RMTC/WMO

Connell

Mr. Selvin Burton from the Regional Meteorological Training Center (RMTC) in Barbados visited CIRA, July 12-23.  He spent a busy two weeks reviewing archived climatology imagery, and focused on temperature threshold techniques for the 10.7  m imagery to derive cloud frequency composites for the various rainy months.  Since rainfall data is sparse in the region, these composites, along with other information will help in rainfall estimates.  An example of 10.7  m cloud frequency composites for a threshold temperature of 280 K for October, November and December, 1998 is shown.  October is one of the rainy months and December a drier month.  November 1998 was drier than normal.

Mr. Burton tried out McIDAS-X NT after it was successfully loaded to a new system that will be shipped to Barbados in October for further support of the RMTC efforts.  He also became familiar with McIDAS commands to overlay model data on satellite imagery and received ideas on putting together a web example for a heavy rain case that has been analyzed.  He presented a seminar on the training and research being done at the Caribbean Meteorological Institute and included the benefits of increased usage of satellite imagery for the region.  Barbados received CDs of archived monthly climatology imagery for April through August 1999.

The Costa Rica RMTC received CDs of archived monthly climatology imagery for March through August 1999.  Like Barbados, they are also looking into ways to use the satellite imagery to better identify regions with heavy precipitation.  The imagery are also being used in conjunction with model output for student projects such as seasonal tracking of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.  An example of cloud frequency compositing by the 10.7  m threshold temperature technique for June of 1997, 1998 and 1999 is shown in the following image.

Preparations have begun for the WMO sponsored 2-week satellite meteorology training to be held in Costa Rica December 6-17, 1999.  CIRA will be presenting 12 lectures and 6 lab sessions.

Groundwork continued to be laid for introducing  RAMSDIS Online and RAMSDIS systems into WMO Region III and IV countries.