On June 15, 1998, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction implemented global model changes beginning with the Aviation cycle and the MRF global model. Horizontal and vertical resolutions were increased from T126 and 28 levels to T170 and 42 levels. In addition to resolution changes, the model will now forecast ozone. A new surface land physics package has been installed and the model is Y2K compliant. A complete description of the model changes is available at http://sgi62.wwb.noaa.gov:8080/tpb97/TPB98/test.419.html.
The implementation caused computer problems with the model output. While the model runs have stabilized, you can refer daily to announcements from NCEP Central Operations for future problems associated with model runs at http://www.ncep.noaa.gov/NCO/PMB/announcements/announ.html.
At 1500 UTC on June 3, 1998, NCEP implemented a series of changes to the operational meso eta model suite. A Technical Procedures Bulletin describes the new 32 km/45 level eta model and is available on the web at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/tpb/447.htm.
Mr. Irwin Ted David has been selected for the newly created position of Chief Financial Officer for the National Weather Service. He reports for work on July 20, 1998. Mr. Davis is currently Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Before joining USDA, he was senior vice president of Apogee Research Inc., a management consulting firm in Bethesda, Maryland. Mr. David is a Certified Public Accountant with a Masters Degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He is the coauthor of two books; "Government Executive Guide to Selecting a Small Computer" and "How to Evaluate Internal Controls in a Governmental Unit."
On June 18, 1998, engineers successfully conducted the north/south maneuver for GOES 9. Concerns with anomalous signature from momentum wheel #2 and an unexpected increase in momentum wheel #1 are being monitored closely.
GOES-Tap will be officially terminated on September 30, 1998, after a quarter century of providing the Nation with real time weather imagery and environmental data. GOES-Tap, an analog delivery system, is being replaced by NOAAPORT digital satellite delivery via satellite.
On June 17, 1998, NOAA issued a license to RDL Space Corporation to operate a commercial space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite system. This is the first license issued for a radar system and was debated for over a year within government because of sensitive national security and intelligence issues raised by the instrument's capability to detect features on the earth's surface at all times despite darkness or clouds. These concerns have been addressed by the terms of the license. This systems's capabilities are unmatched by current commercial satellites and allow the United States to remain competitive with expected foreign commercial systems.
Back to Top