Title:
Upper Air Program - Its Role in Weather Prediction
Topic:
Upper Air Program - Its Role in Weather Prediction
Speaker(s):
Steven Van Horn - NWS Meteorologist
Brief Description:
Weather balloons sounds like an outdated technology for making upper air observations, but it continues to be the best method for gathering critical weather data above the earth's surface. There are approximately 70 upper air stations scattered across the lower 48, including at the Spokane Weather Forecast Office, and there are around 800 upper air stations world wide. Observations from weather balloons are part of the initial conditions that go into our global model predictions and observations are taken twice each day every day of the year. These observations will be taken rain or shine, during wind storms or blizzards. This talk will go into the process of making an upper air observations and why they are still an important factor when it comes to numerical model prediction.
Steven Van Horn is a forecaster out of the forecast office in Spokane, Washington. Steven has a Master’s Degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). His National Weather Service career began at the Los Angeles/Oxnard office as a Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) student. He was hired on as a Meteorologist Intern at the Spokane Weather Forecast Office in January of 2009 and then promoted to a general forecaster in May of 2012. Steven is the aviation program leader in Spokane. Three main areas of the aviation program consists of issuing Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), forecaster training and verification.
Location of Seminar:
Puyallup Fair & Events Center
110 9th Avenue SW
Puyallup, WA 98371
Directions to Venue:
Western Washington Fairgrounds are located in Puyallup, just off Hwy 512, at the corner of S. Meridian and 9th Avenue SW. Enter fairgrounds through the Blue Gate. FREE Parking in BLUE Lot. If flying in to PLU see additional information below for shuttle details.
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Seating:
200
seats at the facility,
199
remaining for online registration.
Registration Information:
Seminar has passed.
Sponsoring Division:
FAA Safety Team
Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s):
The NW Aviation Conference and Trade Show offers numerous events, seminars, and/or workshops. Additional information on individual seminars, and/or workshops, including speaker(s) and times can be found using the following hyperlink. https://www.washington-aviation.org/index.html
A nominal admission fee to the event is required. Displays and general admission seminars, youth 17 and under are free. For additional admissions information and tickets please use the hyperlink provided. https://www.washington-aviation.org/hours.html
Equal Access Information:
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is committed to providing equal access to this meeting/event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, please communicate your request as soon as possible with the person in the “Contact Information” area of the meeting/event notice. Note that two weeks is usually required to arrange services.
Credit Applicability:
1 Credit for Basic Knowledge Topic 3
FAASTeam Project Information:
Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show
National Project:
Attend Aviation Safety Event Sponsored by a non-FAA Group or Organization
Additional Event Documents: