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Commerce Learning Center

Hydrology Professional Development Series (PDS) 1 : Provide Hydrologic Services

PDS Statement of Responsibility : Provide pertinent hydrological services to make relevant decisions to protect life and property in support of the nation's economic well-being.

Description of the Area of Responsibility : Provide hydrologic and hydrometeorological services, data and information, and river flow/stage forecasts and flood/flash flood warnings to support the decision-making process of internal and external hydrologic customers. Partners and users depend on these products to make decisions related to navigation, water management, floodplain management, ecosystem management, recreation, etc. Those partners and users include federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, private entities, and the general public.

PCU 2: Monitor and assess the hydrologic and hydrometeorological environment to identify specific threat areas


Producers:

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs):
HAS Forecaster(s) - Holly Reckel, NCRFC & Kyle Lerman, CNRFC
Senior Service Hydrologist - Jason Elliot, WFO LWX
Warning Coordination Meteorologist - Jay Breidenbach, WFO BOI

Description of Job Competency to be Achieved :
Analyze, assess, and assemble hydrometeorological and hydrological information to be used within the hydrologic forecast process. Evaluate data against predefined thresholds and forecasts. Utilize information to evaluate a need for action during the forecast and/or warning process.

Description of Need :
Identifying important features in the hydrometeorological environment will allow staff to focus on specific threat areas within the area of responsibility. Assessing the spatial and temporal evolution of the environment can improve decision-making skills by allowing the individual to better judge the potential severity of anticipated hydrologic conditions.

Abilities/Performance Elements:

Ability 1.
Identify and assess critical hydrometeorological and hydrologic patterns, conditions, and climatology.
    Skill 1.1.
    Assess the current office status for an occurring or imminent hydrometeorological event by identifying and using the following items:
    • Identify your office's “situational awareness” procedures for general and/or hydrologic events and monitor known high risk locations
    • Identify current Watches, Warnings, or Advisories in place for CWA/HSA
    • Identify locations under surveillance for potential dam or high-impact levee failure
    • Identify locations currently experiencing major or record flooding
    • Identify locations with critical low stage/flow issues (exposed water intakes, etc.)
    • Identify locations where previous shift (WFO or RFC) is awaiting a critical forecast or river stage
    • IC Title: Hydro Time Series - Hydro Time Series Graph > Scale Stage > Data and Categories
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User HydroView 101
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Identify locations where flash flooding or rapid rise in stage is occurring or anticipated this shift
    • IC Title: Warning Operations Using FFMP
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Urban Flooding: It Can Happen in a Flash!
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Choosing Your Precipitation & Guidance Sources
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Identify locations where areal flooding is occurring or anticipated
    • Identify river locations forecast to rise above or fall below Flood Stage this shift
    • IC Title: WHFS User HydroView 101
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User Hydro Time Series
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User River Monitor
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Use (Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System (AHPS), HydroView, Time Series, and similar national or local apps to locate stations with observed river stage above Action or Flood Stage
    • IC Title: WHFS User HydroView 101
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Assess media interest in this situation
    • Assure data is current from multiple data sources within the potential impact area, including sources that are both
      • internal - AHPS webpages, XNAV, XDAT, Time Series, HydroView, etc.
      • external Federal - USGS NWIS and WaterWatch pages, USACE RiverGages.com, USBR Agrimet / Hydromet / Project webpages, etc.
      • external - Other - State / County / Local / Utility / River Authority webpages or data received via LDAD
    • Assess areal coverage of an event
    • IC Title: Warning Operations Using FFMP
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Assess additional staffing considerations and accurately document decisions and discussion
      • Identify the major hydrometeorological drivers of concern
      • heavy rain
      • snowmelt
      • ice jam or ice formation
      • reservoir releases
      • levee failures
      • upstream flooding
      • combination of the above
      • drought and low flows
    • Assess predominant meteorological forcings
    • IC Title: Synoptic-Scale Pattern Recognition
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Ingredients-Based Methodology
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Other Events That Trigger Flash Flooding
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Flash Flood Meteorology in the West
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Atmospheric Rivers
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: Dec 2018
    • IC Title: Flash Flood Meteorology
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
      • synoptic-scale patterns
      • tropical impacts
      • mesoscale features
      • moisture influx
      • warm air advection/wind/snowmelt, etc.
    • Identify navigation suspension due to high or low flows
    • Identify the climatic context of the current hydrometeorological conditions
    • IC Title: Ensemble Situational Awareness Table: NAEFS Anomaly & Percentile Data
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Ensemble Situational Awareness Table: GEFS M-Climate Data
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/Location: https://doc.csod.com
      • hydrologic perspective (season, frozen ground, recent wet or dry periods, seasonal snowpack or snowmelt, etc.)
      • meteorological perspective (persistent ridge/trough, extended drought or wet regime, maritime/tropical moisture plumes, temperature patterns, percent of normal precipitable water, etc.)
    Skill 1.2.
    Identify Local Office Procedures, Programs, and/or Scripts to assist in hydrometeorological Situational Awareness

    Skill 1.3.
    Identify specific requirements from Local Hydrologic Services Manual and any other local office document outlining duties and requirements


Ability 2.
Analyze point and remotely-sensed data to assess hydrometeorological/hydrologic conditions.
    Skill 2.1.
    Evaluate data reports to ensure high quality data for operational and climatological use.
    • Understand your role in quality control program defined by NWS, regional and local policy.
    • Use available tools to assess precipitation point and spatial data and correct as required (HydroView, XDAT, Time Series, CoCoRaHS webpage, etc.)
    • IC Title: WHFS User Introduction to Hydrology Software in AWIPS
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Rain Gauges: Are They Really Ground Truth?
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User Hydro Time Series
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User HydroView 101
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Use Automated Flood Warning Systems where available
    • Evaluate and analyze remotely-sensed data
      • Radar-estimated precipitation
    • IC Title: Precipitation Estimates, Part 1: Measurement
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Precipitation Estimates, Part 2: Analysis
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Flash Flood Meteorology
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Choosing Your Precipitation & Guidance Sources
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: High-resolution Precipitation Estimator (HPE) and Bias HPE
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Interpreting QPE Bias Information in AWIPS
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Analyze snow data: snowfall, snow water equivalent, snow depth
    • IC Title: Snowpack and Its Assessment
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Evaluate temperature data such as daily maximum and minimum used in hydrologic models
    Skill 2.2.
    Integrate hydrologic data analyses from multiple data sources to support river flood operations.
    • Use available tools to check and correct river data
    • Refer to PCU2 > Ability 2 > Skill 2.1 for related ICs
    • Reference HADS (Hydrometeorological Automated Data System) to identify data issues
    Skill 2.3.
    Integrate hydrometeorological data analyses from multiple data sources to support flash/areal flood operations.
    • Use available tools to assess and monitor the flash flood and areal flood threat
    • IC Title: Warning Operations Using FFMP
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: High-resolution Precipitation Estimator (HPE) and Bias HPE
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Introduction to the High-Resolution Precipitation Nowcaster (HPN)
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: FLASH Model-Derived Products
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: FLASH Comparison Products
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Introduction to Average Recurrence Intervals (ARIs)
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Using Average Recurrence Intervals (ARIs) in AWIPS
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Web-Based Tools for Flash Flooding
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Using Virtual Gauge Basins (VGBs) in FFMP
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User River Monitor
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com


Ability 3.
Assimilate real-time and forecast conditions to prioritize and coordinate staff actions.
    Skill 3.1.
    Determine existing hydrologic forecast / product workload
    • Evaluate whether additional forecasts are currently needed and determine how many forecast groups are affected based on areal coverage of the event.
    • Identify your office's "situational awareness" procedures for general and/or hydrologic events
    Skill 3.2.
    Determine additional hydrologic forecast / product workload potential based on additional forecast precipitation, snowmelt, etc.
    • Evaluate whether future forecasts may be needed (due to QPF, snowmelt, etc.) and determine how many forecast groups are affected based on areal coverage of the event.
      • Assess forecast uncertainty and sensitivity
      • Assess sensitivity of the hydrologic response to changes in QPF/Freezing Level forecasts by running contingency forecasts
    • Assess uncertainty using ensemble forecasts
    • IC Title: Using the Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast Service (HEFS)
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Introduction to Ensemble Streamflow Prediction
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Analyze additional factors that could affect hydrologic model performance, such as antecedent conditions and early-season precipitation


Ability 4.
Monitor data and conditions throughout the operational period to continuously re-evaluate products and services.
    Skill 4.1.
    Assess and maintain situational awareness of current and forecast river conditions.
    • Identify current Watches, Warnings, or Advisories
    • IC Title: WHFS User River Monitor
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User Hydro Time Series
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Detect locations with rapidly rising or high river levels and/or streamflow
    • IC Title: WHFS User HydroView 101
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User River Monitor
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    Skill 4.2.
    Assess and maintain situational awareness of current precipitation status
    • Utilize remotely-sensed precipitation estimates
    • IC Title: Flash Flood Meteorology
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Choosing Your Precipitation & Guidance Sources
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: High-resolution Precipitation Estimator (HPE) and Bias HPE
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Interpreting QPE Bias Information in AWIPS
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Utilize Satellite Precipitation Estimates
    • IC Title: Precipitation Estimates, Part 2: Analysis
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Precipitation Estimates, Part 1: Measurement
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Utilize ground-truth information from all potential sources, including cooperative observers, spotters, the mesonets, and automated weather stations
    • IC Title: Rain Gauges: Are They Really Ground Truth?
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Combine remotely sensed precipitation estimates and ground truth to determine radar bias and accuracy of estimates
    • IC Title: Choosing Your Precipitation & Guidance Sources
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Interpreting QPE Bias Information in AWIPS
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Precipitation Estimates, Part 2: Analysis
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Winter Weather Precipitation Type Nowcasting
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    Skill 4.3.
    Assess and maintain situational awareness of current areal/flash flood conditions.
    • Identify current Watches, Warnings, or Advisories in place
    • IC Title: Hydro Products Decision Tree
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Flash Flood Emergency Overview
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    Skill 4.4.
    Compare current conditions to forecasts and guidance.
    • Evaluate river flooding
    • IC Title: WHFS User River Monitor
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: WHFS User Hydro Time Series
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • Evaluate areal/flash flooding
    • IC Title: Warning Operations Using FFMP
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
    • IC Title: Choosing Your Precipitation & Guidance Sources
    • Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
    • URL/location: https://doc.csod.com


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