Extended Abstract (132K)P4.1
Wet Microburst—Student Training and Role in On-line Bibliography and Event Selection
Paul J. Croft, University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA; and P. Pyle and S. Blair
As part of a wet microburst study funded by the COMET program, a bibliographic base and reference data set for the Southern Region is being developed. Two undergraduate meteorology majors have begun the initial task of collection, review, organizing, and summation of the bibliographic materials. In the process, a variety of professional and skills development from keyword selection to identification of reference and resource types available. For example, website information has required pursuit of missing or “down” links, access of both unrelated and non-English sites, determination of appropriate categories, and the means of summarizing the content both adequately and appropriately. In particular, the websites provide a plethora of events, descriptions, pictures, and educational or training materials. These range from scientific to pseudo-scientific, informational, visualizations and simulations of use to meteorologists, other professionals (e.g., aviators), and to the public. Information from scientific and other journals provides a basis for wet microburst occurrence and a means for the undergraduate students to connect their classroom learning to the professional realm. It will also provide them an opportunity to examine more closely the differences obtained when applying observations, forecast models, and theory-based principles of behavior. In the process they will see the broader population of parameters used for microburst analysis and prediction and how the wet microburst population fits within it. When integrating these with the wet microburst event data from participating NWS Forecast Offices, the students will gain an operational research perspective and face the reality of operational needs, constraints, and forecast issues. The bibliographic and events bases will be prepared for dissemination to NWS and other users.
Poster Session 4, Thursday Posters
Thursday, 15 January 2004, 9:45 AM-11:00 AM, Room 4AB
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