MetEd: Meteorology Education and Training. Operated by the COMET Program

Description:
This presentation by Dr. Eve Gruntfest raises important issues of how floods and other disasters, including land-falling hurricanes and their related warnings, affect public attitudes and actions. Awareness of these social science considerations is important for persons responsible for public weather warnings as well as other types of public interaction.

Estimated time to complete: 30 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2001-03-26

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Description:
Hazardous weather affects us all. To help local emergency managers cope with weather hazards they may face, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) offer a course titled Hazardous Weather and Flooding Preparedness. However, many people who make weather-related decisions are unable to attend this 2-3 day course.

The purpose of this Web-based course, Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk, is to provide background on weather and weather hazards for emergency managers and other decision makers. This course is intended to complement on-site courses offered by FEMA and NWS, so that they can focus on local hazards and community risk factors.

This course covers:

• Weather: How and why it forms
• Hazardous weather: Fact sheets on different phenomena
• Forecasting weather: The forecast process and products issued by the NWS
• Warning Partnership: How the NWS and emergency managers generate and communicate warnings
• Desktop Exercise: An opportunity to apply what you have learned in a flash flood scenario

FEMA Independent Study credit is available for those who complete the course and pass the exam. The subject matter experts for Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk are Randall C. Duncan, CEM - Sedgwick County (KS) Emergency Management, Bob Glancy - NWS, Bob Goldhammer - Polk County (IA) Emergency Management, Curt Nellis - County of Shenandoah (VA) Department of Fire and Rescue, John Ogren - NWS, and Bruce Sterling - Portsmouth (VA) Emergency Management.

Objectives:
• Explain basic processes that cause and/or signal hazardous weather
• List the main weather hazards and the factors that determine community risk
• Describe the basic weather forecasting process and its limitations
• Discuss various techniques for communicating information about weather hazards
• Distinguish which NWS forecast products are appropriate in various situations
• Analyze various source of information about a weather hazard and formulate a plan for dealing with a potential disaster

Estimated time to complete: 4-5 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2001-03-08

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Description:
During this presentation, Dr. Brad Colman (NOAA/NWS) covers both the philosophical and methodological approaches to weather forecasting in general, with a special emphasis on challenges introduced in areas of complex terrain. The insightful comments made by the presenter regarding recommended approaches to applying conceptual models, mesoscale model output, and decision trees in the forecast process are useful to anyone who predicts the weather.

Objectives:
• Review the forecast process.
• Become aware of the challenges of forecasting in the diverse terrain of the Western U.S.
• Review the characteristics of mesoscale circulations.
• Describe the impact of complex terrain on simple geostrophic flow.
• Compare and contrast objective and subjective forecasting techniques.

Estimated time to complete: 35 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2003-12-22

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Description:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS) annually hold courses, called An Introduction to Hurricane Preparedness, at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The number of students who can attend every year is far less than the number of people who are involved in making decisions during hurricanes.

The purpose of this computer-based course, Community Hurricane Preparedness, is to provide emergency managers and decision makers who cannot attend the course with basic information about:

• How hurricanes form
• The hazards they pose
• How the NWS forecasts future hurricane behavior
• What tools and guiding principles can help emergency managers prepare their communities

Community Hurricane Preparedness is not intended to take the place of the Miami course or other courses sponsored by FEMA and/or state agencies. However, it will provide a good background for those who have not yet attended those courses.

The subject matter experts for Community Hurricane Preparedness are Max Mayfield – NWS, William Massey – FEMA, Dr. Robert Smith – FEMA, John Wilson – Lee County Division of Public Safety, and William Winn, Jr. – Beaufort County Emergency Management Department.

Objectives:
• Describe the basic processes and factors that contribute to the development, growth and demise of a hurricane
• Identify the parts of a hurricane
• List ways in which meteorologists monitor hurricane development
• Describe hazards from hurricanes
• Discuss the basic hurricane forecasting process and its limitations
• Analyze various source of information about a hurricane and formulate a plan for dealing with the potential disaster

Estimated time to complete: 4-5 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 1999-12-10

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Description:
This Webcast, presented by Dr. Marty Hoerling of NOAA/CIRES/Climate Diagnostic Center, discusses the impacts of El Niño and La Niña variability on both North American and tropical weather. The presentation shows that these two phenomena are not simple inverses of each other and that anticipating their varying intensities is key to making successful climate forecasts. Two other ocean impacts that affect North American climate almost as strongly as ENSO are also introduced.

Estimated time to complete: 40 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2003-05-02

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Description:
This is a foundation module in the Mesoscale Meteorology Primer series. Topics covered include an overview of factors that control whether air will go up and over a mountain or be forced around it, the role of potential and kinetic energy, the Froude number and what it tells you, and air flow blocked by topography.

Objectives:
Terminal Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe how flow interacts with topography.
2. List the factors that determine the interaction.

Enabling Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. List the factors that determine the interaction of flow with topography.
2. Describe the Froude number in terms of wind speed, wind direction, static stability, and mountain height.
3. Describe flow interactions with a long, straight mountain ridge for high-Froude-number and low-Froude-number flows.
4. Recall how flow responds to a single, tall mountain.
5. List the factors that determine the upstream distance that flow will be affected by topography.

Estimated time to complete: 30 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2001-01-01

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Description:
The FORMOSAT-3 (Taiwan's Formosa Satellite Mission #3)/COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate) mission involves deployment of six satellites. Using the radio occultation technique, these satellites will interact with GPS satellites and Earth systems to gather data on our planet’s atmosphere. This mission not only has great value for weather, climate, and space weather research and forecasting, but also geodesy, gravity research, and other applications. Assimilation schemes are being developed to effectively integrate the data into existing operational weather forecasting models.

Objectives:
After completing the module the learner will be able to:

1) Describe the history of radio occultation.
2) State the principle of radio occultation and why it is so effective for Earth.
3) Describe the inversion of radio occultation data and the information derived.
4) State how radio occultation data has been validated with other data sources.
5) Describe the advantage of the open-loop versus phased-locked-loop tracking method.
6) State how radio occultation aids in the measurement of the planetary boundary layer.
7) List significant satellite missions and explain their contributions to radio occultation.
8) Describe the main features of the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC mission.
9) List the payloads of FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC mission and describe what each does.
10) Explain how radio occultation will help monitoring and forecasting of weather.
11) Explain how radio occultation will help monitoring and forecasting of climate.
12) Explain how radio occultation will help monitoring and forecasting of space weather.
13) Describe the responsibilities of the CDAAC in the processing and flow of data.
14) Explain how and where to get archived or real-time radio occultation data.

Estimated time to complete: 75 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2006-07-07

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Description:
The goal of this training module is to help you increase your understanding of how mesoscale models work. Such understanding, in turn, can help you more efficiently and accurately evaluate model-generated forecast products.

Objectives:
Terminal Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe how mesoscale models work
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different NWP models

Enabling Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe the benefits and limitations of mesoscale NWP models.
2. Describe the relationship between grid spacing and model resolution for NWP models.
3. Describe the pros and cons of increasing model resolution
4. Describe hydrostatic balance and how hydrostatic NWP models differ from non-hydrostatic NWP models
5. Define Eta, sigma, and pressure vertical coordinates schemes and describe their respective advantages.
6. Define parameterization and describe the benefits of its use in NWP models
7. List at least 3 processes that are typically parameterized.
8. Describe limited area model (LAM), spin-up, and warm start, and how they are all related.
9. Describe the benefits and limitations of a warm start.

Estimated time to complete: 30 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-04-22

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Description:
This collection of four condensed physics lessons is offered as a companion to our Physics of the Aurora: Earth Systems learning module, and has been developed especially for use by university physics educators. The lesson topics are Charged Particle Motions, Magnetic Force, the Frozen-field Theorem, and Static Atmospheres. Each short, self-contained lesson can be accessed independently and includes interactive formula derivations, exercises, and open-ended questions suitable for classroom discussion or out-of-class assignments.

Estimated time to complete: 1-2 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2004-12-28

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Description:
This website provides an overview of factors that affect the ignition and spread of wildfire. Information is presented with 3-dimensional graphics and animations as well as audio descriptions and commentary provided by a fire behavior expert. You don't need extensive background in fire science or weather forecasting to use this site.

Estimated time to complete:

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-08-21

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Description:
Chapter 10, Tropical Cyclones, is the third published chapter of the online textbook, Introduction to Tropical Meteorology. Tropical cyclones are the deadliest tropical weather systems. This chapter describes their seasonal and geographic variability and controls, decadal cycles, and history of naming conventions. Tropical cyclogenesis is explored in depth and the core and balance solutions for regions of the cyclone are examined. Intensity is considered in terms of inner-core dynamics, large-scale environmental controls, limits on potential intensity, satellite interpretation techniques, and classification by wind speed. Factors that influence motion are investigated. Extratropical transition is described in terms of structural changes, preceding mechanisms, and impact on high latitudes. Societal impacts and mitigation are also covered.

Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, you should understand and be able to:

* Describe tropical cyclone global climatology (where and when they form, where most form, least, or none form)
* Identify distinguishing features of tropical cyclones (eye, eyewall, spiral bands, surface inflow, upper outflow)
* Identify inner core features such as eye-wall vortices
* Describe ingredients needed for formation or genesis (including subtropical genesis)
* Define the stages of a tropical cyclone lifecycle (wave, depression, tropical storm, tropical cyclone, severe tropical cyclone, decay)
* Using satellite remote sensing, describe how you could detect changes in intensity of tropical cyclones
* Describe the links found between inner core dynamics and changes in cyclone structure and intensity
* Describe the mechanisms that influence tropical cyclone motion from its precursor tropical wave to its landfall in a midlatitude continent
* Describe various mechanisms that lead to extratropical transition
* Describe the hazards of tropical cyclones particularly those at landfall (storm surge, heavy rain and floods, strong winds, tornadoes, ocean waves) and understand the basic mechanisms for each type of hazard

Estimated time to complete: 5 h

Includes audio: no

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2008-08-21

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Description:
Chapter 3: Tropical Remote Sensing Applications, is the first published chapter of the online textbook, "Introduction to Tropical Meteorology." It covers remote sensing—the primary method of observing weather and climate across the global tropics. Learners will become familiar with the scientific basis and applications of radar and satellite remote sensing from examples in which clouds and precipitation are observed by measuring microwave signals using ground-based radar, spaceborne radar, and satellite radiometers. Wind estimation, dust and volcanic ash tracking, vertical sounding techniques, and remote measurement of sea-surface, soil and land surface properties are also covered. The online textbook has many special features, including individual chapter review questions and quiz, topic focus sections, direct access to operational forecasting topics, box sections that elaborate on theoretical concepts, links to resources for further study, critical thinking questions interspersed throughout the text, icons that identify resource links and critical thinking exercises, and science biographies.

Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, users should understand and be able to describe:

* Why remote sensing is important in the tropics
* Several tropical applications of ground-based radars
* The advantages and limitations of airborne and spaceborne radar
* Several tropical meteorology applications of satellite radar and microwave remote sensing
* The benefits and weaknesses of satellite estimates of water vapor content
* How GPS satellite signals are used to derive temperature and humidity profiles and how this benefits tropical meteorology
* The benefits and weaknesses of satellite precipitation estimates
* How lightning is detected by satellite
* The benefits and weaknesses of satellite wind estimation
* Why microwave sensors are useful for identifying surface moisture
* How vegetation and other land use/land cover changes are monitored by satellite
* How meteorologically important features, such as cloud properties, are monitored with satellite imagery
* How satellites are used for air quality assessment, such as dispersion of volcanic ash, chemical pollutants, dust, and smoke

Estimated time to complete: 100-110 mins

Includes audio: no

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2007-08-31

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Description:
Chapter 5, Tropical Variability, is the fourth published chapter of the online textbook, Introduction to Tropical Meteorology. This chapter presents an overview of the major cycles dominating intraseasonal and interannual variability in the tropics. Characteristic atmospheric and oceanic patterns for each oscillation are presented and methods for tracking the evolution of these cycles are described. Observations and conceptual models of equatorial waves are presented. Classical solutions for equatorial waves are outlined and the effects of moisture on the expression of these waves are discussed. Since the tropics are not an isolated region of the globe, the impacts of these cycles on higher latitudes are also explored. In view of the recent interest on the effects of long-term climate variability, the potential role of multidecadal oscillations in modulating these shorter cycles is discussed.

Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, you should understand and be able to:
o Describe the basic structure and time scale of the MJO
o Discuss the mechanisms that form the MJO
o Explain the role of the MJO in atmospheric and oceanic variability
o Describe the general characteristics of equatorial waves (Kelvin waves, Rossby waves, Mixed Rossby-Gravity waves) including length scale, duration, and speed
o Explain equatorial wave formation mechanisms graphically or mathematically
o Describe the Walker Circulation
o Define the Southern Oscillation Index
o Describe ENSO in terms of onset, maximum amplitude, and duration
o Describe the previous and current theories of ENSO (from Bjerknes to recent theories such as the delayed oscillator theory or chaotic theory)
o Compare and contrast the warm phase (El Niño) and cold phase (La Niña) patterns in terms of atmospheric and oceanic anomalies across the equatorial Pacific
o Describe at least five climate impacts of El Niño (e.g., drought in Australia, heavy rains in Peru, more winter cyclones across the southern US and the Caribbean, less hurricanes in the Atlantic)
o Describe at least five climate impacts of La Niña (e.g., increased rainfall in West Pacific, drier winter in the southeastern US, wetter summers in the Caribbean and Central America)
o Define the Quasi Biennial Oscillation
o Describe its impact on tropical climate (e.g., influencing seasonal tropical cyclone formation)
o Provide a brief description of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and the North Atlantic Oscillation
o Describe at least one mechanism by which the tropics can force decadal extratropical variability in the North Atlantic and the North Pacific
o Describe at least one impact of decadal fluctuations on interannual and intraseasonal variability

Estimated time to complete: 2 - 3 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2009-03-19

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Description:
Chapter 6, The Distribution of Moisture and Precipitation, is the second published chapter of the online textbook, Introduction to Tropical Meteorology. Moisture and precipitation distribution governs life in the tropics. Surplus heating and rising motion in the tropics ignites the global water and energy cycles and influences weather in the midlatitudes. Chapter 6 presents the horizontal and vertical distribution of water vapor, tropical cloud formation and distribution, the lifecycle and precipitation characteristics of tropical mesoscale convective systems, and the variability of tropical precipitation on yearly, seasonal, and hourly time-scales. The online textbook has many special features including individual chapter review questions and quiz, topic focus sections, direct access to operational forecasting topics, box sections that elaborate on theoretical concepts, links to resources for further study, critical thinking questions interspersed throughout the text, icons that identify resource links and critical thinking exercises, and science biographies.

Objectives:
At the end of this chapter, you should understand and be able to describe:

* Why water vapor is important to weather and climate in the tropics
* The range and distribution of water vapor content in the tropics
* The distribution of evaporation and evapotranspiration rates in the tropics
* The formation of tropical clouds by convection
* The general pattern of cloud distribution in the tropics
* The typical profiles of potential temperature (Theta) and equivalent potential temperature (Theta-e) in the tropical atmosphere
* How the Saharan Air Layer and other dry intrusions changes the vertical distribution of moisture thermodynamic energy
* The concept of moist and dry static (thermodynamic) energy and its vertical distribution in the tropics
* How the vertical distribution of moist static energy varies with different modes of convection
* The differences between convective and stratiform rain in tropical mesoscale convective systems
* The effects of continental and maritime aerosols on tropical precipitation
* The geographic distribution of annual tropical precipitation and its variability
* The factors that influence the geographic distribution of tropical precipitation
* The seasonal distribution of precipitation in the tropics and unique regional patterns
* The differences between the diurnal cycle of tropical precipitation over land and over ocean, including the influential factors
* Unique characteristics of the diurnal cycle during the equatorial transition seasons (spring and autumn)
* The factors that influence the amount and location of rainfall on yearly and multi-year time scales

You should also be able to identify and describe:

* The factors that influence evaporation and evapotranspiration rates
* The dominant cloud types in the tropics
* The typical zonal and meridional distribution of cloud depth over the tropical oceans

Estimated time to complete: 1.5-2 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2008-03-19

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Description:
This Webcast, presented by Dr. Jim Moore of St. Louis University, covers the advantages and applications of diagnosis and visualization of large-scale flow and vertical motion on surfaces of constant potential temperature. The movement of moisture along these surfaces is emphasized, as is the diagnosis of the components of vertical motion. Background mathematical concepts are presented, then illustrated with soundings, cross sections, and plan view analyses of data from multiple cases.

Objectives:
1. Understand the concepts of pressure advection and system relative flow.

2. Understand dynamic destabilization and associated environmental moistening.

3. Diagnose static stability, upper fronts and CSI in this framework.

4. Examine at frontogenesis and transverse jet streak circulations on vertical cross sections with analyzed potential temperature fields.

5. Examine the components of vertical motion in an isentropic framework.

6. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of isentropic analysis.

7. Examine a wintertime case study utilizing isentropic analysis.

Estimated time to complete: 1 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-11-19

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Description:
This website provides access to the streaming presentations and PowerPoint source files for the 11 lectures delivered during the AMS Educational Forum “A Primer on Radar Analysis Techniques Used in Mesoscale Meteorology” held on 23 October 2005 in Albuquerque, NM. The presentations discuss how many advanced techniques for the analysis of meteorological radar data can be used to improve understanding of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of mesoscale circulations. The Forum was organized into four sections: 1) Microphysical Characterization of Precipitation Systems Using Dual-Polarization Radar Measurements, 2) Single Doppler Retrieval and Assimilation Techniques for Use in Mesoscale Models, 3) Analysis of Mesoscale Processes Using Wind Profiling Radars and Velocity Azimuth Display and 4) Airborne Doppler Radar Analysis of Tropical and Extratropical Mesoscale Systems.

Objectives:
The objective of the Forum was primarily to introduce graduate students to important radar analysis techniques as they are used in atmospheric science research with the goal of improving our understanding of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of mesoscale circulations. A basic, formal understanding of both radar and mesoscale meteorology is necessary to gain the most from the lectures. Each individual presentation is rated as either intermediate or advanced level content.

Estimated time to complete: 8 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2006-02-07

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Description:
This interactive learning module introduces the systems and processes through which the Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere are influenced by the sun, eventually leading to the magnificent auroral displays. Developed especially for university professors and students in the fields of physics and astronomy, this module includes sections on the history, lore, and science of the aurora, the magnetosphere, the thermosphere-ionosphere, basic electromagnetism, and upper-atmospheric physics.

Estimated time to complete: 2-6 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2004-12-28

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Description:
This Webcast features NWS forecaster Matthew J. Bunkers presenting the results of a study originally presented at the 19th AMS Conference on Severe Local Storms and published in the February 2000 issue of the AMS journal Weather and Forecasting. It is delivered as a streaming audio lesson with accompanying text and graphics.

In this presentation Mr. Bunkers presents a statistically superior method for predicting supercell motion regardless of the shape or location of the shear profile on the hodograph plot. The method is a modification of the method presented by Dr. Morris Weisman in the COMET Program CD module, Anticipating Convective Storm Structure and Evolution, and was developed based on 225 actual supercell events.

Estimated time to complete: 30 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 1999-06-10

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Description:
This module provides a basic understanding of how to plot and interpret hodographs, with application to convective environments. Most of the material previously appeared in the CD module, Anticipating Convective Storm Structure and Evolution, developed with Dr. Morris Weisman. Principles of Convection II: Using Hodographs includes a concise summary for quick reference and a final exam to test your knowledge. The module comes with audio narration, rich graphics, and a companion print version.

Objectives:
Terminal Objectives
1. By the end of this module you will be able to plot and use a hodograph to determine wind shear

Enabling Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Given a vertical profile of wind speed and direction, plot a hodograph on a polar coordinate chart
2. Describe how to use a hodograph to determine the vertical wind shear between two levels
3. Given a hodograph, determine the total magnitude of vertical wind shear, the mean shear direction, and the mean wind and storm motion from a hodograph

Estimated time to complete: 60 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2003-10-28

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Description:
This module discusses the role of wind shear in the structure and evolution of convective storms. Using the concept of horizontal vorticity, the module demonstrates how shear enhances uplift, leading to longer-lived supercell and multicell storms. The module also explores the role of shear in the development of mesoscale convective systems, including bow echoes and squall lines. Most of the material in this module previously appeared in the COMET modules developed with Dr. Morris Weisman. This version includes a concise summary for quick reference and a final exam to test your knowledge. The module comes with audio narration, rich graphics, and a companion print version.

Objectives:
Terminal Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to describe the influence that vertical wind shear has on convective storm behavior

Enabling Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe how and where interaction between a thunderstorm outflow (the cold pool) and the environmental wind shear lead to enhanced uplift and formation of new convective cells
2. Describe the vertical wind shear conditions that maximize the uplift along the downshear edge of the cold pool
3. Describe the origin of updraft tilt in a convective cell
4. Describe the different vertical shear characteristics for supercell storms and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs)

Estimated time to complete: 60 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2003-11-18

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Description:
In this module, Wes Junker, retired Senior Branch Forecaster at NCEP/HPC provides an introduction to Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting, as well as two presentations targeted at QPF issues for the conterminous U.S. (1) east of the Rockies and (2) in and west of the Rockies.

Objectives:
Introduction

1. Recall the three main factors to use when composing a QPF.
2. Explain which meteorological factors affect the quantitative part of QPF.
3. Identify meteorological factors that affect precipitation intensity.
4. Apply pattern recognition skills for anticipating precipitation.
5. Anticipate the influences to QPF from both synoptic and mesoscale processes.
6. Use soundings and the associated instability measures in QPFs.
7. Explain the mechanisms of cell movement and propagation.
8. Identify important impacts on QPF from propagation characteristics.
9. Anticipate how jet dynamics may influence precipitation amount and distribution.
10. Understand some of the unique aspects of tropical systems when composing QPF.

East and West of the Rockies

1. Understand the meteorological processes that occur with the Maddox type events (synoptic, frontal, mesohigh, western types).
2. Recall the climatology of heavy rainfall events for your area.
3. Explain how theta-e is used in forecasting heavy precipitation.
4. Anticipate how terrain impacts heavy precipitation events.
5. Recall the general differences between warm- and cool-season QPF.

Estimated time to complete: 120 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2007-11-01

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Description:
It is the first streaming video Webcast released by the COMET Program. This interactive and entertaining presentation serves as a helpful reminder of the problems that can plague rain gauge performance including specifics regarding the widely used ASOS rain gauge. The material is suitable for anyone who deploys gauges or routinely uses precipitation gauge data.


A version of this Webcast that can be installed on your computer for local playback is also provided.

Estimated time to complete: 40 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2001-02-05

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Description:
This Website was developed for undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory earth or atmospheric science course. It is designed to supplement lecture and textbooks. Its goal is to make you a better consumer of weather information by providing dynamic graphics, animations, and science content about remote sensing, visible and infrared satellite imagery, and hurricanes. As part of the module, you will apply what you've learned by exploring recent hurricanes through satellite imagery. When you have completed this module, you should be able to view satellite imagery in a typical weather forecast on TV or the Web and recognize the importance of some features.

Estimated time to complete: 2 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 1998-01-12

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Description:
This module provides insight into how nearshore circulation and wave dynamics are involved in rip current formation. Topics covered in this module include: nearshore terminology, circulation and waves, rip current characteristics, and rip current forcing mechanisms. This module is the second of three modules covering the forecasting of rip currents.

Objectives:
After completing the module users will be able to:

• Describe the various zones, bathymetry features, and currents of the near shore environment.
• Describe shallow water, near shore process.
• Describe rip current characteristics.
• Describe rip current forcing mechanisms.

Estimated time to complete: 40 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2004-12-13

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Description:
This lecture was presented during the ongoing workshops on Climate Variability that are part of the NWS Climate Professional Development Series. During the presentation, Dr. Sardeshmukh presents statistical evidence that demonstrates the impact that climate variability has on weather. The Webcast has an accompanying bibliography and climate glossary.

Estimated time to complete: 50 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2003-02-26

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Description:
Meteorologists typically examine atmospheric soundings in the course of preparing a weather forecast. The skew-T / log-P diagram provides the preferred method for analyzing these soundings. This module comprehensively examines the use of the skew-T diagram. It explores thermodynamic properties, convective parameters, stability assessment, and several forecast applications. The module is designed for both instruction and reference. It also comes with an interactive Web-based skew-T diagram that calculates several common forecast parameters.

Objectives:
Module Goal
The goal of this module is to teach the novice forecaster to effectively use the skew-T/log-P diagram. After completing the module, they should be able to read and interpret a sounding plotted on a skew-T/log P diagram and apply that information to a weather forecast.

Performance Objectives

1. Given a skew-T/log-P diagram, identify and describe the various lines.


2. Given a sounding plotted on a skew-T/log-P diagram:




• Read or calculate the thermodynamic properties at various levels.


• Determine the convective levels, including the LCL, CCL, LFC, MCL, EL, and MPL.


• Determine stability indices such as LI, SSI, KI, TT, and SWEAT and use them to assess the potential for severe weather.




3. Describe how CAPE and CIN are determined.


4. List and describe the different types of stability and identify them in a sounding plotted on a skew-T diagram


5. List and describe the different types of lapse rates and relate them to stability.


6. List and describe processes that alter stability and give examples of common cases where those processes occur.


7. Given a suitable synoptic environment and a sounding plotted on a skew-T/log-P diagram, interpret the sounding with regard to common forecast problems.

Estimated time to complete: 6-8 h

Includes audio: no

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2006-10-04

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Description:
This Webcast is a recreation of a presentation on slantwise convection given by Kent Johnson in February, 2002 in Boulder, Colorado. It focuses on assessing the release of conditional symmetric instability as slantwise convection. It provides an overview of the characteristics and theory of CSI, assessment of CSI and slantwise induced precipitation in complex terrain, and operational challenges to assessing CSI.

Objectives:
1. Show that the atmosphere can be intertially and gravitationally stable, but unstable to a slantwise displacement when near or at saturation.

2. Demonstrate the vertical-cross section approach in diagnosing the potential for conditional symmetric instability (CSI).

3. Examine ways to improve forecasts that involve a potential slantwise convection situation.

4. Examine the typical characteristics of CSI in complex terrain.

5. Apply a slantwise convection analysis to a real world situation.

Estimated time to complete: 40 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-06-17

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Description:
This Webcast presents an overview of the processes of space weather, its impacts on the Earth and human activities and the technologies used for forecasting space weather events. The Webcast goal is to provide NWS forecasters a basic understanding of space weather and the operations of NOAA's Space Environment Center (SEC). It will be of interest to a general audience as well.

Objectives:
1. Identify the correct sequence of phases in the life cycle of a star.

2. State three types of space weather events. Describe their characteristics
and effects.

3. Describe the general pattern of sunspot migration during its 11-year
cycle.

4. State the characteristics of plasma.

5. List three types of solar energy release and describe their
characteristics.

6. Describe and explain the shape of the earth's magnetosphere, and describe
its role in space weather events.

7. State the space environment monitors used in GOES and POES satellites.

Estimated time to complete: 25 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2005-11-11

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Description:
This Webcast, is an expert lecture by Dr. Vernon Kousky of NOAA/CPC, entitled "The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Cycle". The presentation covers the identification and global weather impacts associated with both phases of ENSO. This version of the presentation has enhanced graphics and has been modified to include an introduction to the newly established “Operational Niño Index” (ONI). A forecaster who attended the original classroom presentation on The ENSO Cycle had the following to say... “[This lecture was the] best presentation of the workshop! Very comprehensive, from the basics to the more complex issues, easy to follow, and great use of graphics. The presenter did an excellent job of relating the presentation topics to forecasters.”

Estimated time to complete: 30-35 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2003-10-23

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Description:
This Webcast, is an expert lecture by Dr. Roland Madden, where he describes the important climate-moderating feature, the Madden-Julian oscillation which is known more commonly as the MJO. The Webcast is presented in five sections and covers the identification and variability of the MJO. He also introduces some of the many global weather impacts that are associated with MJO occurrences. A forecaster who attended the original classroom presentation had the following to say…“This [lecture] was really the best yet! And hearing it from the "father" of the MJO made it so much better. It was so easy for me to empirically relate my years of observing the weather to this cycle. I am convinced this is where we
can make the money in the improvement of 2 to 4 week forecasts in the next several years.”

Estimated time to complete: 42 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-11-08

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Description:
This Webcast, presented by Dr. Klaus Weickmann of NOAA/CIRES/Climate Diagnostic Center, explores the role that the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) plays in global climate variability. The expert lecture is divided into five sections, which give a short overview of the phenomenon, discuss its relationship with sea surface temperatures, compares composite MJO events to individual occurrences, and touches on the ability of models to predict MJO events.

Estimated time to complete: 37 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-11-08

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Description:
This Webcast, recorded in 2003, is an expert lecture by Dr. Kevin Trenberth of NCAR’s Climate and Global Dynamics division. The presentation includes evidence that the atmosphere is changing, discussions on global energy flows and human factors contributing to change, and concludes with predictions for the future. This version of the presentation has enhanced graphics and links to additional resources. One of the students who attended the original classroom presentation on Climate Change commented that, “Kevin thoroughly discussed global warming and what it really is. I now have a better understanding of the problem.”

Estimated time to complete: 42 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2004-06-14

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Description:
In this Webcast, Dr. Schultz outlines the subtle and often confusing issues surrounding conditional symmetric instability. Material is then presented to encourage the meteorological community to properly apply these concepts to diagnose actual regions of CSI and apply that knowledge to forecasting banded precipitation. Avenues for future research are also discussed.

This lesson is based on an article of the same name that appears in the Dec.1999 issue of the AMS journal, Monthly Weather Review. In response to feedback, a version of this Webcast that can be installed on your computer for local playback is also provided.

Objectives:
1. Point out pitfalls so that they don't continue to be perpetuated

2. Illustrate some deficiencies in our understanding of CSI

3. Recommend operational uses of CSI that are consistent with our current state of knowledge

4. Encourage future operational research explorations

Estimated time to complete: 30 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2000-01-07

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Description:
This module describes the phenomena of the sea breeze. It examines factors that lead to the formation of a sea breeze, modifying effects on sea breeze development, how mesoscale NWP models handle sea breezes, and sea breeze forecast parameters. The module places instruction in the context of a sea breeze case from Florida and compares surface and satellite observations to a model simulation using the AFWA MM5. Like other modules in the Mesoscale Meteorology Primer, this module comes with audio narration, rich graphics, and a companion print version.

Objectives:
Terminal Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to describe how and why, when and where sea breezes occur

Enabling Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe when and where sea breezes form
2. Characterize the sea breeze in terms of strength and horizontal and vertical extent
3. List the principle factors that affect sea breeze formation
4. List the sensible weather associated with formation and passage of a sea breeze front
5. Describe the use and limitations of NWP model simulations of sea breezes.
6. Describe how satellite imagery can assist in detecting sea breezes

Estimated time to complete: 1 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2002-12-12

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Description:
This is a foundation module in the Mesoscale Meteorology Primer series. Topics covered include up- and downslope breezes, up- and down-valley winds, associated hazards, and forecasting techniques. Like other modules in the Mesoscale Meteorology Primer, this module comes with audio narration, rich graphics, and a companion print version.

Objectives:
Terminal Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe how, why, when, and where mountain/valley breezes occur.
2. List the forecast concerns and aviation hazards associated with mountain/valley breezes.

Enabling Objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to do the following:
1. Describe when and where mountain/valley breezes form, including their diurnal cycle.
2. List the forecast concerns and aviation hazards associated with mountain/valley breezes.
3. Describe the processes that lead to slope winds.
4. Describe how topography may affect mountain/valley breezes.
5. Describe how satellite imagery can assist in detecting mountain/valley breezes.

Estimated time to complete: 30 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
 * Plug-in information

Last published on: 2002-06-28

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Description:
This module helps students gain a basic understanding of the elements of the hydrologic cycle. Making use of illustrations, animations, and interactions, this module examines the basic concepts of the hydrologic cycle including water distribution, atmospheric water, surface water, groundwater, and snowpack/snowmelt.

Objectives:
Develop an understanding of the elements of the hydrologic cycle with the goal of making effective use of data sources and tools for forecasting

Introduction to Hydrologic Cycle:
Define the key features of hydrology and the hydrologic cycle
Name the components of the hydrologic cycle
Describe the basic concept of the Accounting Budget Approach for hydrology

Distribution:
Recognize the four main forms in which water is stored and distributed in the hydrologic cycle
Describe the key features of ocean water
Define the key features of surface water
Define groundwater and describe its key components

Atmospheric Water:
Identify the key processes in atmospheric water
Describe the significance of condensation and precipitation. Identify key methods and tools used in measurement.
Define evaporation and the key methods and tools for measurement. Describe the issues that complicate measurement process.
Define transpiration and describe its role in the rainfall-runoff process
Describe the varied rates of transpiration for different surface vegetation types

Surface Water:
Define the key processes associated with surface water: Infiltration, Soil Moisture, and Runoff
Identify the factors influencing infiltration
Describe the elements of soil composition
Describe possible soil conditions and how they affect infiltration
Define runoff and describe the use of the hydrograph in measuring it
Describe the elements of runoff

Groundwater:
Describe the importance of groundwater for the hydrologic cycle
Describe the characteristics of different types of aquifers
Define recharge
Describe natural and artificial recharge methods
Define withdrawal and describe its effects on a water table

Snowpack and Snowmelt:
Describe the critical role of snow and ice in the hydrologic cycle
Define snow water equivalent, and identify factors affecting snowmelt rate
Describe the key steps in the snowmelt process

Estimated time to complete: 1.5-2 h

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
 * Plug-in information

Last published on: 2005-11-07

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Description:
This module features an audio and visual tour of sites affected by the Fort Collins, Colorado urban flood that occurred on 28 July 1997. The tour is led by Matthew Kelsch and includes eyewitness accounts of that night's events from John Weaver. This interactive virtual field trip module summarizes many of the important common aspects of flash floods occurring in urban environments.

Estimated time to complete: 60 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2001-05-24

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Description:
This is the second in a series of training modules on marine wind and waves. The first module discussed wave types and characteristics and is a good primer to this next marine training topic. Wave Life Cycle I: Generation examines how wind creates waves and the inter-relationships between wind speed, wind duration, and fetch length during this process. These three factors are important to predicting wave height and what will limit wave growth. Additional topics include fully developed seas, observation sources, and various special wind events such as coastal jets and instability mixing in the marine boundary layer. While much of this instruction is at a basic level, all marine forecasters will find benefit in the more intermediate and advanced topics. These include the issue of dynamic or “trapped” fetch as well as the use of satellite-based observations of marine winds using the active microwave technique known as scatterometry. User interactions are included throughout the module and within the short case study. The next module in the series will look at propagation and dispersion as the waves leave the generation area.

Objectives:
After completing the module users will be able to:
- Describe how wind generates waves, including how wind speed, fetch length, and duration interact to affect the wave growth process.
- Use a wave nomogram to manually estimate wave height.
- Describe the remote sensing and numerical prediction tools that aid forecasting of wave generation.
- Describe fully developed seas.
- List in situ as well as remote sensing sources of wind observations and describe their capabilities.
- Recall some of the various special wind events such as coastal jets and instability mixing in the marine boundary layer that affect wave generation.
- Describe the issue of dynamic or "trapped" fetch.

Estimated time to complete: 60-90 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
 * Plug-in information

Last published on: 2005-07-14

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Description:
The goal of the module is to enable a marine forecaster to manually predict how the wave height and period will change as the waves leave their generation area, become swell, and then propagate and disperse into the forecaster’s offshore coastal waters. While numerical wave prediction models can provide swell height and period forecasts, they are dependent on accurate wind forecasts by atmospheric prediction models. Therefore, manual skills in determining swell height and period are needed in order to cross-check or correct model predictions in cases of poor or unresolved model forecasts of winds. The module starts by discussing how swell propagate along great circle tracks and how these tracks will look different on various map projections. With this in mind the concept of developing a known “swell window” for a given location is introduced. Next, the module uses conceptual animations to demonstrate the effects of dispersion on the swell group as it propagates over a long distance. Also discussed are nonlinear processes, wave steepness, travel time, event duration, and opposing winds. Then the module explains how swell height changes due to angular spreading of wave energy and provides a simplified method to calculate this change. Finally, users are able to test their new understanding of these concepts through a short exercise where they are asked to determine swell height and period at multiple locations. User interactions are included throughout the module and within the short exercise. This is the third in a series of training modules on marine wind and waves. It follows the “Wave Types and Characteristics” and “Wave Generation” modules.

Objectives:
1.State the difference between seas and swell.
2.Recognize that waves propagate along great circle tracks and that these tracks look different on various 2-dimensional map projections.
3.Consider the effects of diffraction around barriers in forecasting swell heights.

4.Identify the effects of dispersion on a wave group, including:
a. waves become sorted by wave period
b. longer period waves outrun shorter period waves
c. swell height and steepness decrease
d. the wave group expands in space
e. the time it takes the entire wave group to pass a point increases

5.Explain how significant swell period can lengthen over time due to nonlinear interactions and dispersion, while individual swell period is conserved.

6.Given initial swell period, propagation distance, and fetch width, use a nomogram to forecast the change in significant swell period due to dispersion of a wave group.

7.Given initial or final swell period, propagation distance, and fetch width, use a swell travel time chart to forecast the time a swell to begin to impact a destination.

8.Using a swell travel time chart, forecast the length of time a wave group will affect a coastal area.

9.Given significant wave height for waves propagating in the central direction of a fetch area, forecast the decrease in significant wave height due to angular spreading for locations up to 70 degrees off the central direction of the wave group.

Estimated time to complete: 60 min

Includes audio: yes

Required plug-ins:   Flash RealPlayer Java Adobe® Reader®
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Last published on: 2006-01-12

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