My recommendation is to use Microsoft Power Point Presentation
program and create a slide for each of the below categories.
Specifically using the National Weather Service site
www.weather.gov
/ www.nws.noaa.gov.
The site should be intuitive in finding related categories.
Be mindful that in Alaska and other areas of data sparse
observational date, long term forecast (more than 24 –
48 hours) are not near as accurate and should be approached
with more caution the further one looks into the forecasted
area.
Slide 1
- Current Surface Chart
This chart will depict where Low and High pressures and
frontal boundaries are located in proximity to your mission
area, and will be a good warning for what inclement weather
is coming your way.
Slide 2 – Marine
forecast
Local Marine forecast is a pinpoint (or almost like a spot)
forecast produced by the most local NWS briefers for a particular
area. This localized marine forecast takes into account
micro weather and any other local effects, which the larger
surface charts do not show. Also – be each zone is
different from one another. For example, when looking at
the Gulf of Mexico and preparing a brief for Mobile, AL
to Gulfport, MS -- this is a huge area and you will need
to incorporate each marine forecasted zone into the report
– there are three zones and all under different weather
influences. This is where having the current surface chart
comes in handy…you will be able to easily connect
the zones pictorially.
Slide 3 – Local
Observations
You can obtain an observation from a multitude of places.
Through the NWS “observations” usually links
to a Automated Surface Observation Station or ASOS. For
marine observations, the National Buoy Data Center http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
is an excellent source.
Slide 4 – current
Satellite image
Although not intuitive to the untrained eye, by looking
at the previous 3 slides, current surface chart, localized
marine weather and localized observations, the briefer should
get a good idea of what the “white” means on
the satellite image.
A quick lesson: The white is reflectiveness
from water vapors. The whiter the image appears, the wetter
the white indicates, and will be associated with either
a Low pressure or a frontal boundary. Whereas conversely,
when the other portions of the satellite image appear dark;
the dark is indicative of high pressure and lack of any
frontal activity. The darker the drier.
NOTE >> This does not
make a briefer a qualified interpreter of a satellite image,
as there are MANY other important elements a training eye
(meteorologist) can learn by thorough examination of a satellite
image.
Slide 5 – Sea
State
Due to our service operating in coastal area, displaying
an image of sea state within the operational area paramount
for situational awareness, especially with regarding asset
environmental limitations.
Slide 6 –
Other Environmental Hazards
When brief for situational awareness for operational weather,
the general perception of “meteorologist” is
they “know” everything about science! –
Yes, this is an interest, and not necessarily correct misleading
notion, but something that needs preparation when providing
an ‘environmental brief’.
Other items to consider
when briefing the slides:
- Synoptic Surface Chart
-
1 - What is upwind (whats coming)
2- Where are the air masses and associated fronts
3- Whats happening in my state (or mission area)
4-What does the public forecast / Marine forecast say
5- What does the "Forecast Discussion" say
6- Lastly what does the forecasted surface charts depict
(24 hours chart)
The following is a sample list of
information that can be added to a operation weather brief
to make it releavant:
1) Impact of weather on mission effectiveness
and success
2) Moon data and sunrise / sunset data
3) Local tidal times / feet height fluctuations
4) Any other environmental hazards which could impact mission
Extra Credit
5) Be prepared to address significant environment events
from around the world, such as hurricanes, earthquates,
major volcanoe eruptions from other locations. -- People
like to konw.