Skip to Navigation Skip to content

Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch

Search the RAMMB website

SHyMet Course for Interns

Expand All | Collapse All

This course was developed in the pre GOES-R era and contains dated information.  Although some of the principles may still be applied in the GOES-R era, these are no longer supported training courses and are made available here as reference material.  Be sure to check the link to “SHyMet Courses” for current, supported courses.

The Intern track of the Satellite Hydrology and Meteorology (SHyMet) Course will touch on Geostationary and Polar orbiting satellite basics (areal coverage and image frequency), identification of atmospheric and surface phenomena, and provide examples of the integration of meteorological techniques with satellite observing capabilities. This course will be administered through web-based instruction and will be the equivalent of 16 hours of training. Initially the Intern Track was targeted for NWS interns. It is now open to anyone inside or outside of NOAA who wishes to review the “basics” of satellite meteorology.

If you wish to register for the course, send an email to:
nws.oaa.clo.shymet AT noaa.gov
In the email, be sure to include your name and your office (site ID).

After you’ve registered via email, we will reply to you with setup instructions on how to signup for this course which will be delivered through the E-Learning Management System (LMS).

Training Modules


Understanding Satellite Imagery

Click the column heading at the top to reorder the columns - double click to switch ascending titles to descending.

Title Topic Instructor(s) Developed Updated Length (min) WMO Sat. Skill(s)
SHyMet Intern Orientation Intern Course SHyMet 2006 30
GOES Imaging and Sounding area coverage, resolution, and image frequency Archived Training Bernie Connell 2005 30
Satellite Meteorology: GOES Channel Selection Intern Course 2002 180
Polar Satellite Products for the Operational Forecaster: Introduction Intern Course COMET 2001
GOES Sounder Data and Products Archived Training Scott Lindstrom 2006 2015 30

Applications and Case Examples

Click the column heading at the top to reorder the columns - double click to switch ascending titles to descending.

Title Topic Instructor(s) Developed Updated Length (min) WMO Sat. Skill(s)
Introduction to satellite interpretation for severe weather Intern Course Dan Bikos 2006
Satellite Applications to Tropical Cyclones Intern Course Ray Zehr 2006
GOES High Density Winds Archived Training Scott Bachmeier 2005 2006 60
Cyclogenesis: Analysis Utilizing Geostationary Satellite Imagery Winter / Sat Dan Bikos 2002 75

Recommended Optional Module

Click the column heading at the top to reorder the columns - double click to switch ascending titles to descending.

Title Topic Instructor(s) Developed Updated Length (min) WMO Sat. Skill(s)
Basic Review of Satellite Foundational Topics Satellite Scott Lindstrom 2017 10

Expand All | Collapse All

The primary objective is to ensure that the intern is familiar with the satellite imagery and products available on AWIPS. The course is intended to provide a basic background of GOES and POES imagery, feature identification for various image channels and products and the significance of such.

  1. Interpret satellite data and derived products especially:
    a. Characteristics of the image and derived products
    b. Strengths and limitations of the image and derived products
    c. Operational applications of the image and derived products
  2. Interpret various large- and small-scale cloud (and moisture) patterns in satellite imagery and their corresponding meteorological conditions.
  3. Use satellite observations to supplement or complement other observation systems (data integration).

 

Yes. Except for the SHyMet Orientation lesson (1.), you will need to take a quiz and pass it (70% is the minimum passing grade for any quiz).

Yes. Many forecasters change location more than once during their career. You may move south one day and the information will be helpful. Besides this, you may come across a product that may be helpful for you in your area.

Yes. However, you will not receive for credit for completion of the SHyMet intern course and will not be able to access the teletraining sessions.

No. However, it’s highly recommended that you take section 1 (Understanding satellite imagery) before you take section 2 (Applications and case examples) and finish with Satellite Analysis of Tropical Cyclones.

The original idea of SHyMet was a full course (see here). Due to budget constraints, the first course was targeted towards interns and focused on satellite meteorology. In the future, as the course expands, hydrology will be included.

The course is now open to everyone inside or outside of NOAA. If you are within NOAA, you will get agency credit and it will be tracked through the LMS.

Yes, you can take the course if you are not a NOAA employee. You will not get college credit, but we can send you a certificate upon completion of the quizes.

When you are done with a particular lesson, email us at:
nws.oaa.clo.shymet AT noaa.gov
We will reply back to you with a quiz and evaluation form. We must get a completed quiz back from you for each lesson to be eligible for a certificate of completion. The passing grade on each quiz is 70%.

Page Contact

Bernie Connell

bernie.connell@colostate.edu

970-491-8689

Unless otherwise noted, all content on the CIRA RAMMB: VISIT, SHyMet and VLab webpages are released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.