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The Weather Prediction Center

WPC International Desks Training Curriculum
Updated on 3 January 2023

The WPC International Desks training emphasizes the application of numerical model and satellite products to enhance the analysis and forecasting of weather and climate. During the training, the vising fellows are exposed to a broad spectrum of products, as well as to a diversity of analysis and forecasting techniques. Operational applications focus on their regional area, but exposure to broader forecasting domains highlights their understanding of the importance of larger scales and scale interaction to maximize the accuracy of their regional forecasts.

The following curriculum is not all inclusive, as visits to other work areas in the NCWCP building are part of the training plan.


  1. South American Desk:

    1. Jet Dynamics

      1. Convergence/Divergence
      2. Ageostrophic Circulation (Direct/Indirect)
      3. Coupled Jets
      4. Conceptual Model vs. Reality
      5. Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Shear
      6. Potential Vorticity

    2. Streamline Analysis at 200 hPa

      1. Bolivian High/Subtropical Ridge
      2. Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT)/"Cavado do Nordeste"
      3. Positive/Negative Tilt

    3. Stability/Moisture

      1. KI
      2. SSI
      3. TTI
      4. LI
      5. Convective Instability

    4. Boundary Detection/Identification

      1. Cold Front
      2. Warm Front
      3. Frontal Shearline
      4. Temperature vs. Equivalent Potential Temperature

    5. Analysis of Constant Pressure Charts

      1. 500 hPa: Heights, Vorticity, Advection of Vorticity
      2. 250 hPa: Height, Max Wind, Jet "Labeling"
      3. Mean Sea Level Pressure and 1000-500 hPa Thickness

    6. Operational Application of Isentropic Surfaces

      1. Adiabatic Lifting
      2. Subsidence

    7. Scale Interaction

      1. Meso and Synoptic Scale
      2. Negative vs. Positive Interaction

    8. Diffluence/Confluence vs. Divergence/Convergence

    9. Transport/Advection

      1. Subjective Analysis Techniques
      2. Objective Analysis Techniques
      3. Vorticity and Advection of Vorticity
      4. Temperature and Moisture Advection

    10. WINGRIDDS: Software to Analyze Model Data

      1. Software Installation
      2. Data Ingest
      3. Operations and charts generations
      4. Generally used commands
      5. Macros
      6. Customizing/Software Management

    11. Numerical Weather Prediction

      1. Characteristics and Limitations
      2. Comparison between ECMWF, UKMET and MRF/AVN
      3. Analysis and Interpretation
      4. Regional Models and Data Availability

    12. Climatic Control Features and Seasonal Variations.

      1. South Pacific Features
      2. South Atlantic Features
      3. Continental Systems

    13. Establishment of Forecast Confidence.

      1. Weighing model output
      2. Application of conceptual models and climatology

    14. Forecast communication.

      1. Establishing user confidence by maximizing forecast consistency
      2. Adapting the message to the audience
      3. Impact-Based Decision Support Services
      4. Key messaging

  2. Tropical Desk:

    1. Jet Dynamics

      1. Convergence/Divergence
      2. Ageostrophic Circulation (Direct/Indirect)
      3. Coupled Jets
      4. Conceptual Model vs. Reality
      5. Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Shear
      6. Potential Vorticity

    2. Streamline Analysis at 250, 500, 700 (seasonal) and 850 hPa

      1. Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT)
      2. Bermuda High/Subtropical Ridge
      3. Positive/Negative Tilt
      4. ITCZ/Equatorial Trough Anchoring Lows
      5. Cross Equatorial Mid/Upper Level Flow

    3. Stability/Moisture

      1. KI
      2. SSI
      3. TTI
      4. LI
      5. Convective Instability

    4. Boundary Detection/Identification

      1. Cold Front
      2. Warm Front
      3. Frontal Shearline
      4. Temperature vs. Equivalent Potential Temperature

    5. Tropical Waves

      1. Vertical Extent
      2. Positive/Negative Tilt
      3. Convergence/Divergence

    6. Tropical Cyclone

      1. Spurious Cyclones
      2. True Cyclones
      3. Bogus Data Assimilation

    7. Scale Interaction

      1. Meso and Synoptic Scale
      2. Negative vs. Positive Interaction

    8. Diffluence/Confluence vs. Divergence/Convergence

    9. Transport/Advection

      1. Subjective Analysis Techniques
      2. Objective Analysis Techniques
      3. Vorticity and Advection of Vorticity
      4. Temperature and Moisture Advection

    10. Operational Application of Isentropic Surfaces

      1. Adiabatic Lifting
      2. Subsidence

    11. Shallow vs. Deep Convection

    12. WINGRIDDS: Software to Analyze Model Data

      1. Software Installation
      2. Data Ingest
      3. Operations and charts generations
      4. Generally used commands
      5. Macros
      6. Customizing/Software Management

    13. Numerical Weather Prediction

      1. Characteristics and Limitations
      2. Comparison between ECMWF, UKMET, ETA, NGM and MRF/AVN
      3. Analysis and Interpretation
      4. Regional Models and Data Availability

    14. Climatic Control Features and Seasonal Variations.

      1. Highs/Lows and Ridges/Troughs
      2. Mean Synoptic Flow
      3. ITCZ/Equatorial Trough

    15. Establishment of Forecast Confidence.

      1. Weighing model output
      2. Application of conceptual models and climatology

    16. Forecast communication.

      1. Establishing user confidence by maximizing forecast consistency
      2. Adapting the message to the audience
      3. Impact-Based Decision Support Services
      4. Key messaging





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Page last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2023 21:32:35 UTC