Sunday, November 9, 2008
Mary Filkins, KD8CMT

Our tour of the National Weather Service in White Lake Michigan was an extremely informative trip. It is a small place, but packed full of a techno-geek's wildest dreams! Giant projection screens, computer screens, people working at writing forecasts, satellite information. It was a very intriguing experience!

This is Richard Pollman, our guide at the National Weather Service, was a nice guy. He is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist. He spoke about the hydrogen filled weather balloons that are sent up twice a day, in unison, with other field offices throughout the USA. This information collected is sent back down to the office where it is used in forecasting weather. Here he is explaining the rain gauge that is used to "officially" measure rain fall. The rod he is holding is simply inserted into the canister and measured.

You can see behind them the large Radar dome looming in horizon.

Here we see another radar dish that collects information from their satellites. In the foreground is their high tech snow gague they use to...you guessed it- measure snow fall!

 

 

 

 


Pictured here is Sandy, KD8CUZ, Ted KF8ZO, Adam KD8CCX and sons Anthony and Andrew, Bob W8RER, Terry KD8DNH and guest.


Here we are listening to the hams in the building talk about their role at the national weather service and how important our jobs are.


This man is working on more forecasting and data collecting.


Here is a a large projection screen showing the many types of radar they use to forecast and watch weather.


This woman is working on her multi screened workstation compiling the long term forecast.

Special thanks to all the hams that could make it out. We are most likely going to plan a trip in the spring as well, for those of you who would like to return and those of you who could not make it this fall.