NWS Training Portal

Marine Professional Development Series (PDS)

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Executive Producer - Wayne Presnell (OCWWS/Marine and Coastal Services Branch)

PDS Statement of Responsibility: The Marine PDS provides a framework of required and recommended training which will allow NWS marine forecasters to fulfill the most important mission of the NWS; helping to save lives and property and providing decision support services for the economic well being of the Nation.

PDS Overview: Upon completing the NWS Marine Professional Development Series (PDS), NWS forecasters will have a baseline standard of knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiencies. In conjunction with local office requirements, the PDS will allow a marine forecaster to work an operational shift; issuing marine forecasts and warnings and providing valuable decision support services. Four Professional Competency Units (PCU) and Instructional Components (IC) within each PCU are contained in the PDS; satisfying the needs and requirements of the NWS Marine Training Program. The Marine PDS webpage will be routinely monitored and updated as new training needs are identified and new training is developed.

See below for descriptions of the job competencies associated with each of the four PCUs. Specific instructional components for each PCU, with associated abilities and job skills, are available from the PCU pages linked below.

PCU 1: Develop and Maintain User Awareness and Partnerships

Producer - Brian Garcia (WR/WFO Eureka, CA)

Marine weather forecasters at coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices and National Centers will learn to establish and nourish working relationships with the key marine forecast constituents in their area. This will ensure forecasters understand the specific needs of users. Forecasters will be better able to understand the importance of marine weather behavior on types of vessels, watercraft and surf enthusiasts in order to provide a more focused, targeted and effective service. Depending on the type of vessel or personal watercraft being used, varying sea conditions affect users in drastically different fashion. Shallow versus steep swells, large and battering breaking waves, varying local topography and bathymetry all impact mariners differently depending on type of vessel. Mariners in smaller vessels encountering hazardous conditions along the Nation's coastal waters and the Great Lakes may be hours away from a safe port and at the mercy of the elements. Large ships at sea also face potentially great dangers and are often several days away from port. When in peril, rescue of these vessels may be hours or days in coming. Reliable, rapid, and easy access to weather information, when properly understood and applied, supports decisions which ultimately lead to saving lives and reducing economic losses.

PCU 2: Forecasting the Marine Environment

Producer - Jeff Lorens (WRH)

Marine weather forecasters at coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices and National Centers must be proficient in forecasting wind and wave conditions in the marine environment. Forecasters will learn how to recognize the importance of surface winds (direction and speed), wind-produced waves and associated coastal and lakeshore hazards (e.g. rough surf, coastal flooding, and rip currents), and other weather conditions which may pose a threat to mariners and residents/visitors in and near the shoreline (including fog and other restrictions to visibility and other potential weather hazards, depending on location).

PCU 3: Enhancing Impact Event Operations, Warnings, and Decision Support

Producer - Steven Pfaff (ER/WFO Wilmington, NC)

Marine weather forecasters at coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices and National Centers must be able to effectively communicate the impacts of hazardous weather phenomenon to the marine community. To accomplish this, forecasters will learn to recognize the implications imposed by critical forecasts, watches, warnings, and advisories on vessels and marine operators. The skills developed will allow forecasters to enhance marine weather services, especially during those events that can have a significant effect on marine areas; including an understanding of the roles the NWS will provide in direct support of both man-made (e.g., large hazardous oil spills) and natural (e.g., hurricanes) disasters. Other parameters forecasters will gain an understanding of include short and long fuse marine warnings, threats along the coast and waterways, and decision support services that are provided to our partners and the public.

PCU 4: Interpret Marine Data, and Provide Marine Products and Services

Producer - Treena Hartley (WR/WFO Portland, OR)

Marine weather forecasters at coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices and National Centers must understand the suite of NWS marine data, products and services. Forecasters will learn how marine data is measured and collected and how important it is to monitor marine conditions. Awareness of how the NWS marine products and services are tailored to specific criteria and disseminated will ensure the forecasts are appropriately delivered to the maritime community.

NWS Instruction 10-340, Marine Forecaster Training, provides guidance on requirements and recommended training for NWS marine forecasters. The training can be accessed in the NWS Learning Center at: https://doc.learn.com.noaa/nws.

Table 1. Required COMET modules for all NWS marine forecasters.

COMET Module	Associated PCU
Wave Life Cycle I	PCU 2 - Forecasting the Marine Environment
Wave Life Cycle II	PCU 2 - Forecasting the Marine Environment
Winds in the Marine Boundary Layer	PCU 2 - Forecasting the Marine Environment
Wave Types and Characteristics	PCU 2 - Forecasting the Marine Environment
Understanding Marine Customers	PCU 1 - Develop and Maintain User Awareness and Partnerships

Modules Wave Life Cycle I and II, Winds in the Marine Boundary Layer and Wave Types and Characteristics were updated in fiscal year 2012. A need to update the Understanding Marine Customers module has been identified. New marine forecasters with no previous experience forecasting in the marine environment will complete all baseline marine training modules, along with any additional marine training requirements. Forecasters should complete the required training within six months of arrival on station.

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Marine Professional Development Series (PDS)