
• Ronne Ice Shelf Iceberg
• New Canadian Upper Air Stations

Reprise of AMS Short Course on NWS Data Sources, Formats and Use

The National Weather Service (NWS) has teamed with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) to again offer its highly successful one day course on NWS Data Sources, Formats, and Use to constituents that deal with meteorological data on a technical level. The short course immediately precedes the annual AMS Meeting on January 10, 1998, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The course syllabus includes:

1. technical descriptions of the NWS Family of Services, the NWS Internet file server, AWIPS/NOAAPORT, and the World Area Forecast System(WAFS)
2. technical descriptions of the data stream found on the different NWS services
3. technical descriptions of the data format such as BUFR, GRIB, and NOAAPORT satellite found on NWS dissemination services
4. a description of the process used by NWS to manage data
5. an illustration of various readily available software and systems that interface with the dissemination services.

Attendees receive reference material to consult in the future, and NWS points of contact for follow up. Discounted registration is available through December 1, 1998. A registration form is available on line at:

For further information, on the short course, contact Dick Thigpen at Richard.Thigpen@noaa.gov.

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Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters

The National Climate Data Center has updated its home page on 1980-98 Billion Dollar Weather Disasters to include Hurricane Georges and Bonnie as well as the summer of 1998 Drought/Heat Wave. Point to http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/reports/billionz.html.

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Weather Resources for Educators

The NWS Office of Meteorology has compiled a list of resources to assist primary, middle and secondary educators who teach meteorology. The resources are available at:

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GOES Scheduled Outages and the Leonids Meteor Showers

On November 17, 1998, the GOES-8 imager scan mirror will be positioned to avoid the peak activity of the Leonids meteor storm. No imaging will be available from 1744 UTC to 2114 UTC on that day. The sounder will not be affected and will continue normal operations. GOES-10 will provide Full Disk scan operations from 1730 to 2129 UTC. GOES-8 Routine Imager scan operations will resume at 2115 UTC.

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Ronne Ice Shelf Iceberg

The Antarctic Meteorology Research Center at the University of Wisconsin continues to offer NOAA 12 imagery of the Ronne Ice Shelf iceberg. Point to their photo gallery web page:

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New Canadian Upper Air Stations

Latitude and Longitude are in deg/min and station elevation is in meters. 71126 is used for equipment testing and staff training. 71146 is used for scientific experimentation and 71908 replaces 71896.

71126	ZED	Stony Plain Test, Alberta	53o33"N 114o06"W	766
71146	WLZ	Candle Lake, Saskatchewan	53o44"N 105o16"W	503
71908	ZXS	Prince George UA, Brit. Col.	53o54"N 122o48"W	601

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