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<br />A. WEATHER FORECASTING/OPERATIONAL PLANNING <br /> <br />Both the Lakin and Colby meteorologists prepare daily weather <br />forecasts for their areas of primary responsibility. Most of the <br />weather data used by the WMWMP originates at the National Weather <br />Service or National Center for Atmospheric Research. Much of the <br />data is processed before being disseminated over the Internet by <br />various 'governmental, private and university groups. Other sources <br />of information fill in real-time information gaps which exist at <br />times these other groups are not disseminating their data. <br /> <br />Radio and TV weather programs are two sources of useful weather <br />information. Unfgrtunately, media information is ~sufficient in <br />detail to successfully conduct an operational weather modification <br />program in real-time. The TV sets in the WKWMP field offices provide <br />another access to networks' weather updates, advisories, alerts and <br />occasional real-time Doppler radar displays during severe storm <br />periods. Network affiliates provide another perspective during <br />operations and are occasionally monitored in the background. All <br />network affiliate station meteorologists in this area exhibit a high <br />degree of professionalism and provide the viewing public with timely <br />severe weather information. <br /> <br />With respect to the various media distribution of weather <br />products, The Weather Channel (TWC) generally does the best job of. <br />providing 24-hour-a-day non-stop television weather updates when <br />viewed on local TV cable as it includes frequent regional radar and <br />satellite data. TWC is monitored by WKWMP personnel in their homes <br />and at other places but not at the WKWMP field offices due to its <br />distant location from the local cable TV lines. What is monitored <br />more often at the field headquarters in Lakin is a service begun in <br />1994 provided by Data Transmission Network (DTN). . <br /> <br />DTN'is a data-base provider of agricultural and weather-related <br />information. Its data is on continuous-feed to us by satellite. <br />Among the weather data provided are hourly satellite imagery, 15- <br />minute delayed regional, national radar composites, short and long <br />range weather forecast maps, text weather statements, severe weather <br />warning advisory areas produced by the National Weather Service, <br />general regions showing near-term expected severe storm activity, <br />jet stream cores, precipitation estimates, current regional surface <br />windspeeds and directions, humidities and drought index conditions. <br />DTN offers a variety of near-real time radar composites which can <br />be displayed variously allowing the user to interact with it to <br />modify it to his preference. For example, a desired area of <br />interest can be enlarged for better viewing a composite of radar <br />data and it can be looped to see storm movement over a past few <br />hours. Similarly, satellite data can be looped and zoomed as <br />desired. <br /> <br />In addition to its many readily available weather products and <br />the long-term radar maintenance savings it provides, DTN is <br /> <br />14 <br />