Training Framework for Satellite User Readiness in NOAA

The National Weather Service (NWS) has embarked on a training development framework to prepare forecasters for NOAA's new Environmental satellites. A series of environmental satellites will be providing new observations and advanced data sets and products for forecasters.

In October 2011, NASA launched the polar orbiting Suomi National Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite as a precursor to NOAA's Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System (JPSS). In September 2014, Japan will be launching the Himawari satellite with a 16 channel imager which is a precursor to NOAA's GOES-R satellite series with an Advanced Baseline Imager and Lightning Mapper.

A training framework will be outlined in this paper to prepare operational Meteorologists to take advantage of the investments in these new remote sensing capabilities. The framework consists of multiple steps:

1. Setting Management Expectations 2. Information teasers to generate enthusiasm 3. Baseline training 4. Science Infusion residence classes for Science and Operations Officers 5. Just-in-Time training 6. Integration of Satellite Observations into Forecast and Warning Operations for Weather Ready Nation

The NWS will leverage expertise with the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Systems (NESDIS) Cooperative Institutes and with “satellite liaisons” which has been established and funded by NESDIS. The training will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous delivery methods in a variety of formats including web based modules, YouTube videos, blogs, teletraining/Webinars and reference materials.

The key to a successful training effort is to demonstrate to forecasters how this satellite information can augment existing data sets and numerical model predictions and to provide value-added information in real-time to forecast and warning programs. This training will be a multi-year effort as researchers and scientists discover new uses for new satellite instruments through experiments done at NOAA's Testbeds and Satellite Proving Ground. As these data are assessed and integrated with other observations and models, they will then be used quantitatively in forecast and warning operations by following NOAA's Research to Operations (R2O) approach. Successful training and user readiness will assist the NWS in implementing NOAA's Strategic Plan to ensure a “Weather Ready Nation”.