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| About This Page |
| The National Weather Service modernized in the
1990s, with great technological advances. To see some of the new technology, look below. |
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AWIPS |
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| Weather forecasting has taken on a new look. Instead of having
forecast data in one computer, satellite data in another, and radar data from the
WSR-88D...it is now possible to integrate everything in one system. In addition, the
data can be overlapped to see weather systems more clearly...and the data is in color.
All of this is possible through AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing
System). |
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AWIPS arrived in March, 1999 at the Little Rock
office of the National Weather Service. There was quite a bit of preparation before AWIPS
was up and running. To left, a satellite dish was installed. Data is received
by AWIPS through the dish. |
| AWIPS replaced AFOS, or Automation
of Field Operations and Services.
AFOS (shown to right) was developed in the 1970s, and allowed forecasters
to view graphics and prepare forecasts via a text editor. |
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Somewhat like AFOS, an AWIPS workstation consists of two graphic screens
and a text editor screen. |
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| The difference between AWIPS graphics
and AFOS graphics is staggering. You are looking at the same storm system...with abundant
moisture represented by blue/purple colors on AWIPS (to left), and red or yellow colors
representing dry air. The air masses don't show up near as well on AFOS (to right).
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| The satellite to right (in AWIPS) shows the storm system once
again. You will also notice four small boxes to the left of the satellite image. One
of these boxes could be a radar picture, a forecast map or something else. With one
mouse click, any of these boxes can replace the satellite image. |
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| The bottom line is that forecasters can view all the data they need at one
AWIPS workstation. The same could not be said about AFOS, with satellite
and radar data viewed at separate workstations. |
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Yet another advantage of AWIPS is
the IFPS...or Interactive Forecast Preparation System. |
| The Interactive Forecast Preparation System (IFPS) is the future of forecasting at the National Weather Service. The system
is used to create a whole new suite of graphical and text products. For more information,
click here. |
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www.weather.gov
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