Max Wiosna - NWS WFO Albany, NY Internship
-
Upload
lyndon-amsnwa -
Category
Education
-
view
118 -
download
0
Transcript of Max Wiosna - NWS WFO Albany, NY Internship
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INTERNSHIP AT
ALBANY, NY
By Max Wiosna11/10/11
At Internship Night
Brief Overview of the NWS
Established in 1870 Known as the Weather Bureau back then
122 offices Expansion occurred in the late 80s and early 90s
158 radars WSR-88D Fully operational by the late 80s and early 90s
Now it’s very tough to get in But, retires expected to increase around 2020
Internship Overview• Found out about it from John Quinlan• Pretty much first come first serve• SUNY Albany students get first dibs• LSC students have done this in the past• Starts sometime in June and ends in late August• You don’t get paid!• I drove 95 miles sometimes from CT•And drove 45-50 miles sometimes from NY• SOO organizes it and the staff trains you
Internship Details
Independent Self Study Online courses and Exams
Software exam AWIPS
DLOC Radar exam Upper-Air Need to pass all of them to continue
Participation in NWS Operations Term Paper and Final Documentation
My Life During the Internship
Visits ASOS COOP Hydrology
MetEd courses online Shift work
Q/q shift & G/g shift Q : 3pm-9pm Q: 3pm-11pm G: 6am-2pm G: 6am-9am
Midnight shift 12am-3am
Balloon Launches Launch window: 1030z-1130z & 2230z-2330z
Projects GIS
Interview Joe Villani
Visits
CO-OP Go out in the CWA Visit cooperative observers Look at equipment to check for functionality
ASOS Replace/update equipment Go see if it’s working properly
River Gages Check the equipment Go out and find them
MetEd Courses
Complete three MetEd courses Can be found at UCAR online
Also complete online TAF exam And complete Basic Hydrological Services
Distance Learning Course on MetEd UCAR
Shift Work
G/g Shifts The G shift is the longer shift
Launch the upper-air balloon 12z Help the intern with monitoring it Help produce the RTP/RWS Help produce the HYD Complete the student AFD Also for this shift in particular do a set of TAFs
The g shift is mainly for you to do the launch at 12z After the balloon is released: Pretty much do everything like the G, except the TAFs
Q/q Shifts Complete the climate product Student AFD RTP/RWS 0z upper-air launch
Balloon Launches
Occur at 12z and 0z Inside preparation
You prep the sonde Calibrate it Baseline
Outside Preparation Assembly Call the airport for clearance Release the balloon
Monitor and quality control the data
Interview
Interviewed Joe Villani Grew up in Central Ny Loves lake effect snow Also severe weather He’s a Lead Forecaster Warning coordinator Radar watcher Also makes changes to the radar
How to Get Internships?
Don’t wait until the last minute Don’t take no for an answer
Be repetitive Don’t lie about yourself
Always tell the truth Make yourself look good Be patient and wait for a reply
Do not call or email them You can only hurt yourself by doing so
Make sure you have done everything you can
Any Questions?