The Forecast Factory: Page 2
Format
The play began with "Central Casting," a brief introduction to
Richardson, his work, and the format of the play with a list of
roles to cast. The roles included: Radiosonde Launchers, Weather
Radar, Weather Satellite,
National Meteorological Center
(NMC, now NCEP)
Map Analyzers, Data Initializers, Interpolators, and
Numbercrunchers, Telecommunicators, and TV Weatherperson.
| "THE FORECAST FACTORY" |
L. F. Richardson's 1911 Vision for
Modern Numerical Weather Forecasting
|
| A Play, In Four Acts Or So |
| |
| ACT ONE: |
OBSERVATIONS (input)
Balloons
Radar, Satellite, Aircraft, Boats
Telecommunicators |
| ACT TWO: |
DATA ANALYSIS AND ASSIMILATION
Map Drawing
Data Massaging (R&D)
Input to Models |
| ACT THREE: |
NUMERICAL MODELING
Numbercrunching to get a forecast |
| ACT FOUR: |
FORECAST DISSEMINATION (output)
Telecommunicators
Public communicators |
| IN REAL LIFE: |
It happens all at once, all the time!
Computers, not people. |
|
| Dramatis personae |
| Pick a Role |
How Many? |
Special Skills |
| TV Weatherperson |
1 |
Superior BS skills |
| TV Off-Camera Experts |
2 |
Think this is really stupid |
| NMC Data Initializers |
2 |
Good Beavis & Butt-head |
| NMC Data Interpolators |
2 |
Sound like lawyer |
| Commercial Aircraft |
1 |
Runs around, arms out |
| Weather Radar |
1 |
Shines light in faces |
| Weather Satellite |
1 |
Runs around, look at folks |
| Telecommunicators |
8 |
Run around, deliver stuff |
| Radiosonde Launchers |
6 |
Hold on to balloons! |
| NMC Map Analyzers |
4 |
Sit and look at maps |
| NMC Numbercrunchers |
7 |
Look thoughtful |
| NMC R&D |
2 |
Look very thoughtful |
| Other Wx Observers |
9 or 18 |
Pay attention! |
|
The number of students in each role varied depending on the size of
the class. Roles were described to the class and cast "on the
spot." Volunteering was encouraged with incentives in the form of
candy. Scripts were provided to each role-player, describing what
to do and also what scientific roles the play-acting represented
in real life.
The re-created and updated Richardson's Forecast Factory then
proceeded as play in four acts:
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