Welcome to the FY12 Hydrology Learning Plans

The FY12 Hydrology Learning Plan is a collection of training materials located in the NWS Learncenter. Being enrolled in this collection automatically enrolls learners in a number of important courses.

Note: For:  NWS Regional Training Managers  (September 28, 2011): The Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services (OCWWS) Training Division is providing this training guidance memorandum to assist all Regional Training Managers in developing Regional training plans. (From the FY2012 Training Guidance Memorandum

Click the tabs below to learn more or read the background information below.

  • Purpose
  • Objectives
  • Plans
  • Assigning Learning Plans

In order to meet regional hydrologic training requirements, the NWS LearnCenter Development Plans listed under the "Plans" tab are recommended by the OCWWS Hydrologic Services Division and the Regional Hydrology Team (RHT).

The purpose of this collection is to increase the knowledge and enhance the professional judgment of WFO operational staff who issue hydrologic products and provide hydrology-related decision support services.

Target Audiences: WFO forecasters, WFO Hydrologic Program Managers, RFC hydrologists

Approximate Duration: 20-25 hours for WFO Forecasters, 35-40 hours for HPMs, 15-20 hours for RFC Forecasters.

Upon completion of the identified selections, the Staff will be able to:

  • achieve the course-specific objectives outlined in each of the courses
  • achieve a basic level of knowledge in hydrologic science
  • understand the relationship of their operational forecast and warning functions within the larger NWS hydrologic service program
  • provide effective decision support and effective intra-agency and interagency coordination on hydrologic topics
  • gain knowledge of the flow of key hydrologic data, guidance products, and forecast products
  • achieve basic command of several key WHFS applications on AWIPS
  • achieve basic command of the FFMP-Advanced application on AWIPS
  • achieve basic command of additional software depending on the role (WFO Forecaster, HPM, RFC Forecaster)

FY12 Hydrology Training for WFO Forecasters: This training addresses Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF), hydrologic science fundamentals, provides river forecast and flash flood case studies, and covers basic AWIPS hydrology software for the WFO forecaster.   wfofcstr_course_list

FY12 Hydrology Training for WFO Hydrology Program Managers: This training addresses QPF, hydrologic science fundamentals, provides river forecast and flash flood case studies, and delivers basic AWIPS hydrology software. Also addressed are advanced hydrologic and hydraulic concepts, modeling and hydrologic ensembles.   hpm_course_list

FY12 Hydrology Training for RFC staff: This training covers QPF and Quantitative Precipitation Estimator (QPE), dam failure, hydraulics and the St. Venant equations, distributed hydrologic models, hydrologic ensembles, verification and use of the Graphics Generator.  rfcfcstr_course_list

Assigning Learning Plans on the NWS LearnCenter(SOO's and DOH's only):

Open the attached jobsheet for instructions on assigning a Learning Plan in the NWS LearnCenter.

Type in FY12 Hydrology in the Filters > Name/Description box to limit the list of available plans.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Background:  The RHT was tasked in FY2011 with developing a replacement for the Hydrology Correspondence Course (last updated 1997).  The RHT Field Requirements Team (RHT-FRT) consisted of experienced members from several WFOs and Hydrology Focal Points from the Regions, and facilitated by Rick Koehler of the Forecast Decision Training Branch (FDTB) and Dave Cokely from NWSTC for the Training Division.  Given limited time and resources, the RHT-FRT worked to identify existing coursework that can meet the objectives identified for an updated course. 

At the same time, the FDTB developed three Learning Plans to accommodate the suggested FY12 training as proposed in the FY12 Annual Training Guidance Memo.  The RHT-FRT made some suggestions to modify the Learning Plans above to better meet the target audiences.

The result is that the old Hydrology Correspondence Course (paper version) is replaced by the FY12 Hydrology Training for WFO Forecasters Learning Plan.  Along with the Learning Plans for RFC Forecasters and for Hydrology Program Managers, these online Learning Plans are now available to all offices and can be tracked in the NWS LearnCenter.

The Learning Plans are available for use by local offices.  The guidance for using them will remain under the direction of each Region and of course under the MIC/HIC of each local office.