Director's Dialog:
Buyout Questions

Sir, like many government employees I have followed the homeland security bill since its inception. One of the items in the bill was government-wide buyout authority (GovExec.com, 11/14/02, covers this subject very well). Since this section of the bill was unchanged, I would like to know whether the Weather Service plans to use the authority.

Thank you.
Glen Rawles, Glasgow, MT

General Kelly,

As a DAPM [Data Acquisition Program Manager], our jobs have been eliminated and we are going out by attrition. With the buyout authorization included in the Homeland Security Act, will the remaining DAPM's be offered a buyout or will things remain the same?

The articles I have read specifically state people's jobs that have been eliminated and people with outdated skills.

Thank you for your time.
Clint Jenson, Portland, OR

We have not made a decision on buyouts. Before we could contemplate offering buyouts under the authority in the Homeland Security legislation, several things would have to happen. First, the Office of Personnel Management would need to issue Government-wide implementing regulations. Second, the Department of Commerce and NOAA would then decide if there is a need to issue additional guidance. These steps will take months.

In the meantime, we are looking at our workforce needs and how to use existing and new human resource authorities to meet those needs. We plan to release an NWS strategic workforce plan later next year.

Jack Kelly, NWS Director

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Updated Workstation Eta Modeling Package Now Available

An updated version of computer workstation software makes it easier for Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) to run a numerical weather prediction model locally.

Version 3.1 of the popular Workstation (WS) Eta numerical weather prediction software package was released this fall by the Science and Operations Officer (SOO) Science and Training Resource Center (STRC), part of the Training Division of the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services.

Running the SOO/STRC WS Eta locally at the WFOs will provide numerical weather prediction guidance to forecasters at temporal and spatial scales not available from operational data sources.

"The SOO/STRC WS Eta is a powerful tool for studying local forecast problems and historically significant weather events," said Robert Rozumalski, NWS SOO Science and Training Resource Coordinator. "This is an alternative to the configuration and physics of operational systems, a means to develop and test new diagnostic forecast techniques, and a method of training forecasters on Numerical Weather Product-related issues."

"Most local area modeling packages require existing local expertise for the successful execution of a forecast," Rozumalski added. "Unfortunately, while many WFOs have the need and desire to run a model locally, only a few WFOs have the experienced personnel necessary to dedicate to such an effort." With its simplified installation and configuration, the WS Eta system is easy to run on most UNIX and LINUX workstations. It is possible for even those with limited modeling experience to have the model running in less than an hour. In addition, the WS Eta code is very efficient, which is an advantage for real-time forecasting purposes.

The WS Eta is nearly identical to the system run operationally at the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). It was developed to promote the local use of numerical weather prediction models in the WFOs and to increase participation within the WFOs in developing and executing numerical weather prediction studies to examine local forecast problems.

Approximately 80 WFOs, NASA groups, and universities have downloaded and installed the SOO/STRC WS Eta since its introduction two years ago. Forecast offices receive full support in running the model for real-time forecasts or local forecast problems. Rozumalski said WFOs are encouraged to present their experience and successes at conferences and for publication.

More information about the WS Eta package can be found at http://www.comet.ucar.edu/strc, or by contacting the SOO Science and Training Resource Coordinator, Robert.Rozumalski@noaa.gov.

Study Questions Tornado Safety Tips

A study conducted by Kent State University researchers, to be published in the December issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, concludes cars are safer than ditches as shelter from tornadoes. A news release about the study has already generated media coverage.

The study recommends changing the NWS and American Red Cross safety tips by instructing people in cars or mobile homes, who do not have access to a permanent structure, to seek shelter in a car rather than a ditch.

The NWS will review the study, but no change to existing NWS tornado safety messages is planned.

"We believe our current standards are where they need to be based on years of experience," said Greg Mandt, Director, Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Service, NWS Headquarters.

The NWS, with its partners the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have for years recommended people take the following actions if a tornado warning is issued:

• In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement or interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and away from windows.
• In a mobile home, even if tied down, seek shelter in a sturdy building. As a last resort, and if no sturdy building is available leave the mobile home and seek shelter in a nearby ditch. Do not stay in the mobile home.
• If caught outside or in a vehicle, and where no sturdy building is available lie flat in a nearby ditch.

2002 U.S. Preliminary Climate Summaries Released

Warmer-than-normal temperatures, drought, and the return of El Niño were among the climate topics of interest in the National Climatic Data Center's (NCDC's) preliminary review of climate statistics released last week. Read the NOAA web article wrapping up climate statistics for the past year, where you can find links to preliminary U.S. summaries of temperature trends, precipitation, significant events, and more.

Working Together to Save Lives:
NWS Spaceflight Meteorology Group Forecasts Lead to Record Number of "No-Gos" For Space Shuttle Endeavor

Re-entry and landing of the space shuttle Endeavor was waved-off for three consecutive days (December 4 - 6, 2002) by NASA's Mission Control at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, due to unacceptable weather at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, and land forecasts provide by the NWS Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) at JSC.

The delay marked the first time in the 21-year history of the shuttle program that a landing was postponed for three days in a row. The SMG has primary responsibility for the critical landing forecasts - which must be correct. Once a decision is made to de-orbit the shuttle, there's no turning back.

After three "No-Gos," NASA determined the landing would have to occur on Saturday, December 7. If the weather did not cooperate in Florida, the plan was to land at Edwards AFB in California. The shuttle carried enough propellant and consumables to delay landing until Sunday, if necessary - but NASA was reluctant to push the edge of the performance envelope. Four landing opportunities were available on Saturday: 2:37 and 4:15 p.m. at Kennedy, and 5:45 and 7:22 p.m. at Edwards. As forecast by SMG, nature finally relented and Endeavor made it safely home on the first opportunity on Saturday.

Update: Upper Air Stations Receiving Surface Weather Observation Equipment

As of December 2, 2002, the Radiosonde Surface Observing Instrumentation System (RSOIS) has been installed at 28 stations. This new element of the Radiosonde Replacement Program (RRS) should yield better observations once it is installed at all upper-air stations within the next few years. For more details on RSOIS see the April 12, 2002, issue of NOAA's NWS Focus.

New Science.gov Web Site Links Users to Government Science Information

A new Federal web page, science.gov, pulls together links to a large volume of U.S. Government science and technology information, including research and development results.

Users can find more than one thousand government information resources about science, including technical reports, journal citations, databases, Federal web sites, and fact sheets. The information is all free, and no registration is required.

According to a recent news release, science.gov is for the educational and library communities, as well as business people, entrepreneurs, agency scientists, and anyone with an interest in science.

Fourteen scientific and technical information organizations from 10 major science agencies have collaborated to create science.gov. Agencies participating in science.gov are the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Interior; the Environmental Protection Agency; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the National Science Foundation.

Also On The Web...World Weather Information Web Page Includes Forecasts

A new web page developed by the Hong Kong Observatory provides weather forecasts for 405 cities and climatological information for 2,225 locations worldwide. According to the World Meteorological Organization, forecasts on the web page are based on the official weather information provided by national meteorological authorities.