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AWC Director's 2006 AMS Presentation on G-AIRMET:
PDF Format PPT Download
G-AIRMET Printable Brochure:
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GAIRMET Demo
For decades, NOAA has issued text-based AIRMETs (Airmen's Meteorological
Information) that provide a broad-scale description of hazardous weather. Often
referred to as a time "smear", the text AIRMET requires meteorologists to
describe hazards over large geographical areas spread over six-hour periods. A
new product, called "Graphical-AIRMET" (G-AIRMET), promises to provide a
decision-making tool based on weather "snapshots" at shorter time intervals.
The G-AIRMET will be able to identify hazardous weather in space and time more
precisely than text, enabling pilots to maintain high safety margins while
flying efficient routes.
In aviation weather, pictures are worth a thousand contractions...
G-AIRMETs are a better way for aviation forecasters to show you their forecast
through interactive and easy to understand graphical displays. Forecasters will
put their energy into creating and updating G-AIRMET depictions. Traditional
text AIRMETs will still exist, but will be derived from and consistent with
G-AIRMET information.
The examples above show two scenarios and compare how the current AIRMET and the
new G-AIRMET would depict each. For an additional demonstration of the type of
products being proposed, view this demo.
In the scenario on the left, an area of weather is moving from southwestern Ohio
into western North Carolina and increasing in size. The AIRMET at top-left
(drawn from the text AIRMET product) is forced to encompass this entire region
for the full six-hour forecast period. The G-AIRMET at lower-left is able to
depict the precise position, size, and shape of the area at three distinct times
within the same forecast period.
In the scenario on the right, an area of weather is developing in central
Missouri and remaining in that area as it expands eastward and increases in
size. Again, the AIRMET (drawn from the text product) must show the entire area
for the full forecast period. The G-AIRMET, however, is able to accurately
depict the area as it develops.
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