VCP Training

[rdale]

Don't know your 11 from your 221? WDTB posted VCP training today at http://wdtb.noaa.gov/modules/vcpTraining/index.html

There are now nine different VCPs available for operational use. Some have been around since the original deployment, while others are relatively new. The choice of VCP in real time is based on current or expected weather or data quality issues. It is also sometimes influenced by concerns about wear and tear on the WSR-88D hardware. This training package will address all of these contributors to VCP selection.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Can some one tell me why TSA seems to always have it in VCP 21, even during severe weather events?

 

[rdale]

Drop the WCM a note, he'll be the main one that knows.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Drop the WCM a note, he'll be the main one that knows.

Ed Calinese? He couldn't find the Pitcher tornado on radar until another WFO called the WFO and asked them why they didn't have a warning on the storm despite the reports that were coming in.

He admitted to this during the spotter training class in Fayetteville, AR this year in their review of 08.

 

[rdale]

I suppose that's him - but to be honest I'm not quite sure all the rest of that is needed or respectful of his position.

 

[Lanny Dean]

I suppose that's him - but to be honest I'm not quite sure all the rest of that is needed or respectful of his position.

Why not?? It was a massive DEADLY tornado that had known warning issues out of that CWA. Is this not a good place to talk about it??

Bart, interestingly enough, there is more to that story than meets the eye. After the call was made there was still quite a bit of indecision as to what was really going on. All due to not looking at/changing VCP until after the fact.

 

[Clarence Bennett]

Can some one tell me why TSA seems to always have it in VCP 21, even during severe weather events?

OHX is the same way. Fortunately, it hasn't cost us any lives yet.

 

[Robert Dewey]

Why not?? It was a massive DEADLY tornado that had known warning issues out of that CWA. Is this not a good place to talk about it??

Not there's anything wrong with him asking, but I think it makes it that much less likely that you'd get a response

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Why not?? It was a massive DEADLY tornado that had known warning issues out of that CWA. Is this not a good place to talk about it??

Bart, interestingly enough, there is more to that story than meets the eye. After the call was made there was still quite a bit of indecision as to what was really going on. All due to not looking at/changing VCP until after the fact.

Oh trust me Lanny I know it all. Check your PM.

 

[rdale]

Why not?? It was a massive DEADLY tornado that had known warning issues out of that CWA. Is this not a good place to talk about it??

Is the thread about VCP training, in the Educational forum, the appropriate place to discuss the decisionmaking process for a tornado event last year? Unless the decision to not warn was because of the VCP mode, I think the common sense answer is -- no.

 

[Randy Bowers]

After the call was made there was still quite a bit of indecision as to what was really going on. All due to not looking at/changing VCP until after the fact.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/weather-events/may10_2008/picher_velocity.png

Looks like KINX was in VCP 12 for the scan before Picher was hit.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/weather-events/may10_2008/picher_velocity.png

Looks like KINX was in VCP 12 for the scan before Picher was hit.

12 isn't much better. It seems to get kinda wanky. Just look at the March 12, 2006 tornado that hit benton county, arkansas. Both INX and SRX have massive holes where the storm is.

 

[Randy Bowers]

12 isn't much better. It seems to get kinda wanky. Just look at the March 12, 2006 tornado that hit benton county, arkansas. Both INX and SRX have massive holes where the storm is.

For the 2006 event, VCP 12 was likely the best choice. VCP 212 (with its better handling of range folding) wasn't available until 2007.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

For the 2006 event, VCP 12 was likely the best choice. VCP 212 (with its better handling of range folding) wasn't available until 2007.

Wouldn't VCP 11 and 211 been a better choice?

 

[Randy Bowers]

Wouldn't VCP 11 and 211 been a better choice?

The big advantage of 12/212 over 11/211 is better low level resolution. The lowest three elevation angles of VCP 12/212 are 0.5°, 0.9°, and 1.3°. For VCP 11/211, the lowest three elevation angles are 0.5°, 1.45°, and 2.4°.