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Dual-Polarization Radar Training

Recent News

  • WDTB has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about the dual-polarization WSR-88D and data applications
  • WDTB has two new WES exercise options available to forecasters completing the Dual-Polarization Radar Operations Course
    • Non-Precipitation Echoes
    • WDTB-Approved, Locally-Developed WES Exercise (Complete this form if you want your office to participate in this option)

Introduction

The WSR-88D dual-polarization upgrade deployment began in September 2011. The Deployment Schedule is available, but it will likely change over time. We recommend you check the schedule periodically to ensure you know when the radars in your local area are scheduled to be upgraded. You can also read more on how your AWIPS configuration will change after your local radar is updated.

To support the WSR-88D dual-polarization upgrade deployment, the Warning Decision Training Branch has prepared operational training designed for NWS and Tri-agency users. NOTE: There is also a separate training initiative available for NWS core partners (http://www.wdtb.noaa.gov/courses/dualpol/outreach/) outside of the Tri-agencies (i.e., National Weather Service, Dept. of Defense, and Dept. of Transportation). For NWS and Tri-agency users, click on the collapsible panels below to learn more about the training courses, webinars, and tools we offer. Additional information about this training initiative can be found in our WDTB's Dual-Polarization Radar Training News publications.

Dual-Polarization Radar Training Course Descriptions

There are two courses available to NWS and Tri-agency users, each with their own development plans. These courses are:

Dual-Polarization Radar Principles and System Operations

Suggested Audience: SOOs, radar focal points, & others by local office determinations

Completion Requirements:

  • Two RDA lessons
  • Three RPG lessons

Dual-Polarization Radar Operations Course

Suggested Audience: All NWS decision makers

Completion Requirements:

  • Overview presentation
  • Six product lessons
  • Six application lessons
  • Two (of four total) WES exercises

We recommend that users begin their course work 3-4 month prior to the installation of dual-polarization technology at their local WSR-88D site. For NWS staff, the completion goal for Dual-Polarization Radar Operations Course is one month after the dual-polarization installation is complete.

NWS staff should access the individual course lessons below using the cyan NWS Learning Center buttons on the left:

Ex: example of the NWS Learning Center launch button.

Tri-agency users can access this training from the orange launch button in the center:

Ex:Example of WDTB web site launch button,

with each individual lesson below. For users who have Internet connectivity issues on a regular basis, we also provide the option to download a local copy, using the right-most button of each lesson:

Example of the download button.

Course #1: Dual-Polarization Radar Principles and System Operations

Radar Data Acquisition (RDA):

  • Dual-Pol RDA Lesson 1: Generation of Dual-Pol Base Data
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the RDA lesson 1     Click here to download the RDA lesson 1 ZIP file to your computer
  • Dual-Pol RDA Lesson 2: Sensitivity, Calibration, Attenuation, and Non-Uniform Beam Filling
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the RDA lesson 2     Click here to download the RDA lesson 2 ZIP file to your computer

Radar Product Generator (RPG

  • Dual-Pol RPG Lesson 1: Life without CMD, Dual-Pol Preprocessing
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the RPG lesson 1     Click here to download the RPG lesson 1 ZIP file to your computer
  • Dual-Pol RPG Lesson 2: MLDA and HCA
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the RPG lesson 2     Click here to download the RPG lesson 2 ZIP file to your computer
  • Dual-Pol RPG Lesson 3: QPE
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the RPG lesson 3     Click here to download the RPG lesson 3 ZIP file to your computer
Course #2: Dual-Polarization Radar Operations Course

Overview

  • Dual-Pol Radar Operations Course Overview
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the course overview lesson     Click here to download the course overview lesson ZIP file to your computer

Dual-Pol Radar Products

  • Correlation Coefficient (CC)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the correlation coefficient lesson     Click here to download the correlcation coefficient lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Differential Reflectivity (ZDR)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the differential reflectivity lesson     Click here to download the differential reflectivity lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Specific Differential Phase (KDP)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the specific differential phase lesson     Click here to download the specific differential phase lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Hydrometeor Classification (HC)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the hydrometeor classification lesson     Click here to download the hydrometeor classification lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Melting Layer (ML)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the melting layer lesson     Click here to download the melting layer lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Dual-Pol QPE Products
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the hydrometeor classification lesson     Click here to download the hydrometeor classification lesson ZIP file to your computer

Dual-Pol Radar Applications

  • Winter Weather
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the winter weather applications lesson     Click here to download the winter weather applications lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Hail
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the hail applications lesson     Click here to download the hail applications lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Tornadic Debris Signature
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the tornadic debris detection applications lesson     Click here to download the tornadic debris detection lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Updraft Detection/ZDR Columns
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the updraft deteciton application lesson     Click here to download the updraft detection lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Heavy Rain
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the heavy rain applications lesson     Click here to download the heavy rain applications lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Non-Precipitation Echo Detection
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the non-precipitation echoes applications lesson     Click here to download the non-precipitation echoes applications lesson ZIP file to your computer

WES Exercises

  • Winter Weather
 Click here to download the WES Exercises document
  • Heavy Rain
 Click here to download the WES Exercises document
  • Tornadoes and Hail
 Click here to download the WES Exercises document
  • Bow Echo
 Click here to download the WES Exercises document
  • Non-Precipitation Echo   
 Click here to download the WES Exercises document
  • WDTB-Approved, Locally-Developed Exercise  
  

NOTE: Offices implementing the locally developed WES exercise need to fill out this form.

Course #3: Dual-Polarization Radar Operations Course for RFC Hydrologists

Overview

  • Dual-Pol Radar Operations Course Overview
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the course overview lesson     Click here to download the course overview lesson ZIP file to your computer

Dual-Pol Radar Products

  • Correlation Coefficient (CC)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the correlation coefficient lesson     Click here to download the correlcation coefficient lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Differential Reflectivity (ZDR)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the differential reflectivity lesson     Click here to download the differential reflectivity lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Specific Differential Phase (KDP)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the specific differential phase lesson     Click here to download the specific differential phase lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Hydrometeor Classification (HC)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the hydrometeor classification lesson     Click here to download the hydrometeor classification lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Melting Layer (ML)
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the melting layer lesson     Click here to download the melting layer lesson ZIP file to your computer
  • Dual-Pol QPE Products
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the hydrometeor classification lesson     Click here to download the hydrometeor classification lesson ZIP file to your computer

Dual-Pol Radar Applications

  • Heavy Rain
    NWS employees click here to launch the course in the NWS Learning Center     NWS Partners click here to view the heavy rain applications lesson     Click here to download the heavy rain applications lesson ZIP file to your computer

WES Exercises

  • Heavy Rain
 Click here to download the WES Exercises document
  • WDTB-Approved, Locally-Developed Exercise  
  

NOTE: Offices implementing the locally developed WES exercise need to fill out this form.

Dual-Pol Webinars

WDTB currently offers two different types of webinars each month, targeting different audiences.

  • Webinar Type #1: Dual-Pol Warm-up Training
    This webinar can be provided, upon request, to NWS users. If you are interested in attending one of these webinars, please contact us at:

E-mail list for WDTB's Dual-Pol Training Team

Dual-Pol Radar Tools

Online Dual-Pol Training Aid

Description: An easy to use set of reference guides for each of the products and applications modules. They include the typical values of products for each kind of radar echo, strengths and limitations of each product, steps to the methodologies on how to apply the products to each high impact weather event.

Link: Online Dual-Pol Training Aid

WSR-88D Dual-Polarization Radar Decision Aid

Description: A document designed to help forecasters quickly review representative values of base data for various hydrometeor types.

Download: WSR-88D Dual-Polarization Radar Decision Aid (262 KB PDF)

Dual-Pol Ops Course Implementation Guide

Description: A document designed to help training facilitators at each office by answering several frequently asked questions regarding the Dual-Polariziation Radar Operations Course.

Download: Dual-Pol Ops Course Implementation Guide (1.13 MB PDF)

Printed Dual-Pol Training Aid

Description: Student guides (comparable to those from DLOC) covering each of the lessons in both dual-polarization radar training courses is available for download.

Downloads:

Feedback

WDTB welcomes your feedback on our dual-polarization radar training and how well they supported your understanding of the dual-polarization WSR-88D. Please send us your comments at the following e-mail address:

E-mail list for WDTB's Dual-Pol Training Team

 

 
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Page last modified: November 6, 2012 16:19

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