Return to Table of Contents This is the unofficial, WWW version of the VORTEX-95 Operations Plan. It may differ from the published operations plan which is available by 15 March from the National Severe Storms Laboratory.
We must enforce a strict communications protocol while operations are in progress. The success of the experiment hinges on the concept of field coordination, and this requires that radio traffic be kept at the minimum necessary level. Therefore, the FC will utilize broadcasts, at regularly scheduled intervals, of all relevant weather information (nowcasts). Each nowcast will be announced in advance (e.g., " All teams, standby for a nowcast in 30 seconds" ) so that team members will be prepared to take any necessary notes relevant to their missions. It is not acceptable for teams to ask for weather information to be repeated; monitor the nowcasts carefully.
Control your ecstasy about seeing damaging weather (others are listening to our frequency and will see the tragic side of weather events), and do not use profanity. Talk professionally. Lighthearted giddiness may be good for relieving tension, but does not make a good impression on those listening in.The following list details the acceptable communications protocol in VORTEX.No inter-team communication is allowed on the Channel 1 and 2 VORTEX frequencies. Certain teams will be given permission to use VORTEX Channel 3 for mission-related communications. If other inter-team communications are required, use other means (e.g. CB radios).
Teams may initiate contact with the FC to notify him of a change of their status (i.e., stopping for data collection, rolling, stopping for gas/supplies, etc.), to report a severe weather phenomenon that has not already been reported (i.e. new cloud base rotation, dust whirl, severe hail, etc.), or to request route or data collection site guidance.
When initiating contact, follow the following protocol example: " FC, PROBE1." (Think: FC, this is PROBE1.) FC will respond with " PROBE1, go ahead" or " PROBE1 stand by" . You may proceed if you receive the go-ahead for communications.
If you are contacted by the FC, the first message from the FC will be in one of three forms in this example: " PROBE1, FC." or " PROBE1, FC, position" or " PROBE1, FC, weather" . If the FC did not request a position or weather, respond verbally by simly identifying yourself; e.g. " PROBE1" . The FC will follow your identifier response with additional communications (e.g. " PROBE1 you should consider turning northeast on state highway 9 in about two miles, just past a sharp left jog in the road." ). If the FC requested a position, simply press function key F1 XXX on your laptop. This will automatically transmit your position to the computer in the FC vehicle. If he requested the weather press function key F2 XXX on the laptop which will transmit your weather conditions.
In the event of a failure of position telemetry hardware or software, you will be asked to provide your position verbally. In this case, follow the VORTEX-94 protocol. Respond with your ID, followed by the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths digits of your latitude, followed by these same digits of your longitude. For example, if you are in PROBE1 and are at latitude 37.456N and 100.118 W longitude (according to your laptop display), reply " PROBE1 456 118" .
If you hear and understand radio conversation directed to you, respond with your ID and the word " copy" , e.g. " PROBE1 copy" . If you did not understand, respond with your ID and the message " please repeat" , e.g. " PROBE1 please repeat" .
In summary, here are three example conversations:
Example 1.
FC " PROBE1, FC, position?"
PROBE1 [Presses the F1 function key on the laptop computer]
Example 2.
FC " PROBE1, FC."
PROBE1 "PROBE1."
FC " PROBE1, please give your hourly observation."
PROBE1 " Temperature 28.1 RH 43% Pressure 972.1 Wind 185 at 9."
FC " FC copy."
Example 3.
PROBE1 " FC, PROBE1."
FC " PROBE1, go ahead."
PROBE1 " PROBE1. A dust whirl has formed at 130 degrees, 1/2 mile."
FC " 130 at 1/2 from PROBE1, copy."
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