Outreach Programs at WFO Wakefield

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Cooperative Observer Program

The Cooperative Observers Climatological Network was created in 1890. The program is currently administered by the National Weather Service. One of our responsibilities is to take meteorological observations which are used to record the climate conditions of the United States. The National Weather Service relies heavily on a cast network of cooperative weather observer volunteers to achieve this objective. The National Weather Service determines where observations are needed and furnish standard meteorological instruments to individuals who volunteer their time to take and record daily observations of the weather. Currently there are about 8000 published volunteer observing stations operated by individuals. All cooperative observers submit a monthly report summarizing daily weather observations. These contributions to the NWS mission are invaluable. At Wakefield, we monitor stations in East-Central Virginia, Northeastern North Carolina and the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.

If you would like to find out more about the National Weather Service's Cooperative Observer Program, click here or here to visit the Cooperative Observing Program Homepage at the National Weather Service Training Center

Interested in joining the CoCoRaHS network?

Virginia and Maryland are now members of the CoCoRaHS Precipitation Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow).   By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Web-site, CoCoRaHS aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications.

Click here to read more about joining the CoCoRaHS network!

Cooperative Research with Universities and Other Government Agencies

The Wakefield Weather Forecast Office (WFO) is currently engaged in a multi-year study with the University of Virginia to provide a statistical quantification of mixed precipitation events in the Middle Atlantic region, specifically the state of Virginia.This study will focus on mixed precipitation events occuringin conjunction with cold air damming and coastal frontogenesis. The funding for this cooperative project is provided by COMET. For more informationon COMET click here.

The Wakefield Weather Forecast Office (WFO) is also engaged in a multi-partner study to provide mesoscale forecasts for the Chesapeake Bay region. This study involves the implementation of the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) for theChesapeake Bay and the implementation of the RAMS model to provide mesoscale forecasts of winds and waves on the Chesapake Bay. The LAPS portion of the study will cover data assimilation of various data sources (Buoy Obs, Surface Obs, Profiler Data from Aberdeen Proving Ground, WSR-88D base velocity and spectrum width data and local mesonets such as the 4-Winds network). The implementation of the RAMS mesoscale model is the forecast portion of the study. The RAMS model will provide forecasts of winds, waves and water levels for the Chesapeake Bay as well as atmospheric parameters out to 24 hours. The horizontal resolution of the forecasts is expected to be at 5 to 10 KM resolution.

Some of the partners involved in the study are.....

The National Ocean Service

The Air Resource Laboratory in Washington,D.C.

The National Weather Service office in Sterling, VA.

The Forecast Systems Laboratory
 

The Wakefield Weather Forecast Office (WFO) is also engaged in research into regional forecast issues pertinent to the southeastern United States and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Most of this research has been spearheaded by the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Raleigh, North Carolina with a considerable amount of collaboration with North Carolina State University (NCSU). Some of the key forecast issues addressed in this research include.....

Precipitation type using partial thicknesses and regression.

Climatology of Mixed Precipitation events in the Mid-Atlantic region

The Spectrum of Cold Air Damming in the Mid-Atlantic region

Cold Fronts Aloft, Gravity Waves and Mesoscyclones in the southeastern United States

WFO Wakefield has worked extensively with Dr. Steve Koch to develop a Gravity Wave Tutorial Home Page for the joint NWS-NCSU Workshop on Cold Fronts Aloft, Gravity Waves and Mesocyclones in the southeastern United States which was held in Raleigh, N.C. August 11-12, 1998.
Click here to access the Gravity Wave Tutorial

The research indicated above is conducted by several other offices in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. Some of the offices involved include:

WFO Raleigh, N.C.

WFO Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C.

WFO Blacksburg, VA