The
Coastal Weather Research Center is located on the main
campus of the University of South Alabama. Located about
6 miles west of downtown Mobile, USA has a population
of more than 12,000 with a faculty exceeding 600. Although
the main campus has more than 100 buildings, there are
spacious areas of grass and trees that provide a pleasant
environment.
Library - Main Campus
Mitchell Center
Completed in 1999, the Mitchell
Center is the home of the Coastal Weather Research Center
as well as the men's and women's basketball programs,
Mitchell Center operations, the Waterman Globe, and a 10,000-seat
sports arena. The multi-purpose
building also contains a large lecture hall, classrooms,
and meeting rooms.
The
offices of the Coastal Weather Research Center were
designed to be highly visible. Several windows allow
tours, as well as arena visitors to see the Weather
Center in operation. In this photograph, the entrance
to the Weather Center is on the right, the briefing
area in the center, and the meteorology lab on the left.
The Coastal Weather Research Center
(outside view)
Entrance to the Weather Center
The
Weather Center officially began operation on January
1, 1988. Today, the Center consists of a communication
area, map and briefing display, archive room, and offices.
Numerous telephone lines, special circuits, satellite
systems, battery power supplies, and generators insure
a steady flow of data to the Center during the worst
weather conditions.
From the main console, the forecaster
is able to analyze weather across the world. Alphanumeric
data steadily streams across the screen of one computer
while the latest satellite imagery appears on an adjacent
monitor. Nearby, a direct connection to the Doppler
radar at Mobile Regional Airport provides an array of
new images minutes apart. While checking a monitor that
displays the current weather conditions at the campus
weather station, the forecaster can load the latest
Weather Center forecast and discussion into the Computerized
Weather Information Service.
Weather maps are continuously
received by satellite and are displayed in the briefing
area. By using the map display or available internet
terminals, the forecaster can immediately review the
latest surface and upper air charts as well as computer
models. Importantly, a large collection of past maps
are kept in the display area to provide the forecaster
with continuity. Meteorology students frequently visit
the display to review the current weather situation
or prepare course briefings for synoptic meteorology.
The
Coastal Weather Research Center maintains an archive
of weather and climate information. Nearly 100 years
of data are available to the staff and students for
research. Most of the data is on computer, however,
the Center has an archive of historic data covering
most of the first half of the twentieth century. Bound
volumes date back to the late 1880's including many
original observation ledgers used by the old U.S. Weather
Bureau office in downtown Mobile.
Coastal Weather Archive
Telephone Briefing
In
order to serve its clients, the Weather Center provides
information by FAX, computer, and direct telephone.
Through computer modems and the Internet, the Computerized
Weather Information Service provides a combination of
National Weather Service products and Coastal Weather
forecasts and special warnings. Despite the technological
advances, direct telephone briefings remain the most
popular. During times of severe weather, clients prefer
to talk to a meteorologist and ask questions that relate
specifically to their business site.
University
of South Alabama - Mobile
Alabama 36688-0002 / 1 (251) 460-6101
For questions or comments Contact
Us
Last date changed:
July 14, 2003 2:06 PM
http://www.southalabama.edu/cwrc/virtualtour.html
Virtual
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