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Integrated Sensor Training (IST) Professional Development Series

Unit 9: Using AWIPS in the forecast process

Instructional Component 9.1.8

Lake-Effect Snow II

Dan Bikos, Tom Niziol, John Weaver,
Greg Mann, Stephen Jascourt, Randy Graham, Stan Benjamin

Other Contributors:

Greg Byrd, Bill Bua, Jeff Waldstreicher

1) Introduction

    This is a more advanced session designed to build on the first VISIT Lake-Effect Snow I teletraining. The topics covered will include:

    Mesoscale Model limitations:
    1. Horizontal resolution
    2. Convective paramaterization schemes best for lake-effect snow
    3. Initialization / model spinup
    4. RUC characteristics

    Lake Aggregate Effects:

    Description of lake aggregate effects along with case studies to apply principles

2) Prerequisites

    This is an advanced course.

    If you are not familiar with the basics of lake-effect snow please review the recorded audio version of the introductory VISIT Lake-Effect Snow training session on your own. See option 4E on this page to download the file and instructions how to play it back on your system.

3) Teletraining Installation Instructions


4) Training Session Options:

    A.) The interactive VISITview training session. (To be used with a VISIT instructor leading the session ). Click here to signup for teletraining. The session will last 75 minutes. This teletraining session uses the VISITview software, where Windows PC with an Internet connection is needed.

    B.) Web-based training session - a "stand alone" version viewed via a Web browser, with embedded talking points included. This lesson version may be viewed at any time. These slides are ideal for printing from the web-browser, just print preview first to choose portrait or landscape mode. Best viewed with Internet Explorer or Netscape (prior to version 6).

    C.) Web-based Visitview session - This version uses the VISITview software within a Web browser, may be viewed at any time. It retains all the functionality of the VISITview software which you see in a "live" teletraining session. The talking points are not included in this lesson version, but can be viewed in a separate Web browser (or printed out beforehand).

    D.) Web-based video training session.

    E.) Audio playback - This VISITview file contains recorded audio and annotations and can be taken at anytime. Certificates of completion for NOAA employees can be obtained through your Science Operation Officer or training point of contact. For detailed information on how to view the recorded session click here.

    You may either request a DVD (with all VISIT audio playback files) OR download the file (see instructions below):

    Create a directory to download the audio playback file (it is about 90 MB in size) from one of the following sites:
    ftp://rammftp.cira.colostate.edu/bikos/audio/les2_audio.exe
    OR
    ftp://ftp.ssec.wisc.edu/visit/audio/les2_audio.exe

    After extracting the files into that directory click on the visitauto.bat file to start the lesson.

5) References/Additional Links

    Mann, G.E., R.B. Wagenmaker and P.J. Sousounis, 2002: The Influence of Multiple Lake Interactions upon Lake-Effect Storms. Mon. Wea. Rev., 130,1510-1530.

    Sousounis, P.J. and J.M. Fritsch, 1994: Lake-Aggregate Mesoscale Disturbances. Part II: A Case Study of the Effects on Regional and Synoptic-Scale Weather Systems. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 75, 1793-1812

    Wang, W., and N.L. Seaman, 1997: A Comparison Study of Convective Parameterization Schemes in a Mesoscale Model. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125, 252-278

    Weiss, C.C., and P.J. Sousounis, 1997: A Climatology of Collective Lake Disturbances. Mon. Wea. Rev., 127, 565-574

    A Satellite and Sounding Perspective of a 63" Lake-Effect Snow Event

6) Train the trainer

    Talking points (PDF Document) - these may be used by local offices in tandem with the visitview training session (run in local mode - "visitlocal.bat"). The talking points may be printed out to easily review the session in detail at any time. The web page version contains talking points embedded in each slide (useful for printing).

7) Content developed/updated
    Developed: 2002
    Updated: 2006
8) Information contact