Marine Professional Development Series            

• PCU 4: Interpret Marine Data, and Provide Marine Products
               and Services
  
  
  Producer: Joe Phillips (NCEP/OPC)
  
  Description of Job Competency to be Achieved:
  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.
  • Core Instructional Components (Core Instructional Components develop the most important skills needed by NWS marine forecasters and form a solid foundation of training.)
    • IC from Skill 1.2 [CORE for all]: Describe how remotely-sensed wind and wave data compliments other available marine observational data (e.g. buoy, ship, and land-based stations). [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Polar Orbiting Satellites and Microwave Data") (COMET Module)
    • IC from Skill 1.2 [CORE for all]: State which satellite-based wind sensors provide surface wind speed data (wind speed and wind speed/direction (vector)) [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Microwave Product and Application Examples - 1" (COMET Module)
    • IC from Skill 1.2 [CORE for all]: State the atmospheric conditions when wind vectors may be compromised. [TRAINING] "Remote Sensing of Ocean Wind Speed and Direction: An Introduction to Scatterometry" (Section 6: Accuracy and Rain Contamination") (COMET Module)
    • IC from Skill 1.2 [CORE for all]: Understand the basics of how ASCAT Works. [TRAINING] "ASCAT Winds" (VISIT web-based video, parts 5-6).
    • IC from Skill 1.2 [CORE for all]: Assess strengths and weaknesses of ASCAT Wind Retrievals, including comparison to previous QuikSCAT sensor. [TRAINING] "ASCAT Winds" (VISIT web-based video, parts 12-17, 25-26, and 30.)
    • IC from Skill 1.2 [CORE for all]: State the amount of time to allow from the end of ASCAT data sampling until it appears in AWIPS. [TRAINING] "ASCAT Winds" (VISIT web-based video, part 22).
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: HFO/CPHC Marine Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: OPC Marine Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: Marine Weather Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: Storm Surge Guidance Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: NHC/TAFB Marine Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: TAFB Marine Weather Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: HSU Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.1 [CORE]: Storm Surge Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.2 [CORE for all]: High Seas Forecast [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.2 [CORE for all]: Atlantic Offshore Forecast [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.2 [CORE for all]: Pacific Offshore Forecast [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.2 [CORE for all]: Gulf, Carribean and Tropical Atlantic Offshore Forecast [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 2.2 [CORE for all]: WFO Coastal Water Forecast [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.2 [CORE for all]: USCG HF [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.2 [CORE for all]: USCG MF [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.4 [CORE]: The JCOMM, WMO, and the U.S. Responsibility [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.7 [CORE for all]: OPC Mobile site [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.7 [CORE for all]: NHC Mobile site [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.7 [CORE for all]: NWS Marine Portal [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.7 [CORE for all]: NHC GIS Products [REFERENCE]
    • IC from Skill 3.7 [CORE for all]: OPC Experimental GIS Products [REFERENCE]
  • Ability 1. Understand and apply marine weather observations to marine analysis and forecasting.
    • Skill 1.1. Access and understand marine weather data from buoys and C-MAN stations (wind, wave, and other significant marine weather conditions).
      • IC: List and be familiar with the major types of buoys used by NDBC [REFERENCE].
        http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/mooredbuoy.shtml
      • IC: Understand basically how buoy and C-MAN data flows into the data stream used by NWS [REFERENCE].
        http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/cman.php
      • IC: Know how to obtain real-time data via NDBC's web resources [REFERENCE].
        http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/realtime.shtml
      • IC: Know where to find descriptions of the measurements and units used by NDBC for marine observations [REFERENCE].
        http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/measdes.shtml
    • Skill 1.2. View and understand available satellite-based wind data.
      • IC [CORE for all]: Describe how remotely-sensed wind and wave data compliments other available marine observational data (e.g. buoy, ship, and land-based stations). [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Polar Orbiting Satellites and Microwave Data") (COMET Module)
      • IC [CORE for all]: State which satellite-based wind sensors provide surface wind speed data (wind speed and wind speed/direction (vector)) [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Microwave Product and Application Examples - 1" (COMET Module)
      • IC [CORE for all]: State the atmospheric conditions when wind vectors may be compromised. [TRAINING] "Remote Sensing of Ocean Wind Speed and Direction: An Introduction to Scatterometry" (Section 6: Accuracy and Rain Contamination") (COMET Module)
      • IC [CORE for all]: Understand the basics of how ASCAT Works. [TRAINING] "ASCAT Winds" (VISIT web-based video, parts 5-6).
      • IC [CORE for all]: Assess strengths and weaknesses of ASCAT Wind Retrievals, including comparison to previous QuikSCAT sensor. [TRAINING] "ASCAT Winds" (VISIT web-based video, parts 12-17, 25-26, and 30.)
      • IC [CORE for all]: State the amount of time to allow from the end of ASCAT data sampling until it appears in AWIPS. [TRAINING] "ASCAT Winds" (VISIT web-based video, part 22).
      • IC: Explain the fundamental difference between active and passive remote sensing. " [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Active vs. Passive Microwave Remote Sensing" (COMET Module)
      • IC: Describe the general spatial and temporal coverage characteristics of microwave observations taken by low earth-orbiting satellites. [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Polar Orbiting Satellite Operations; Polar Satellite Orbits") (COMET Module)
      • IC: Define data latency and why it occurs. [TRAINING] "Microwave Remote Sensing: Overview, 2nd Edition" (Section: "Polar Orbiting Satellite Operations; NOAA Polar Orbiting Satellite Data Latency" (COMET Module)
    • Skill 1.3. Understand satellite altimetry and how the data can be applied to marine meteorology and oceanography.
      • IC: Briefly describe the basic principles of satellite altimetry. [TRAINING] "Jason-2: Using Satellite Altimetry to Monitor the Ocean" (Section: "Introduction; Satellite Altimetry"). (COMET Module)
      • IC: List near real-time parameters provided by Jason-2's Operational Geophysical Data Record (OGDR). [TRAINING] "Jason-2: Using Satellite Altimetry to Monitor the Ocean" (Section: "Jason-2 Services; Realtime Services") (COMET Module)
    • Skill 1.4. Appropriately utilize High Frequency (HF) Radar data in the marine forecast process.
      • IC: Access and interpret the HF Radar Sea Surface Current Product in AWIPS-2. [TRAINING] "AWIPS-2 HF Radar Sea Surface Current Product" (FDTD Lesson)
  • Ability 2. Understand Individual Product Definitions
    • Skill 2.1. Classify Routinely Issued WFO, OPC, and NHC Products.
      • IC [CORE]: HFO/CPHC Marine Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: OPC Marine Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: Marine Weather Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: Storm Surge Guidance Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC: Ocean Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: NHC/TAFB Marine Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: TAFB Marine Weather Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: HSU Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE]: Storm Surge Products [REFERENCE]
    • Skill 2.2. Outline the differences between coastal waters, offshore, and high seas forecasts.
      • IC [CORE for all]: High Seas Forecast [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: Atlantic Offshore Forecast [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: Pacific Offshore Forecast [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: Gulf, Carribean and Tropical Atlantic Offshore Forecast [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: WFO Coastal Water Forecast [REFERENCE]
    • Skill 2.3. Understand the guidance role of the National Centers and their warning AORs.
    • Skill 2.4. Identify non-routinely issued products and the circumstances when they would be issued.
    • Skill 2.5. Comprehend automated, derived products, i.e. NDFD - Point and Click Forecast vs. Zone.
    • Skill 2.6. Become Familiar with types of custom products, such as HAZMAT/OR&R Response and Spot Forecasts.
      • IC: Deepwater Horizon Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC: Arctic Weather Support Portal [REFERENCE]
  • Ability 3. Comprehending the Dissemination Network.
    • Skill 3.1. Understand the functionality and limitations on NOAA ALL Hazards Weather Radio.
    • Skill 3.2. Comprehend the role of medium and high frequency (MF/HF) radio and the relationship with the USCG.
      • IC [CORE for all]: USCG HF [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: USCG MF [REFERENCE]
    • Skill 3.3. Become Familiar with the radiofax schedules.
    • Skill 3.4. Understand the importance of Safety Net, its association with GMDSS, and role in message dissemination.
      • IC [CORE]: The JCOMM, WMO, and the U.S. Responsibility [REFERENCE]
    • Skill 3.5. Assess the role of NAVTEX.
    • Skill 3.6. Understand the role and functional design of FTP Mail.
    • Skill 3.7. Explore the utility of the internet and other developing technologies (e.g. mobile devices) in the role of dissemination.
      • IC [CORE for all]: OPC Mobile site [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: NHC Mobile site [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: NWS Marine Portal [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: NHC GIS Products [REFERENCE]
      • IC [CORE for all]: OPC Experimental GIS Products [REFERENCE]