All MSTs >>
currently there is NO OFFICIAL MST Weather qualification
or competency besides MST04 "Flight Weather Forecaster."
My intentions are simple…within
the CG there is an intrinsic need for an understanding of
which basic meteorological resources are best suited for
supporting our [CG] missions. In my limited observation
- based on my scope of knowledge, primarily within the MST
and now the aviation missions, is having one generalized
PQS which address the below requirements is need to fill
this needed gap in a vital competency.
• Where to obtain
credible operational meteorological data (NWS)
• What operational meteorological data is important
to brief, specifically relating to operational limitations
of Coast Guard assets in support of all 11 missions.
Since the internet has
made many meteorological resources available [almost to
the point of making what is simple, vastly more complex],
I have created [suggested to key people within the MST rate]
that we organize our view of these resources by having a
weather competency {already created},
or added qualification of how to read and interpret basic
surface weather.
How can we make this
happen…
1) Sending me feedback, I put positive feedback
on the site, and pass along to MSTCMRF.
2) Letting our MST Rating Manger know you would think this
competency is indeed helpful to the rate and the CG as a
whole,
3) Discussions within the MSTHub.com
Lastly, keep in mind,
these things take time. During the next MST rate Job Survey,
make your desire for weather known and that it IS NEEDED.
Jeff
Putting Science back in the rate
August 16, 2009
About
the Weather
MSTCM Frank Prekel
Rating Training Master Chief
Marine Science Technician School
TRACEN Yorktown
After nearly 13 years, weather
has returned to the world of work of the Marine Science Technician.
In the past, The MST weather curriculum was driven by the
need to provide a multi altitude and destination flight briefing
to aviators and to provide a complete synoptic observation
every three hours. In those days, we focused on upper level
isobaric analyses to report what was going to happen to the
surface weather in the next 12, 24, 36 hours and to tell pilots
where to watch for icing or clear-air-turbulences.
Today MSTs need practical weather to support of our missions
and responsibilities when responding to events within the
port. MSTs don't need the hard science that is meteorology
we need the practical, direct and specific science of weather.
The access to weather data and
competed analyses is easier now than ever before. In the day,
we depended upon manually analyzed data that was transmitted
by a wet fax. A special communication connection and special
fax paper – that had to dry before the printout was
useful. And, any color enhancement to speed interpretation
and presentation had to be done by hand by the recipient.
Today, with the internet and a moderate amount of knowledge,
world class materials are available and, everything is already
colored, too.
The scope of the new weather
curriculum is limited to weather issues and effects within
the continental United States. The material does not dive
into the differences between the southern and northern hemispheres.
Nor do we discuss the differences between weather forecasts
and issues outside the mid-latitudes.
Below are the “working lesson objectives” for
the previously promised weather materials that, due to personal
and professional problems and complications, are arriving
far later than originally promised. The final objectives will
vary slightly but in only becoming more specific and precise.
Work is underway on a self-paced written course that is being
done on a “as space and time are available” basis
as other as other training matters are being addressed.
The readings noted below are from …
For a complete list
of books giving a better understanding of Operational Weather
see my recommended book.
Weather for the
Mariner
by William J. Kotsch, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired),
published 1983 by the Naval Institute Press
(ISBN: 0-87021-756-9).
Also of value for reference and much less in price are … Golden Book of Weather,
by Paul Lehr, R. will Burnett and Harry McNaught ),
published 2001 by the Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press
(ISBN: 9-78158-238-1596)
and the Weather Spotters Guide,
by Phillip Clark,
published 2006, Osborn Spotters Guides from EDC Publishing
(ISBN: 9-78079-451-3658).
All three books very good, but
Weather for the Mariner blurs the lines between “practical
Weather” and “the science of meteorology”,
the book is a very good read and is entertaining at times
but like any college professor the Admiral can get very long
in the tooth about the topics that interest him.
The other two books are written in straight forward manner
with multiple color drawings. These books cover everything
an MST needs to know about weather with the exception of the
purely CG issues about heavy weather, hurricanes and the policy
that govern the service’s role during such events.
Weather for the
MST Outline
-- 01FEB08 revision --
The Navy Aerographer Mate manuals should help with answering
any questions regarding the below topics. Choose the most
applicable chapter for online reference to your below question.
Once on the TPub site, there is a local google search.
Or click here for within site
links Jeff!
1.Climate
and Seasons
Reading from Weather for the Mariner •
Climate – pages 48-49 • Seasons
– pages 34 to 37 Lesson Objectives
• LIST the climatic
zones present on the Northern Hemisphere. •
IDENTIFY the extents of the climatic zones
present on the Northern Hemisphere. •
DESCRIBE the characteristics of the climatic
zones present on the Northern Hemisphere. •
STATE the characteristics of the seasons that
effect North America. • STATE
the cause of the seasons that effect North America.
2. Air Masses
Reading from Weather for the Mariner •
pages 101 to 119 • Chapter 6
Lesson Objectives •
LIST the air masses that effect the Northern
Hemisphere. • IDENTIFY
the source regions for the air masses that effect the Northern
Hemisphere. • DESCRIBE
the characteristics of the air masses that effect the Northern
Hemisphere.
3. Air and Clouds
Reading from Weather for the Mariner •
pages 107 to 110 Lesson Objectives DESCRIBE the behavior of air in the atmosphere. DESCRIBE the effect on a parcel of air as it
rises in the atmosphere. DESCRIBE the behavior
of a parcel of warm air in the atmosphere. DESCRIBE
the behavior of a parcel of cold air in the atmosphere. DESCRIBE the effect on a parcel of air as it
encounters an inversion. DESCRIBE the behavior
exhibited by a parcel of air that is described as being “stable”. DESCRIBE the behavior exhibited by a parcel
of air that is described as being “unstable”. STATE the type of clouds created in stable
air. STATE the type of clouds created in
unstable air.
4. Fronts
Reading from Weather for the Mariner •
Chapter 7 Lesson Objectives STATE the reason for the depiction of fronts
on a weather map. IDENTIFY the symbol used
to identify the following types of fronts: •
Cold Front • Warm Front •
Occluded Front • Stationary Front DESCRIBE the vertical structure of the following
types of fronts: • Cold Front
• Warm Front •
Occluded Front • Stationary Front DESCRIBE the weather that may be along the
following types of fronts: • Cold
Front • Warm Front •
Occluded Front • Stationary Front
5. Pressure Centers
Reading from Weather for the Mariner •
Chapter 5 Lesson Objectives STATE the reason for the depiction of pressure
centers on a weather map. IDENTIFY the
symbol used to depict the following pressure centers: •
High • Low DESCRIBE
the air flow associated with the following pressure centers:
• High •
Low DESCRIBE the weather associated with
the following pressure centers: •
High • Low
6. Major Phenomenon
Lesson Objectives DESCRIBE what happens when an air mass undergoes
orographic lifting. DESCRIBE the weather associated with lake
effect snow. DESCRIBE the weather associated with land/sea
breezes. DESCRIBE what happens to local weather when
a cyclonic wave forms. DESCRIBE the events that lead to the formation
of a thunderstorm. DESCRIBE the nature of the weather associated
with a hurricane.
7. Data Sources
Lesson Objective
• Using commonly available sources of weather data,
DETERMINE the effects of current and forecasted weather during
a response operation.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new weather
material give me a call (look up in "Global").
MSTCM Frank Prekel June 2, 2008
