The Spotter Network (SN) is a system that utilizes storm spotter and chaser reports of location and severe weather in a centralized framework for use by coordinators such as emergency managers, Skywarn and related spotter organizations, and the National Weather Service. It uses GPS to provide accurate and automated position data of storm spotters and chasers for coordination and reporting, which in turn provides ground truth to public servants engaged in the protection of life and property. The network is a combination of locally installed software for position and status reporting and web-based processing, mapping, and reporting.
The original Spotter Network was developed by Tyler Allison. The current president of the organization is John Wetter. It became operational in April 2006 and quickly grew to over 100 spotters. [1] Several National Weather Service (NWS) employees and other officials soon took an interest in the capabilities it brings to them to integrate ground truth provided by spotters into their operational responsibilities. Subsequent versions of the network expanded the coordinator and reporting capabilities, and NWS eSpotter integration was completed in early September 2006.[citation needed]
Spotters must pass an online test of storm structure and basic meteorology in order to use the system. All reports are also reviewed for quality control purposes.[citation needed] Contact information is provided by users and can be controlled to reach the all users (the general public) or selectively to reach emergency managers and NWS officials. SN features GIS capabilities for use with external websites and apps.
Several papers have been written on the use of the Spotter Network in meteorological research and operations such as:
Emerging Technologies in the Field to Improve Information in Support of Operations and Research[2]
The Digital Revolution of Storm Spotting Modernizations of Training, Tracking, and Reporting[3]
Enriching the Modern Day Storm Spotter Through Technology & Education Enhancements[4]
The SN is officially a Minnesota non-profit corporation, and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS and is run as an organization of like-minded individuals taking input from the various communities that it serves and making the output available to any and all who are interested in severe weather.[citation needed]
The SN has a Board of Directors and an advisory committee made up professional meteorologists, storm spotters, storm chasers, emergency response personnel, and NWS officials.[citation needed]
On February 26, 2017, storm chasers paid respects to 'Twister' star Bill Paxton by arranging their position indicators to form the initials BP.
^"Spotter Network: About". Spotter Network. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
^"Emerging Technologies in the Field to Improve Information in Support of Operations and Research". 30 April 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^"The Digital Revolution of Storm Spotting Modernizations of Training, Tracking, and Reporting" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2013.
^"Enriching the Modern Day Storm Spotter Through Technology & Education Enhancements" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2013.
External linksEdit
SpotterNetwork website
Twitter account
Facebook page
NWS Skywarn homepage
October 21, 2023
spotter, network, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2014, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Spotter Network news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Spotter Network SN is a system that utilizes storm spotter and chaser reports of location and severe weather in a centralized framework for use by coordinators such as emergency managers Skywarn and related spotter organizations and the National Weather Service It uses GPS to provide accurate and automated position data of storm spotters and chasers for coordination and reporting which in turn provides ground truth to public servants engaged in the protection of life and property The network is a combination of locally installed software for position and status reporting and web based processing mapping and reporting Spotter NetworkFormationApril 2006PurposeSevere weather spottingRegion servedUnited StatesMembershipVolunteerOfficial languageEnglishWebsitewww wbr spotternetwork wbr orgThe original Spotter Network was developed by Tyler Allison The current president of the organization is John Wetter It became operational in April 2006 and quickly grew to over 100 spotters 1 Several National Weather Service NWS employees and other officials soon took an interest in the capabilities it brings to them to integrate ground truth provided by spotters into their operational responsibilities Subsequent versions of the network expanded the coordinator and reporting capabilities and NWS eSpotter integration was completed in early September 2006 citation needed Spotters must pass an online test of storm structure and basic meteorology in order to use the system All reports are also reviewed for quality control purposes citation needed Contact information is provided by users and can be controlled to reach the all users the general public or selectively to reach emergency managers and NWS officials SN features GIS capabilities for use with external websites and apps Several papers have been written on the use of the Spotter Network in meteorological research and operations such as Emerging Technologies in the Field to Improve Information in Support of Operations and Research 2 The Digital Revolution of Storm Spotting Modernizations of Training Tracking and Reporting 3 Enriching the Modern Day Storm Spotter Through Technology amp Education Enhancements 4 The SN is officially a Minnesota non profit corporation and is recognized as a 501 c 3 organization by the IRS and is run as an organization of like minded individuals taking input from the various communities that it serves and making the output available to any and all who are interested in severe weather citation needed The SN has a Board of Directors and an advisory committee made up professional meteorologists storm spotters storm chasers emergency response personnel and NWS officials citation needed On February 26 2017 storm chasers paid respects to Twister star Bill Paxton by arranging their position indicators to form the initials BP See also EditAutomatic Packet Reporting System APRS Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network CoCoRaHS Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service RACES Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARES Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams REACT References Edit Spotter Network About Spotter Network Retrieved February 2 2018 Emerging Technologies in the Field to Improve Information in Support of Operations and Research 30 April 2009 Retrieved 3 January 2013 The Digital Revolution of Storm Spotting Modernizations of Training Tracking and Reporting PDF Retrieved 3 January 2013 Enriching the Modern Day Storm Spotter Through Technology amp Education Enhancements PDF Retrieved 3 January 2013 External links EditSpotterNetwork website Twitter account Facebook page NWS Skywarn homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spotter Network amp oldid 1141937436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
