August 27, 2009August 27, 2009Ryan SolomonRyan SolomonTechniques Development MeteorologistTechniques Development Meteorologist

The Aviation Weather The Aviation Weather Center from FL100Center from FL100

Outline

Virtual tour of the AWC

Products and services

ADDS

The future

Weather Affects Aviation?

FedEx Planes Avoiding Thunderstorms

Virtual Tour of the AWC

Who is the AWC?

DOCNOAA

NWSNCEP

AWC

AWCOne of Nine NCEP Centers

AWC PersonnelAWC Personnel

38 Forecasters38 Forecasters9 Support Staff9 Support Staff7 Management Staff7 Management Staff7 Support Contractors7 Support Contractors

64 Dedicated Men 64 Dedicated Men and Womenand Women

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AWC Personnel By BranchAWC Personnel By Branch

ProgramProgram NumberNumber

Domestic Operations Branch (DOB)Domestic Operations Branch (DOB)Chief: Fred JohnsonChief: Fred Johnson

2626

Aviation Support Branch (ASB)Aviation Support Branch (ASB)Chief: Clinton WallaceChief: Clinton Wallace

1616

International Operations Branch (IOB)International Operations Branch (IOB)Deputy Director and Chief: Currently vacantDeputy Director and Chief: Currently vacant

1414

Where is the AWC?

AWC Virtual Tour (cont’d)

AWC

Kansas City International Airport

Our Facility

Collocated with:

•NWS Central Region HQ

•NWS Training Center

AWC Operations Floor

FAEast

FACentral

FAWest

Spare

CCFP

ConvectiveSIGMET

GGSouth

GGNorth

Tropical

• Five 24x7x365 desks• Three 20x7x365 desks

Domestic Operations

Int’l Operations

Typical Forecast Desk

NAWIPSAWIPS

RadarLightning

PC

So...What Does the AWC Do?So...What Does the AWC Do?

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So...What Does the AWC Do?So...What Does the AWC Do?

What Does the AWC Do?What Does the AWC Do?

Aviation Weather Forecasting – A Lot of It!Aviation Weather Forecasting – A Lot of It!

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AWC Product IssuancesAWC Product Issuances

ProductProduct Approx Approx #/Year#/Year

Convective SIGMETConvective SIGMET 30,00030,000

AIRMETsAIRMETs 26,00026,000

CCFPCCFP 25,00025,000

Significant Weather HighSignificant Weather High 18,89018,890

Area Forecasts (FA)Area Forecasts (FA) 6,5706,570

Significant Weather LowSignificant Weather Low 1,4601,460

Non-Convective SIGMETNon-Convective SIGMET 500500

AWC Products & ServicesAWC Products & Services

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Domestic Non-convective SIGMETs Convective SIGMETs AIRMETs Area Forecasts Low Level Significant Wx Collaborative Convective

Forecast Product (CCFP)International

Mid-Level Significant Wx High Level Significant Wx International SIGMETs Tropical Aviation Wx International Flight Folders

Automated Graphical Turbulence

Guidance Current Icing Product Forecast Icing Potential National Convective Weather

Diagnostic/Forecast

Web Services ADDS.AviationWeather.gov AviationWeather.gov WAFC Internet File Service PIREP Web Submit

Domestic Products

• Tstorms, svr icing, svr turb

SIGMETs(SIGSIGnificant METMETeorological

Information)

Weather potentially hazardous to all aircraft

WSUS1 KCHI 041621 CHIU WS 041615SIGMET UNIFORM 2 VALID UNTIL 042015 SIGMET ND SD MN WI FROM FAR TO RHI TO DLL TO ODI TO 30S FSD TO 65NW ANW TO DPR TO 60S BIS TO FAR OCNL SEV TURB BTN FL240 AND FL390. RPRTD BY BE40 AND LJ25. THIS UPDATES UNIFORM 1 AND EXTENDS AREA INTO WI. CONDS CONTG BYD 2015Z. JNR

• Dust/sand storms with vis < 3 mi

• Volcanic ash

• Area >= 3000 mi2

• Conv. SIGMETs valid for 2 hrs

• Non-conv. SIGMETs valid up to 4 hrs

AIRMETs(AIRmen’s METeorological Information)

Weather that may be hazardous to light aircraft Clg < 1 kft and/or vis < 3 mi affecting > 50% of an area

Sustained sfc winds > 30 kts

Moderate icing

Extensive mtn obscuration

Moderate turb

Frz level data 3,000 mi2

Graphical AIRMETGraphical AIRMET(G-AIRMET)(G-AIRMET)

Series of graphics depicting en-route AIRMET hazards valid at 00, 03, 06, 09, and 12 hours from issuance.

Identifies hazardous weather in space and time more precisely than text products.

A picture’s worth a thousand contractions.

Area ForecastArea Forecast(FA)(FA)

SYNOPSIS...AT 02Z LOW PRES NWRN MN WITH CDFNT BJI-PIR-DDY LN AND WRMFNT BJI-EAU-PMM LN. TROF FSD-TBE LN. BY 20Z LOW PRES CNTRL WI WITH CDFNT DLL-PWE-GLD LN AND WRMFNT DLL-ECK LN. ...DARRAH...

ND SCT100. OCNL BKN080 TOP FL180. ISOLD -SHRA. OTLK...VFR. .

SD WRN 1/3...SCT060 SCT120 TOP FL180. TIL 06-08Z OCNL CIG BKN050. WDLY SCT -SHRA/-TSRA. TS TOPS FL400. OTLK...VFR. CNTRL 1/3...SCT080. OCNL BKN060. WDLY SCT -SHRA ISOLD -TSRA. TS TOPS FL400. OTLK...VFR. ERN 1/3...SCT100. BY 05-07Z OCNL BKN080 TOP 160. OTLK...VFR SHRA. .

NE PNHNDL...AGL SCT050. TIL 04-06Z ISOLD -SHRA/-TSRA. TS TOPS FL400. OTLK...VFR. CNTRL AND E...AGL SCT040 BKN080 TOPS LYRD FL180. OCNL CIG OVC030. WDLY SCT -SHRA/-TSRA. TS TOPS FL450. TS POSS SEV. CNTRL BY 06-08Z SCT030 OCNL CIG BKN020. CONDS SPRDG ACRS RMNDR BY 11-13Z. OTLK...VFR. .

Issued 3 times per dayIssued 3 times per day 18-hr synopsis18-hr synopsis 12-hr forecast for visible 12-hr forecast for visible

en-route wx < FL450en-route wx < FL450 6-hr categorical outlook6-hr categorical outlook One text product per region One text product per region

(SFO, SLC, CHI, DFW, (SFO, SLC, CHI, DFW, BOS, MIA, AK, HI, Gulf, BOS, MIA, AK, HI, Gulf, Carrib)Carrib)

VMCs including clouds, VMCs including clouds, and general weather and general weather conditionsconditions

Low Level Significant Wx

Graphics product issued four times per day (00, 06, 12, 18Z) Frz levels, turb, low ceilings, and MVFR/IFR condition Surface forecasts of fronts and precipitation Intended for briefing the VFR pilot Covers the 48

contiguous states, southern Canada and the coastal waters for altitudes below 24 kft

Each 4 panel chart is divided on the left and right into 12 and 24-hr forecasts

Collaborative Convective Forecast Product (CCFP)

Collaborative graphical forecast of convection at 2/4/6 hrs

Convection is defined as a polygon of at least 3,000 mi2

CCFP covers the contiguous 48 states and portions of Ontario and Quebec south of 48 degrees north latitude.

Coverage of at least 25% with echoes of at least 40 dbZ and at least one ET > 25 kft

International Products

World Area Forecast CenterWorld Area Forecast System (WAFS)

WAFS Supported by Two World Area Forecast Centers (WAFCs)

Developed by ICAO and the WMOTo improve the quality and consistency of enroute

guidance provided for international aircraft operations.

WAFC – WashingtonWAFC – London

International Operations BranchInternational Operations Branch

Global graphicsGlobal graphics High level graphics - FL250 – FL630High level graphics - FL250 – FL630 Mid level graphics – FL100 – FL180 Mid level graphics – FL100 – FL180

Oceanic SIGMETsOceanic SIGMETs TurbulenceTurbulence IcingIcing ThunderstormsThunderstorms Volcanic ashVolcanic ash Tropical cyclonesTropical cyclones

Area Forecasts for the Gulf of Mexico and Area Forecasts for the Gulf of Mexico and the Carribeanthe Carribean

Significant Weather ForecastsSignificant Weather ForecastsHigh Level GraphicHigh Level Graphic

• Covers FL250 - FL630

• Worldwide forecast

• 24 hour forecast for:

Jet StreamsThunderstormsTurbulenceTropopause HeightsActive VolcanoesTropical Cyclones

Mid Level Significant Weather Mid Level Significant Weather GraphicGraphic

Jet Streams

Thunderstorms Turbulence Trop Hts Volcanoes Tropical

Cyclones Icing

Covers FL100 – FL450 over the North Atlantic region

Oceanic SIGMETsOceanic SIGMETs

ThunderstormsThunderstorms

Tropical Tropical CyclonesCyclones

Severe Icing & Severe Icing & TurbulenceTurbulence

Dust & Sand Dust & Sand StormsStorms

Volcanic AshVolcanic Ash

WSNT10 KKCI 051409SIGA0JTJZS SIGMET JULIETT 1 VALID 051405/052005 KKCI- SAN JUAN FIR VOLCANIC ASH FROM SOUFRIERE HILLS WI 20 NM EITHER SIDE OF LINE 1618N06300W 1550N06345W. TOPS TO FL070. ASH MOV SW 25KT. NC. BASED ON SATELLITE OBS AND LATEST ADVSRY. OUTLOOK 06/0205..NC.

Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Area ForecastsArea Forecasts To Support Helicopter To Support Helicopter

OperationsOperations CloudsClouds VisibilityVisibility ThunderstormsThunderstorms Rain/FogRain/Fog WindWind

4,000 Operating Oil 4,000 Operating Oil PlatformsPlatforms

30,000 personnel living on 30,000 personnel living on oil platformsoil platforms

600 Helicopters600 Helicopters 1.3 Million flights 1.3 Million flights

annuallyannually

International Flight Folder Program

Since 10/1/98 the AWC has provided meteorological information to operators and flight crews for:Dispatch planningPre-flight briefingEn-route guidance

Wind/temp forecasts, SIGWX, TAFs, METARs, AIRMETs, and much more all available by fax and/or internet

AWC faxes about 40,000 charts per month!

Web Services

Aviation Digital Data Service Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)(ADDS)

ADDS.AviationWeather.govADDS.AviationWeather.gov Free publicly accessible web site Free publicly accessible web site Full range of meteorological data products tailored to Full range of meteorological data products tailored to

aviation needs.aviation needs. TAFs and METARs in both text and graphical formatTAFs and METARs in both text and graphical format Winds/TempsWinds/Temps SatelliteSatellite RadarRadar Model forecastsModel forecasts Interactive Java ToolsInteractive Java Tools International Flight Folder dataInternational Flight Folder data Much more!Much more!

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughFlight Path ToolFlight Path Tool

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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughFlight Path ToolFlight Path Tool

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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughFlight Path ToolFlight Path Tool

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Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolMain ScreenMain Screen

Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolZoom in on SEZoom in on SE

Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolAdd AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and PIREPsAdd AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and PIREPs

Flight Path ToolFlight Path ToolCross Section Between SHV and MEMCross Section Between SHV and MEM

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughTranslated TAFs and METARsTranslated TAFs and METARs

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughTranslated TAFs and METARsTranslated TAFs and METARs

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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughTranslated TAFs and METARsTranslated TAFs and METARs

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite

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Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the RoughInternational SatelliteInternational Satellite

The Future

What Does the Future Hold?What Does the Future Hold?

Consolidated Aviation Web Services (CAWS)

Aviation Weather Testbed

AWIPS 2

NEXTGEN

CWSU Consolidation

Questions?

Email:Ryan.L.Solomon@noaa.gov

Phone:(816)584-7251