august 27, 2009 ryan solomon techniques development meteorologist
DESCRIPTION
August 27, 2009 Ryan Solomon Techniques Development Meteorologist. The Aviation Weather Center from FL100. Outline. Virtual tour of the AWC Products and services ADDS The future. Weather Affects Aviation?. FedEx Planes Avoiding Thunderstorms. Virtual Tour of the AWC. Who is the AWC?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
August 27, 2009August 27, 2009Ryan SolomonRyan SolomonTechniques Development MeteorologistTechniques Development Meteorologist
The Aviation Weather The Aviation Weather Center from FL100Center from FL100
Outline
Virtual tour of the AWC
Products and services
ADDS
The future
Weather Affects Aviation?
FedEx Planes Avoiding Thunderstorms
Virtual Tour of the AWC
Who is the AWC?
DOCNOAA
NWSNCEP
AWC
AWCOne of Nine NCEP Centers
AWC PersonnelAWC Personnel
38 Forecasters38 Forecasters9 Support Staff9 Support Staff7 Management Staff7 Management Staff7 Support Contractors7 Support Contractors
64 Dedicated Men 64 Dedicated Men and Womenand Women
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AWC Personnel By BranchAWC Personnel By Branch
ProgramProgram NumberNumber
Domestic Operations Branch (DOB)Domestic Operations Branch (DOB)Chief: Fred JohnsonChief: Fred Johnson
2626
Aviation Support Branch (ASB)Aviation Support Branch (ASB)Chief: Clinton WallaceChief: Clinton Wallace
1616
International Operations Branch (IOB)International Operations Branch (IOB)Deputy Director and Chief: Currently vacantDeputy Director and Chief: Currently vacant
1414
Where is the AWC?
AWC Virtual Tour (cont’d)
AWC
Kansas City International Airport
Our Facility
Collocated with:
•NWS Central Region HQ
•NWS Training Center
AWC Operations Floor
FAEast
FACentral
FAWest
Spare
CCFP
ConvectiveSIGMET
GGSouth
GGNorth
Tropical
• Five 24x7x365 desks• Three 20x7x365 desks
Domestic Operations
Int’l Operations
Typical Forecast Desk
NAWIPSAWIPS
RadarLightning
PC
So...What Does the AWC Do?So...What Does the AWC Do?
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So...What Does the AWC Do?So...What Does the AWC Do?
What Does the AWC Do?What Does the AWC Do?
Aviation Weather Forecasting – A Lot of It!Aviation Weather Forecasting – A Lot of It!
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AWC Product IssuancesAWC Product Issuances
ProductProduct Approx Approx #/Year#/Year
Convective SIGMETConvective SIGMET 30,00030,000
AIRMETsAIRMETs 26,00026,000
CCFPCCFP 25,00025,000
Significant Weather HighSignificant Weather High 18,89018,890
Area Forecasts (FA)Area Forecasts (FA) 6,5706,570
Significant Weather LowSignificant Weather Low 1,4601,460
Non-Convective SIGMETNon-Convective SIGMET 500500
AWC Products & ServicesAWC Products & Services
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Domestic Non-convective SIGMETs Convective SIGMETs AIRMETs Area Forecasts Low Level Significant Wx Collaborative Convective
Forecast Product (CCFP)International
Mid-Level Significant Wx High Level Significant Wx International SIGMETs Tropical Aviation Wx International Flight Folders
Automated Graphical Turbulence
Guidance Current Icing Product Forecast Icing Potential National Convective Weather
Diagnostic/Forecast
Web Services ADDS.AviationWeather.gov AviationWeather.gov WAFC Internet File Service PIREP Web Submit
Domestic Products
• Tstorms, svr icing, svr turb
SIGMETs(SIGSIGnificant METMETeorological
Information)
Weather potentially hazardous to all aircraft
WSUS1 KCHI 041621 CHIU WS 041615SIGMET UNIFORM 2 VALID UNTIL 042015 SIGMET ND SD MN WI FROM FAR TO RHI TO DLL TO ODI TO 30S FSD TO 65NW ANW TO DPR TO 60S BIS TO FAR OCNL SEV TURB BTN FL240 AND FL390. RPRTD BY BE40 AND LJ25. THIS UPDATES UNIFORM 1 AND EXTENDS AREA INTO WI. CONDS CONTG BYD 2015Z. JNR
• Dust/sand storms with vis < 3 mi
• Volcanic ash
• Area >= 3000 mi2
• Conv. SIGMETs valid for 2 hrs
• Non-conv. SIGMETs valid up to 4 hrs
AIRMETs(AIRmen’s METeorological Information)
Weather that may be hazardous to light aircraft Clg < 1 kft and/or vis < 3 mi affecting > 50% of an area
Sustained sfc winds > 30 kts
Moderate icing
Extensive mtn obscuration
Moderate turb
Frz level data 3,000 mi2
Graphical AIRMETGraphical AIRMET(G-AIRMET)(G-AIRMET)
Series of graphics depicting en-route AIRMET hazards valid at 00, 03, 06, 09, and 12 hours from issuance.
Identifies hazardous weather in space and time more precisely than text products.
A picture’s worth a thousand contractions.
Area ForecastArea Forecast(FA)(FA)
SYNOPSIS...AT 02Z LOW PRES NWRN MN WITH CDFNT BJI-PIR-DDY LN AND WRMFNT BJI-EAU-PMM LN. TROF FSD-TBE LN. BY 20Z LOW PRES CNTRL WI WITH CDFNT DLL-PWE-GLD LN AND WRMFNT DLL-ECK LN. ...DARRAH...
ND SCT100. OCNL BKN080 TOP FL180. ISOLD -SHRA. OTLK...VFR. .
SD WRN 1/3...SCT060 SCT120 TOP FL180. TIL 06-08Z OCNL CIG BKN050. WDLY SCT -SHRA/-TSRA. TS TOPS FL400. OTLK...VFR. CNTRL 1/3...SCT080. OCNL BKN060. WDLY SCT -SHRA ISOLD -TSRA. TS TOPS FL400. OTLK...VFR. ERN 1/3...SCT100. BY 05-07Z OCNL BKN080 TOP 160. OTLK...VFR SHRA. .
NE PNHNDL...AGL SCT050. TIL 04-06Z ISOLD -SHRA/-TSRA. TS TOPS FL400. OTLK...VFR. CNTRL AND E...AGL SCT040 BKN080 TOPS LYRD FL180. OCNL CIG OVC030. WDLY SCT -SHRA/-TSRA. TS TOPS FL450. TS POSS SEV. CNTRL BY 06-08Z SCT030 OCNL CIG BKN020. CONDS SPRDG ACRS RMNDR BY 11-13Z. OTLK...VFR. .
Issued 3 times per dayIssued 3 times per day 18-hr synopsis18-hr synopsis 12-hr forecast for visible 12-hr forecast for visible
en-route wx < FL450en-route wx < FL450 6-hr categorical outlook6-hr categorical outlook One text product per region One text product per region
(SFO, SLC, CHI, DFW, (SFO, SLC, CHI, DFW, BOS, MIA, AK, HI, Gulf, BOS, MIA, AK, HI, Gulf, Carrib)Carrib)
VMCs including clouds, VMCs including clouds, and general weather and general weather conditionsconditions
Low Level Significant Wx
Graphics product issued four times per day (00, 06, 12, 18Z) Frz levels, turb, low ceilings, and MVFR/IFR condition Surface forecasts of fronts and precipitation Intended for briefing the VFR pilot Covers the 48
contiguous states, southern Canada and the coastal waters for altitudes below 24 kft
Each 4 panel chart is divided on the left and right into 12 and 24-hr forecasts
Collaborative Convective Forecast Product (CCFP)
Collaborative graphical forecast of convection at 2/4/6 hrs
Convection is defined as a polygon of at least 3,000 mi2
CCFP covers the contiguous 48 states and portions of Ontario and Quebec south of 48 degrees north latitude.
Coverage of at least 25% with echoes of at least 40 dbZ and at least one ET > 25 kft
International Products
World Area Forecast CenterWorld Area Forecast System (WAFS)
WAFS Supported by Two World Area Forecast Centers (WAFCs)
Developed by ICAO and the WMOTo improve the quality and consistency of enroute
guidance provided for international aircraft operations.
WAFC – WashingtonWAFC – London
International Operations BranchInternational Operations Branch
Global graphicsGlobal graphics High level graphics - FL250 – FL630High level graphics - FL250 – FL630 Mid level graphics – FL100 – FL180 Mid level graphics – FL100 – FL180
Oceanic SIGMETsOceanic SIGMETs TurbulenceTurbulence IcingIcing ThunderstormsThunderstorms Volcanic ashVolcanic ash Tropical cyclonesTropical cyclones
Area Forecasts for the Gulf of Mexico and Area Forecasts for the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribeanthe Carribean
Significant Weather ForecastsSignificant Weather ForecastsHigh Level GraphicHigh Level Graphic
• Covers FL250 - FL630
• Worldwide forecast
• 24 hour forecast for:
Jet StreamsThunderstormsTurbulenceTropopause HeightsActive VolcanoesTropical Cyclones
Mid Level Significant Weather Mid Level Significant Weather GraphicGraphic
Jet Streams
Thunderstorms Turbulence Trop Hts Volcanoes Tropical
Cyclones Icing
Covers FL100 – FL450 over the North Atlantic region
Oceanic SIGMETsOceanic SIGMETs
ThunderstormsThunderstorms
Tropical Tropical CyclonesCyclones
Severe Icing & Severe Icing & TurbulenceTurbulence
Dust & Sand Dust & Sand StormsStorms
Volcanic AshVolcanic Ash
WSNT10 KKCI 051409SIGA0JTJZS SIGMET JULIETT 1 VALID 051405/052005 KKCI- SAN JUAN FIR VOLCANIC ASH FROM SOUFRIERE HILLS WI 20 NM EITHER SIDE OF LINE 1618N06300W 1550N06345W. TOPS TO FL070. ASH MOV SW 25KT. NC. BASED ON SATELLITE OBS AND LATEST ADVSRY. OUTLOOK 06/0205..NC.
Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Area ForecastsArea Forecasts To Support Helicopter To Support Helicopter
OperationsOperations CloudsClouds VisibilityVisibility ThunderstormsThunderstorms Rain/FogRain/Fog WindWind
4,000 Operating Oil 4,000 Operating Oil PlatformsPlatforms
30,000 personnel living on 30,000 personnel living on oil platformsoil platforms
600 Helicopters600 Helicopters 1.3 Million flights 1.3 Million flights
annuallyannually
International Flight Folder Program
Since 10/1/98 the AWC has provided meteorological information to operators and flight crews for:Dispatch planningPre-flight briefingEn-route guidance
Wind/temp forecasts, SIGWX, TAFs, METARs, AIRMETs, and much more all available by fax and/or internet
AWC faxes about 40,000 charts per month!
Web Services
Aviation Digital Data Service Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)(ADDS)
ADDS.AviationWeather.govADDS.AviationWeather.gov Free publicly accessible web site Free publicly accessible web site Full range of meteorological data products tailored to Full range of meteorological data products tailored to
aviation needs.aviation needs. TAFs and METARs in both text and graphical formatTAFs and METARs in both text and graphical format Winds/TempsWinds/Temps SatelliteSatellite RadarRadar Model forecastsModel forecasts Interactive Java ToolsInteractive Java Tools International Flight Folder dataInternational Flight Folder data Much more!Much more!
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughFlight Path ToolFlight Path Tool
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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughFlight Path ToolFlight Path Tool
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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughFlight Path ToolFlight Path Tool
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Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolMain ScreenMain Screen
Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolZoom in on SEZoom in on SE
Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolAdd AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and PIREPsAdd AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and PIREPs
Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolCross Section Between SHV and MEMCross Section Between SHV and MEM
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughTranslated TAFs and METARsTranslated TAFs and METARs
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughTranslated TAFs and METARsTranslated TAFs and METARs
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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughTranslated TAFs and METARsTranslated TAFs and METARs
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite
Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite
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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite
The Future
What Does the Future Hold?What Does the Future Hold?
Consolidated Aviation Web Services (CAWS)
Aviation Weather Testbed
AWIPS 2
NEXTGEN
CWSU Consolidation