VISIT: Meteorological Interpretation Blog

Below are some links to, or copies of, some perhaps lesser known meteorological training materials.  Many of these have been born out of Aviation Weather programs either here in the USA through the military Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) or the FAA, or from up north and our Canadian Neighbors.  Although some of the information is based on region specific examples, all of it (the principles, etc.) can be applied to most of our own geographic areas. 

First up is a link to NAV Canada, a privately run non-profit organization that operates Canada’s Civil Air Navigation Service.  This section contains an in depth training manuals section that is broken into six geographic regions that cover the whole of Canada.  Truly indispensable stuff here for all but tropical forecasters: NAV Canada Maunuals

Next up is the Air Force Weather Agency’s “Meteorological Techniques” which is an in depth compilation of many various weather forecasting parameters and techniques.  It is another truly indispensable item to be used for review, support, rules of thumb (tricks of the trade).   Also by AFWA, great training, practice, and supplemental review is the manual of the Mesoscale Forecast Process. 

This paper by John Mecikalski and Kristopher Bedka titled, “Forecasting Convective Initiation by Monitoring the Eveolution of Moving Cumulus in Daytime GOES Imagery” is a little long in the tooth (title-wise), but is definitely worth a read. 

More in the way of research papers / training materails will be posted here from time to time.  If you know of some lesser known, but valuable training for those of us in the weather business, please send us the information so that we may pass in on to others.�

In the latest issue of “The Front” - the National Weather Service’s aviation forecast news e-magazine - an article titled, “The Importance of Climatology in Aviation” shows us why climatology is important not only to the aviation forecaster, but to prospective pilots too.  

Click here: http://aviationweather.gov/general/pubs/front/docs/dec-07.pdf for the latest December, 2007 issue.  Also in this issue:  “Mobile Aviation Website Available at Oakland CWSU” and “The Practically Perfect TAF: A Customer Oriented Philosophy to Writing TAFs.”�

United Airlines operates flights daily over the top of the world. There are many safety and regulatory requirements which must be taken into consideration when planning these operations. Standard aviation weather analysis no longer covers the many variables that are associated with polar operations and reliance on many other sources of information are now required to ensure safe flight. 

Click  http://ams.confex.com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/paper_135883.htm to go to the recorded presentation given by Michael Stills, United Airlines, Chicago, IL at the 5th GOES Users Conference in January of 2008.