Global Campus
The WMO Global Campus E-Library
The WMO Global Campus initiative is proud to offer this WMOLearn Library of resources. This library provides a searchable collection of educational resources, including WMO publications and education and training materials from various contributing organisations and individuals. Search by WMO competency framework, Main Topics, Region and Country, and/or Nature of Information to find materials useful for training or self-directed learning.
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WMO Global Campus resources provided on this Site are provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. The WMO specifically does not make any warranties or representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any such resources.
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Climate Change: Fitting the Pieces Together
This module discusses climate change, particularly as it is currently being affected by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. It also covers signs of climate change, how scientists study climate, the current thinking on future changes, and what can be done to minimize the effects. Updated in 2012.
Using Scatterometer Wind and Altimeter Wave Estimates in Marine Forecasting
Scatterometers and altimeters provide a variety of space-based observations that are useful for marine analysis and forecasting as well as other applications. Key among the products are ocean surface winds from scatterometers and significant wave heights from altimeters. This lesson describes the basics of scatterometers and altimeters, including how they work, what they measure, and how scatterometer winds and altimeter significant wave heights are derived. It then discusses some of the challenges in using the estimates, such as dealing with ambiguities and rain contamination. The lesson also ...
Slantwise Convection: An Operational Approach
This Webcast is a recreation of a presentation on slantwise convection given by Kent Johnson in February, 2002 in Boulder, Colorado. It focuses on assessing the release of conditional symmetric instability as slantwise convection. It provides an overview of the characteristics and theory of CSI, assessment of CSI and slantwise induced precipitation in complex terrain, and operational challenges to assessing CSI.
Mesoscale Ocean Circulation Models
This module examines mesoscale ocean circulation models and features and processes that they predict. These models simulate temperature, salinity, currents, and elevation in 3 dimensions through a period of time. They have sufficient resolution to simulate features like fronts, eddies, upwelling, and internal tides. In this module, we examine current operational models, limitations to model forecasts, examples of predicted ocean features, and potential applications.
Satellite Feature Identification: Blocking Patterns
Satellite Feature Identification: Blocking Patterns examines how water vapor imagery can be used to help diagnose blocking patterns and their dissipation. Four major blocking patterns are covered in this module: Blocking highs, Cut-off lows, Rex blocks and Omega blocks. This module is part of the series: "Dynamic Feature Identification: The Satellite Palette".
Real-time Storm Surge Products
This lesson will describe the real-time storm surge products that are issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices (NWS WFOs) during a significant tropical cyclone event along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Tropical cyclones that threaten a coastline have the potential to inflict devastating damage to communities. Real-time storm surge information will assist decision-makers in their plans and preparation work for these events. Basic familiarity with probabilistic forecast guidance is required. It is recommended that us ...
Tropical Fog: A Look at Fog That Impacts Aviation in Guyana
This module applies concepts covered in the module, Fog: Its Processes and Impacts to Aviation. It examines the fog processes at a tropical location: Guyana. A basic overview of the main fog types is provided, and then a detailed analysis is done for a representative fog event at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana. Conclusions are made about fog processes in Guyana which can then be applied to forecasting for aviation impacts.
WMO Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool (OSCAR)/Space
OSCAR/Space, the “satellite” component of the WMO OSCAR resource, contains updated quality-controlled information on past, present and future satellite missions, instruments and related characteristics, covering a period from 1960 up to 2050, which adds up to 500+ satellites and 800+ instruments dedicated to Earth Observation and Space Weather. In addition, OSCAR/Space provides expert assessments of the applicability of the various instruments for particular measurements. This resource can be used as a reference for studies, as a gap analysis tool, as support for planning, and for educational ...
Rip Currents: Nearshore Fundamentals
This module provides insight into how nearshore circulation and wave dynamics are involved in rip current formation. Topics covered in this module include: nearshore terminology, circulation and waves, rip current characteristics, and rip current forcing mechanisms. This module is the second of three modules covering the forecasting of rip currents.
Stability, Smoke Management, and Fire Weather Forecasting
The “Stability, Smoke Management, and Fire Weather Forecasting” module examines the effects of atmospheric stability on fire behavior and the transport of smoke, as well as fire and smoke management operations. Topics covered include the impacts of the formation, persistence, and dissipation of inversions and how best to relate forecast information on these phases to customers. Calculation and application of the Haines Index is applied through the highly interactive Haines Game. In addition, the influence of stability on the transport and dispersion of fire related smoke is covered in the cont ...
Nighttime Radiation and Cooling of the Lower Atmosphere
It is our common experience to observe that the lowest levels of the atmosphere cool down more slowly on humid nights than on dry nights. When the sky is cloudy we observe the atmosphere to cool even more slowly. Can longwave radiation fluxes alone explain these observations? This learning object uses a simple interactive model to demonstrate the role of radiation in nighttime cooling. As a learning object, it is meant to supplement other teaching material in a course by elucidating a specific concept. By adjusting the emissivity and temperature of earth and atmospheric layers, the student can ...
Dynamically Forced Fog
Fog frequently forms in response to dynamically forced changes in the boundary layer. This module examines dynamically forced fog in the coastal and marine environment, focusing on advection fog, steam fog, and west coast type fog. The focus of the module is on the boundary layer evolution of air parcels as they traverse trajectories over land and water. The module also examines mesoscale effects that impact the distribution of fog and low-level stratus over short distances. A general discussion of forecast products and methodologies concludes the module.
GOES-R Series Faculty Virtual Course: Tropical Cyclones
In this webinar recording, Andrea Schumacher demonstrates the GOES-R series' new capabilities for real-time tropical cyclone analysis and monitoring, which will contribute significantly to improved hurricane track and intensity forecasts. The GOES-16 imager will provide dramatic new views of tropical cyclone phenomena, offering vastly improved time and spatial resolution as well as color composite images to enhance cloud bands and other features. This webinar will also explore the role of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) in helping identify areas of strong thunderstorms associated with ...
Dust Enhancement Techniques Using MODIS and SeaWiFS
The Dust Enhancement Techniques Using MODIS and SeaWiFS Webcast features Dr. Steven Miller of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Monterey, California and takes about one hour to complete. Dr. Miller explains two techniques for detecting blowing dust using multispectral satellite imagery from the MODIS and SeaWiFS instruments. He also provides guidelines for the best uses of these techniques. The Webcast includes several recent operational examples from southwest Asia. This presentation was originally given at a workshop hosted by NRL in April, 2003.
Primary Influences on Water Temperature for Inland Streams
This lesson explores the primary influences, or drivers, on water temperature of inland streams and rivers. We use a simulated flight, or flyover, where we look down at the features of the South Boise River in Idaho. An unregulated as well as a regulated reach of the river are explored (above and below the Anderson Ranch Reservoir), with a look at cross sections of the river and its environment at key locations during the flyover. We explore how environmental factors (climate, geography, stream morphology) impact water temperatures. Then, after defining the factors that affect water temperatur ...
Wave Types and Characteristics
This is the first in a series of new marine meteorology modules based on COMET’s old laser disk and CD-ROM modules on marine meteorology. This module is an introduction to waves and their associated characteristics. Several types of waves are presented, from the common wind wave to the rare tsunami wave. The basic physical, mathematical, and statistical traits of waves are discussed, along with how they change once waves become swell. This material serves as a building block to subsequent modules on wave generation, propagation, and dispersion.
Tsunami Strike! Caribbean Edition
Tsunami Strike! Caribbean Edition offers an interactive learning experience in which learners take on the role of a journalist writing an article for a news magazine. Sixteen multimedia lessons on tsunami science, safety, and history are interwoven within the learning scenario as resources for the article. The material is aimed at middle school and high school students (ages 13-17) but will be useful to a broader audience wishing to learn more about tsunamis in general, and in particular about tsunami risks in the Caribbean.
Seasonal Forecast Problems Refresher Training
This prototype module was originally intended as a review of seasonal weather regimes and hazards for regions that are of particular interest to the Air Force Weather Agency. Although the project was discontinued, the section on summer weather in the southeast U.S. is available as an forecaster's training aid and as an example of this type of training.
Tsunami Strike! Pacific Edition
Tsunami Strike! Pacific Edition is a scenario-based learning experience for kids from middle school through high school (approximate ages 13-17). The scenario tells the story of four main characters at different locations in the Pacific basin who are each impacted by a major tsunami that originates in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Over the course of the story, learners not only view the unfolding events and how each of the characters responds, but also observe how warning scientists analyze and communicate the tsunami threat. Fourteen short lessons provide interactive instruction focused on the s ...
Space Weather Basics, 2nd Edition
This lesson presents an overview of space weather processes, their impacts on Earth and human activities, and the technologies used for forecasting space weather events. The lesson goal is to provide NWS forecasters a basic understanding of space weather and the operations of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). It will be of interest to a general audience as well.
NWP Essentials: NWP and Forecasting
This lesson introduces forecasters to the complex and multifaceted process for creating a forecast. It also discusses how NWP fits into that process. In addition, the lesson provides a broad overview of the basic components of NWP and how they combine to produce a model forecast.
Topics in Lake Effect Snow Forecasting
Lake and ocean effect processes can have a significant impact on snowfall amounts in many parts of North America, and can be very tricky to forecast. This short module is a collection of narrated reference material on many aspects of lake effect snow forecasting. It is divided into three main topics: Basic Ingredients of Lake/Ocean Snow, Banding Processes, and Satellite Detection. These materials are also available as the separate Supporting Topics within the case exercise module, Ocean Effect Snow: New England Snow Storm, 14 January 1999: http://meted.ucar.edu/norlat/snow/ocean_effect_case/.
Storm Surge and Datums
This lesson introduces forecasters to the orthometric and tidal datums used to describe tropical cyclone storm surge measurements and forecasts. It provides a general overview of how to interpret storm surge forecasts using various vertical datums. This online lesson is part of the Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge: Forecasting and Communication course.
Satellite Feature Identification: Ring of Fire
Satellite Feature Identification: Ring of Fire introduces forecasters to the potentially damaging convection that can develop in conjunction with blocking high pressure centers and examines how to identify it from a water vapor imagery perspective. This module is part of the series "Dynamic Feature Identification: The Satellite Palette".
Using Climatological Products in Common Operations
This module answers the question, "How can climate data and products from the U.S. Air Force’s climate division (the 14th Weather Squadron) assist Department of Defense (DoD) forecasters in preparing for assignments to new locations and handling requests for specific information?" The 14th Weather Squadron is the DoD’s largest source of climatological data and analysis products and offers a standard suite of climate analysis products that are available both as preformatted text and graphics and, increasingly, as customizable products with user-defined variables. This module teaches forecasters ...
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