Download ppt - WHO ARE WE? WHAT DO WE DO?

NCEP -- Where America’s climate and weather services begin.

WHO ARE WE?

WHAT DO WE DO?

Ocean Prediction Center

•OFFICE OF

•THE DIRECTOR

•9 FTE

•CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER

•Climate Monitoring & Forecasts

•Week 2, Monthly, Seasonal,

• & Multi-Seasonal

•Global

•50 FTE

•HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER•Hydromet Forecasts•0-7 Days – Weather

•0-5 Days – QPF•Winter & Alaska Desks

•US•45 FTE

•STORM PREDICTION CENTER•Hazardous Weather Guidance

•0-8 Days – Severe Weather•0-8 Days – Fire Weather

•Continental US

•32 FTE

•NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

•Tropical Weather Guidance, Forecasts, Watches & Warnings

•0-5 Days

•Atlantic/Pacific, 0-30 N

•47 FTE

•OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER

•Marine Boundary Layer and Ocean Surface Guidance, Warnings and Forecasts

•0-5 Days• Atlantic/Pacific, 30- 90 N

•27 FTE

•AVIATION WEATHER CENTER

•Weather Guidance, Warnings & Forecasts for Domestic and

International Aviation•0-2 Days• Global

•54 FTE•SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER

•Space Weather Monitoring, Warning and Forecasting

•0-3 Days •Global

•49 FTE

•ENVIRONMENTAL

•MODELING CENTER

•Numerical Weather and Ocean Automated Analysis & Prediction

•0-16 Days

•Global

•Numerical Climate Prediction

•Months

•Global

•51 FTE

•T •R•A

•L

•N•E

•C

•65 FTE

•T•I

•O

•N

•S

•A•R

•E

•P

•O

National Centers for Environmental Prediction

•Federal Employees: 429

•Contractors: 167

•Visitors: 61

•NOAA Corps: 5

•NOAA Corps officers at:

• AWC, OD, NHC, OPC,

• SWPC and EMC (May 09)


Vision statement:The OPC strives to be recognized as the mariner’s weather lifeline through exceptional products and customer service.

Mission statement:The OPC provides atmospheric and oceanographic warning, forecast, and analysis products and services for the north Atlantic and north Pacific as part of the NWS mission of protecting life and property and enhancing economic opportunity.

OPC’s Vision & Mission


Titanic Telegram


Basis for NWS Marine Warning & Forecast Mission

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS-1974 and amendments)

…Sets international policy and requirements for safer shipping and cleaner oceans.

…U.S. implements convention and policy through executive order 12234 -- Enforcement of the Convention for SOLAS.

…Among obligations is to provide meteorological warnings and forecasts to ships at sea using charts and radio messages.

…NWS implements program through Operations Directive 10-3.

…NCEP participates through the High Seas and Offshore Warning and Forecast programs of OPC and TPC.


Wind Speed (Knots) 65 50 35 30 25 20


Partners

U.S. Coast Guard NWS: field offices (WFOs) NOAA: NOS Response & Restoration, NOAA Corps


Customers

U.S Coast Guard, U.S. Navy

commercial shipping/transportation

fishing: commercial and recreational

private weather and ship routing services

recreational boating


Products and Services (OPC)

Atlantic and Pacific high seas– narrative warnings & forecasts to 5 days– graphic analyses and forecasts to 5 days

Atlantic and Pacific regional– offshore warnings & forecasts– sea-state analyses (RP1,RA1)– current features Marine Weather Discussion (NFDMIMPAC)– surface forecast Marine Weather Discussion (NFDMIMPAC)

Global quality control of marine observations

3000 chart and text products issued per month


FeedbackFeedback

UserUser

DisseminateDisseminate

Products & ServicesProducts & Services

LocalOfficesLocal

OfficesCentral

GuidanceCentral

GuidanceProcessProcess

ObserveObserve

How We Do ItHow We Do It



Critical skills needed to accomplish mission Critical skills needed to accomplish mission

Knowledge of :

synoptic meteorology,

marine data available from in situ and satellite remote sensing platforms,

atmospheric numerical models and ocean wave models

numerical weather forecast models, ocean waves, tides, and circulation.

Ability to prepare forecast products, especially marine forecast products.

Critical skills shortagesCritical skills shortages

Oceanography (physical and biological)Oceanography (physical and biological)

Impacts of critical skills shortages on mission Impacts of critical skills shortages on mission

Evolving service requirements in decision support. E.g., storm surge warnings and HAB Evolving service requirements in decision support. E.g., storm surge warnings and HAB forecasts.forecasts.

How are skills shortages being addressed in your agency How are skills shortages being addressed in your agency

Developing training materials (Comet), collaboration with NOPP to define “ocean forecaster Developing training materials (Comet), collaboration with NOPP to define “ocean forecaster position”position”

What attempts have been made to obtain the critical skillsWhat attempts have been made to obtain the critical skills

Provide training as skill set requirements evolve.Provide training as skill set requirements evolve.


Is the supplemental education and training sufficient to enhance skills to Is the supplemental education and training sufficient to enhance skills to meet critical skill shortages meet critical skill shortages

Need to accelerate training as requirements evolve.Need to accelerate training as requirements evolve.

Are there deficiencies in your organization’s workforce development Are there deficiencies in your organization’s workforce development program? program?

Lack of resources for training development – the first to go when funds are shortLack of resources for training development – the first to go when funds are short

Actions taken with any academic institutions to better train individuals to Actions taken with any academic institutions to better train individuals to meet critical skills shortages? meet critical skills shortages?

Yes with respect to the NOPP project but need to involve academic institution for wave training – again funds Yes with respect to the NOPP project but need to involve academic institution for wave training – again funds for this are assigned a low priority.for this are assigned a low priority.

Actions taken to retain personnel that have critical skills to accomplish Actions taken to retain personnel that have critical skills to accomplish mission mission

Not an issue for us.Not an issue for us.


Recommendations for addressing agency’s current or projected skills Recommendations for addressing agency’s current or projected skills shortages shortages

Fund training development (near to medium term)Fund training development (near to medium term)

Evolve KSAs/PDs for growing mission. Note: this will require close coordination with the Union. (medium Evolve KSAs/PDs for growing mission. Note: this will require close coordination with the Union. (medium to long term)to long term)

Recruit staff with the required skill set and work with the educational establishment to provide this skill set Recruit staff with the required skill set and work with the educational establishment to provide this skill set for future workers (long term) for future workers (long term)