[KYHAM] KEN TRAINING July 28: Served Agency Review; NWS

[Ron Dodson]

All of the "old hands" who have been around for many years know
about the main served agencies we have here in Kentucky.  Meaning
Ky Division of Emergency Management, American Red Cross and the
National Weather Service.  Many newer hams may not know or
understand these agencies and the relationships that exist
between these organizations and amateur radio.  These past few
weeks, we have reviewed these in an effort to bring all of the
newer arrivals and ARES players up to speed.

This week, we continue with The National Weather Service!

The National Weather Service, a branch of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration could with some right, claim a
history back into weather diaries kept in 1644 and 1645 by the
Reverend John Campanius Holm near Wilmington, Delaware. These are
the first know attempts to keep accurate, detailed records on
weather conditions in the new world.  In truth, the weather
service we know today actually got its start when a civilian
weather service was created on July 1, 1891 when an Act of
Congress transferred the weather bureau from the Army Signal
Corps to the Department of Agriculture.  Here began the
foundation of our modern National Weather Service   

>From 1893 to 1936, public forecasts were issued twice a day for
the ensuing 36 hours (based on twice daily observations). 1896
was the year when the first hurricane warning service was
established. This was later improved in 1935.  As early as 1902
forecasts were sent by wireless to ships at sea. In 1905, the
first reports from ships at sea were received primarily in
providing support for issuance of hurricane warnings. The first
five day forecast was issued in 1940!  This was also the year
when the Weather Bureau was transferred to the Department of
Commerce. The biggest boost to the weather forecaster's tool kit
came in April of 1960 when NASA launched the first weather
satellite. The polar-orbiting satellite called "TIROS-1"
(Television Infra-Red Observation Satellite) built by RCA,
provided forecasters with their first overhead view of cloud
patterns as they developed and moved across the continent.  The
weather bureau was again renamed in July of 1970 as the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA and saw a merger
of many agencies into one.  Though it continues to grow and
become more modern each year, the basic tenants of this
organization still hold to its early roots.

The primary mission of NOAA and her weather service offices is to
predict environmental changes on a wide range of time and space
scales in order to protect life and property, and provide
industry and government decision-makers with a reliable base of
scientific information.   The main role that we as amateurs can
play in assisting the NWS Field Offices is to become trained and
serve as SkyWarn Storm Spotters in the field who can provide
reliable information back to the local NWSFO on any threatening
weather situation.  Spotter classes are conducted across the 
country every year.  If you have never attended even the 
basic level course, you owe it to yourself to do so.

One of the biggest problems we have in spotter nets is 
untrained and over zealous reports.  During severe 
weather events, NWS is not worried about what we call 
"sunshine" reports.  Comments like, "The sun is out here",
"We are only getting light rain" etc. are not needed and 
tie up nets when someone may have severe weather to report.    
However well meaning the reporting amateur is in giving 
these types of reports, they need to understand that it is not
in keeping with the reason the net exists.  

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE REPORTING!
NWS needs reports of High Winds over 58 MPH. Hail larger than 
1/2 inch like penny, nickel and up. (Pea sized 1/4" hail 
is common and seldom does any damage. It is therefore 
unnecessary to report pea sized hail. This just wastes net
time.) 

Rain amounts in excess of 1 inch per hour are important as
are actual funnel clouds and of course tornadoes on the ground.

If you do not have these, your silence means that you are 
not experiencing severe conditions and the net frequency is 
clear for someone who HAS severe weather conditions to say so.
As a SkyWarn Net Control of many years experience, I 
assure you that the NCS is not worried about where 
severe conditions aren't occurring!  If he/she wants a report 
from your specific area, they will call and ask your status.
If they call you for a status report and all is clear, then say
so.  
Don't take up net time to volunteer clear or non-severe
conditions
without being asked first. 

Use judgment in making reports to the NWS.  They depend on 
your accuracy.  Also give locations and times for any report.
Spotters are the eyes and ears of the weather service in the
field. Yes, NEX-RAD radar is far advanced from those
of the 1950's and '60's, however the trained human eye and good
judgment will continue to be an asset to the forecasters in these
offices for many years to come.



There are also other organizations out there who work in
disasters and some of them may also ask to make arrangements with
an ARES group for support in a response.  The majority of these
volunteer organizations along with the ARC and ARES are members
of Voluntary Organizations Assisting in Disasters or VOAD. Next
week we will discuss VOAD in more detail.