Seth Price

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• Seth Price
• New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
  University
• October, 2006

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What is Skywarn?

• Provide ground truth data to the NWS
• Trained by the NWS Basic, Advanced, Floods,
  Hurricanes, Winter Weather, etc.
• Volunteers from all professions.

Skywarn Logo1
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The Role of Skywarn

• Weather emergencies as a body
• Skywarn Eyes
• Meteorologists Brain
• Broadcasters Mouth
• Radio Operators Nervous System
• Emergency Personnel Arms/Legs
• All of these must function together!
• Students learn the interaction

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Skywarn Reporting Criteria

• Tornadoes
• Funnel Clouds
• Wall Clouds
• Hail (gt3/4 diameter)
• Wind (gt55mph)
• Rain (gt2 per hour)
• Flooding
• Winter Weather1

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Getting Involved

• Skywarn classes are free!
• Check local emergency planning groups
• Stay in touch with YOUR local NWS!

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Skywarn and Storm Chasing

• Skywarn is
• Observation is the primary function
• Encourages reporting from home, office, etc.

• Storm Chasing is
• Forecasting is the primary function
• Reporting while in pursuit

All Storm Chasers should be Skywarn Trained, but
not all Skywarn Spotters are Storm Chasers!
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What is Amateur Radio?

• A method of two way communication which began
  with Morse Code
• Similar to Citizens Band (CB) except other modes
  are allowed
• A large hobby made of smaller hobbies
• Can be used to relay weather information and aid
  in emergency communication

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Amateur Radio vs. Cell Phones

• Amateur Radio
• No monthly bills
• No network
• Often monitored by emergency services
• Some systems battery powered

• Cell phones
• No special license
• All circuits busy
• Privacy
• Battery powered

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Amateur Radio in Skywarn

• A few volunteers at the NWS office
• Volunteers at the affected area
• A net control operator

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Operating Procedures

• Local radio clubs and NWS office choose
  frequencies
• Net control calls a net, asks for check ins and
  traffic
• Net control relays reports to NWS

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Necessary Equipment

• Amateur radio license (Technician)
• Power supply car battery, solar panel, power
  line, etc.
• FM Transceiver
• Matching antenna

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Amateur Radio Then and Now
What hath God wrought? circa 18442
Automatic Packet Reporting System circa 2004
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Tornado?
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What is THAT?
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Damage Wind or Tornado?
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Conclusions

• Skywarn volunteers provide ground truth data to
  the NWS
• Ground truth must be studied carefully before
  reporting or issuing a warning
• Amateur radio is one method of communicating
  during weather events
• Get involved!!

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Acknowledgements

• Mr. David Carroll
• 2003-2006 Chase Crews
• Pulaski County High School
• Virginia Tech
• Dr. Deidre Hirschfeld

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References

• 1Basic Spotters Field Manual, NWS.
• 2www.acmi.net.au/AIC/
• 3http//www.icsrc.org/ICSRC/TILT/Weatherline
• 4Gallery of Geology Union County Glacier New
  Mexico Geology, Vol. 26, No. 4, November 2004.

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Useful Web Info

• www.skywarn.org
• www.arrl.org
• www.qrz.com
• http//www.caps.ou.edu/kbrews/spotfreq/
• www.findu.com
• www.ui-view.org
• www.byonics.com
• www.n3mra.com

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Any Questions?