Under this activity, CIRA partnered with NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and the Regional Meteorological Training Centers of Excellence (RMTCoE) in Costa Rica and Barbados. In 2006, the partnership expanded to include the newly recognized RMTCoE in Argentina and Brazil.
The progression of training activities focused on satellite meteorology has gone from classroom based instruction to virtual instruction and initiation of a focus group. The target group initially included forecasters, but has expanded to include researchers, students, managers and others outside the field of meteorology. Although we heavily use satellite information, we recognize the benefits of utilizing conventional observations, model data, and “whatever works”.
The Virtual Laboratory for Training and Education in Satellite Meteorology (VLab) was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) in 2003. The activites here are sponsored by NOAA, the US satellite operator.
The Regional Meteorological Training Centers of Excellence (RMTCoE) are specialized satellite applications training centers designated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). CIRA has interacted with the RMTCoE in Costa Rica and Barbados since 1996 and with the newer RMTCoE in Brazil and Argentina since 2006.