GRIDs and GRIBs: Computer Weather Forecasting and Navigation

Forecasting the Future:
The Challenge: the complex chaotic behavior of the atmosphere
The Solution: today's supercomputer generated forecasts

After providing some historical context, the GRIDS and GRIBs webinar gets right to the foundation of the modern forecasting process – the giant computer models that are the basis for all professionally produced weather predictions.

Most importantly for boaters, the webinar describes the types of forecasts (GRIDS and GRIBS) that these models have made possible, their strengths and weaknesses, how to get them at no cost anywhere in the world, and how to use them in electronic chart plotting.

Topics include:

• A Brief History of Weather Forecasting;
• Numerical Weather Prediction;
• NWS Gridded Forecasts;
• GRIB Forecasts; and
• OpenCPN Weather Chart Overlays

This webinar contains advanced material. While there are no prerequisites and everyone is welcome to take this webinar, those with some weather knowledge (e.g., preferably through the USPS Weather course, but also the Basic Weather and Forecasting seminar or its online version—Weather for Boaters) will get the most out of it.

The webinar will be recorded so those who cannot participate on the date and time it is given or those who would like to review the presentation will be able to do so later. A record will be kept of those who participate (not just register) and they will receive USPS credit for having taken it.

Public announcements will be made and notices will be sent in advance of the next webinar so those wishing to participate will have ample time to register. There is no fixed schedule.