PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

  • Ensure candidates are adequately prepared for study of basic meteorology and have a fundamental understanding of complementary subjects as outlined in the BIP-MT requirements
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of general atmospheric variables, physics and dynamics relevant to tropical meteorological operations
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of tropical weather/climate features and their global role
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of the weather-forecasting process, from analysis to verification

Learning Objectives
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Syllabus
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A communications systems training unit is incorporated into the Pacific Desk training program.  The intent of this section is to introduce communication options to the Pacific Desk participants and provide practical set-up and operations documentation.

  • Content Management Systems (e.g. Drupal, WordPress)
  • Basic Satellite Communications using the RAPIDCast system (Pacific RANET system for Emergency Operations and Remote Data Collection and Reporting)
  • GSM SMS Servers for data collection and reporting applications
  • Chatty Beetle instruction and maintenance

PREREQUISITES

There are approximately 15 hours of facilitated prerequisites, to be completed prior to attending the on-site training. Prerequisite material is available online or distributed on USB drives as a low-bandwidth option. Assessments and discussion forums are conducted online.

To prepare for the four-week program in Honolulu or Guam, candidates must complete the following modules. This introductory study of tropical meteorology serves as the background for the in-person program, which focuses on data interpretation and forecasting techniques.

The modules can be viewed online or offline. Quizzes following all modules must be completed with a passing score before candidates are considered for the in-person Pacific Desk training program. Quizzes are only available online, and require free registration on COMET’s MetEd website. At registration, be sure to use NOAA.PacificDesk+COMET@gmail.com as the Supervisor/Instructor Email (also available at the “Your Account” link after registration) so that progress through the pre-requisite modules is recorded. Quizzes may be repeated until a passing score is earned.

ON-SITE TRAINING PROGRAM

The four-week course in Hawaii is held at the NWS Honolulu Forecast Office on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus (NWS Guam Forecast Office for Guam). Trainees come as a cohort of two to four persons (5 for Guam), ideally from one or two NMSes, and the practical instruction will take the characteristics and phenomena of their area of responsibility (AOR) into consideration. Instruction methods include interactive lectures, hands-on activities, frequent assessments and checks for understanding and participation in forecast office activities and external site visits.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

PRIOR TO THE ELEARNING PREREQUISITE COURSE:

  • Completion of one (1) virtual session with the Pacific Desk

PRIOR TO ON-SITE TRAINING:

  • Completion of a Meet and Greet teleconference/virtual session with the Pacific Desk
  • Completion of the eLearning Prerequisite Course, including interaction facilitated by a Pacific Desk Instructor

DURING THE ON-SITE TRAINING:

  • Completion of program activities and assignments, including quizzes, exercises, journals, and forecast logs
  • Site visits to observation sites and affiliated agencies (e.g. International Tsunami Information Center, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, rain gauge sites, etc.)
  • Shadow NWS forecast shifts
  • Create weather and marine forecasts for home country, as well as areas of significant weather across the Pacific basin
  • Conduct a weather forecast presentation
  • End of program evaluation

PRIOR TO THE COMMUNICATION TRAINING:

  • Completion of two (2) virtual sessions with the Pacific Desk Instructor

DURING THE COMMUNICATION TRAINING:

  • Completion of program activities and assignments
  • Setup satellite communications using the RAPIDCast System
  • Receive GSM SMS messages
  • End of program evaluation