SR SSD 2000-04
1-2000

Technical Attachment

International Training: Application of NWP Products

Shawn P. Bennett
SOO, NWSO Brownsville, Texas

(Ed. Note: Below is the text of Shawn's trip report following his involvement in an international training seminar in the Republic of Singapore. Shawn was asked to participate because of experience he gained while at NWSFO San Juan with some of the systems described below. Also while at San Juan, Shawn provided a considerable amount of international training in conjunction with the NWS Headquarters International Affairs staff.)

I participated as a lecturer in the UN/WMO sponsored "Regional Training Seminar on Operational Post-Processing Techniques for Applications of NWP Products" in Singapore, December 6-10, 1999. I was the only member of the United States delegation. The seminar was coordinated on behalf of the WMO by Mr. Joel Martellet. Dr. Woon Shih Lai, Director of the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) and Permanent Representative to the WMO from Singapore, Mr. Sim Choon Siong, head of the MSS Administration and International Relations, hosted and directed the seminar. Participants came from Cambodia, China, DPR Korea [North Korea], Fiji, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Iran, Kazakstan, Macau (China), Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea [South Korea], Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam. Lecturers came from Australia, Canada, France, United States, and WMO. Lectures were conducted entirely in English without translation. A list of participants and lecturers is attached.

The training was divided into nine topical sessions:

1) Short recap on numerical weather products.

2) Theory of statistical interpretation techniques.

3) The Global Data Processing System (GDPS) and its products.

4) Simple post-processing.

5) Implementation and experience with statistical adaptation.

6) Verification and evaluation of NWP products.

7) Transport and dispersion models.

8) Other post-processing techniques.

9) Panel discussion on implementing objective interpretation and verification.

In addition, there was a visit to the Singapore Meteorological Service offices located at the Changi International Airport.

I gave two lectures and led a laboratory session on PC-GRIDDS. In Session 3 I talked about the status of World Area Forecast System (WAFS) products available via the ISCS. Some of the countries represented, namely Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, and Phillippines, have recently received their VSAT and WAFS workstation, and they expressed an eagerness to get the system functioning in operations. Mr. Worwor of Vanuatu expressed a desire to have me come and provide on-site WAFS training. I suggested he ask his Permanent Representative to the WMO to make that request formally to the WMO. In Session 4 I showed how PC-GRIDDS could be used in operations and training.

In preparation for my lectures and laboratory session, I installed PC-GRIDDS on the six PCs which were set up in the hotel seminar room by the MSS. During the laboratory session I worked through some skill development exercises that provided hands-on experience with PC-GRIDDS for each participant. I also provided each participant with PC-GRIDDS instructions and help sheets, Web links to data files, example macros, and a CD-ROM copy of the software. The participants were quite enthusiastic about taking PC-GRIDDS home and using it. PC-GRIDDS will now be used in meteorological offices across Asia and the Western and South Pacific, especially given the increasing speed and accessibility of the NCEP AVN grib files via the Internet, not to mention the access to these grib data via WAFS and the ISCS broadcast.

Overall, I believe this training seminar was well received and quite beneficial to the participants. It was apparent from their questions and through the interaction by the participants with the lecturers that many of those attending had not received training on this subject matter before. Thus, I'm sure it was a valuable learning experience, which hopefully will be translated into improved operations and training in the meteorological services of each of the participating countries.

It was an honor and privilege for me to participate as a lecturer and to represent the United States, DOC, NOAA, and the National Weather Service at this international seminar. One of the goals of Vision 2005: the NWS Strategic Plan for Weather, Water and Climate Service is to promote the open exchange of data and information worldwide by increasing U.S. participation in international activities, and by supporting international education efforts and technology transfer. I believe my participation in the Singapore seminar has furthered the goal of exercising global leadership, and I look forward to the next opportunity to be of service.

List of Participants

WMO Regional Training Seminar on Operational Post-Processing Techniques
for Applications of NWP Products
Republic of Singapore, December 6-10, 1999

Lecturers: