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Integrated Sensor Training (IST) Professional Development Series

Unit 9: AWIPS Multi-Source Data Displays

Instructional Component 9.1.14

Mesoscale Convective Vortices

Scott Lindstrom, Scott Bachmeier

1) Introduction

    Objectives:
    1. Remind you of the satellite presentation of Mesoscale Convective Vortices (MCVs)
    2. Give hints on how to anticipate MCV genesis/decay
    3. Discuss model performance of MCVs

    Outline:
    1. MCV Information, Life Cycle and climatology
    2. What do MCVs look like in IR and visible imagery?
    3. 3 case studies: July 6, July 21, Aug 18-19 (all 2003)


2) Prerequisites

    This is a Basic course, with no prerequisites.

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 128 MB RAM or greater) 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.) local Visitview session - This is the same version of the lesson used in a "live" VISITview teletraining session, but no connection is made to an external VISITview server. You may download the file off this page and go through the lesson on your own in "local mode" by starting the "visitlocal.bat" file. Talking points are not included in this lesson version, but can be viewed in a separate Web browser ( or printed out beforehand).

    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 120 MB in size) from one of the following sites:
    ftp://rammftp.cira.colostate.edu/bikos/audio/MCVaudio.exe
    OR
    ftp://ftp.ssec.wisc.edu/visit/audio/MCVAudio.exe

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

5) References/Additional Links

    Trier, S. B., C. A. Davis and J. D. Tuttle, 2000: Long-lived mesosconvective vortices and their environment. Part I: Observations from the central United States during the 1998 warm season. Mon. Wea. Rev., 3376-3395.

    Davis, C. A., D. A. Ahijevych and S. B. Trier, 2002: Detection and prediction of warm season midtropospheric vortices by the Rapid Update Cycle. Mon. Wea. Rev., 24-42

    See also papers by J. M. Fristch and by Jason Knievel.

    "QPF Bombs" - A web module on recognizing features such as MCVs in the models and why they don't do well predicting them.

6) Train the trainer

    Talking points - 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).

    The talking points may also be downloaded as a Microsoft Word document

7) Content developed/updated
    2004
8) Information contact