Dams and Dam Failure - Module 2: The St. Venant Equations, Modeling, and Case study
This second module in the two-part series expands on the science explaining catastrophic dam failure and flood-wave prediction methods associated with these events. Through use of rich illustrations, animations, and interactions, this module introduces the St. Venant equations for dynamic wave flow, and flood wave characteristics. It also explains the general dam failure process along with advantages and limitations of dam failure models including model stability, accuracy, and sensitivity issues. Finally, it also provides an overview of the Grand Teton Dam failure, one of the most famous hydrologic events in US history. The two modules of this series are designed to be taken consecutively and together provide a fundamental understanding of this complex hydrologic topic.
North Wall Effects on Wind and Waves
North Wall events refer to high wind and wave events that occur along the north edge of warm, fast, western boundary currents. These events occur along the Gulf Stream off the mid-Atlantic states of the U.S. and along the Kuroshio Current near Japan and Taiwan. North Wall events present severe challenges and hazards to marine operations. Gale force winds and waves higher than 20 feet regularly occur. Rogue waves are frequently reported during North Wall Events. This module will explore the relationships between atmospheric stability, winds, waves, and ocean currents. To do this, we examine the relevant aspects of three case studies: (1) cold season Gulf Stream, (2) cold season Kuroshio Current, and (3) warm season Gulf Stream. In each case we will examine the relevant aspects of several topics, including the synoptic setting, ocean currents, evolution of the marine boundary layer, growth of ocean waves, and potential wave-current interactions.
Introduction to Tropical Meteorology, Chapter 10
Chapter 10 will describe tropical cyclones, their naming convention history, seasonal and geographic variability and controls, and decadal cycles. Additional topics will include tropical cyclogenesis, the core and balance solutions for regions of the cyclone, and factors that influence cyclone motion. Intensity scales and satellite interpretation techniques, links between inner and outer core dynamics, and limits on intensity will also be discussed. Final topics will include extratropical transition and societal impacts.
Introduction to Distributed Hydrologic Modeling
In this webcast, Diane Cooper, with the Southern Region Headquarters of NOAA's National Weather Service, provides a scientific understanding of the basic physical processes, mathematical equations, and data issues with respect to distributed hydrologic models, particularly those used by NOAA's National Weather Service. Ms. Cooper first explains the background of hydrologic modeling and how that influences the current state-of-the-art for distributed hydrologic modeling. She then describes the physical processes that distributed hydrologic models are attempting to capture and covers a few basic mathematical equations related to these models. She also identifies modeling challenges and concerns related to the complexity and large data requirements, and gives an overview of the results to date of distributed hydrologic models used at the NWS. The target audience for this Webcast is NWS forecasters who have little or no training in hydrology but can benefit from knowing how distributed hydrologic models work.
Analyzing Ocean Swell
This module will describe the main elements to consider when determining swell characteristics from wave model and buoy data. The module focuses on data products available from NOAA, including spectral plots, swell maps, and text bulletins. East and West Coast wave-masking exercises conclude the module. The content in this module is excerpted from the previously published COMET module, Rip Currents: Forecasting.
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