1. TRAINING ACTIVITIES AT LITHUANIAN HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICE IN THE PERIOD 2007–2008 Izolda Marcinonienė Chief forecaster Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service

2. Main purposes of training at LHMS Improving the knowledge of weather forecasters in Satellite meteorology application Severe weather situation New HIRLAM numerical products Hazardous ecological conditions Continuous learning and progress Radar data application (new) Development of hydrologists skills To have a good grip of natural disasters situation Application of new HIRLAM numerical products Practical use of GIS in hydrography Training of meteorologists in ArcGIS software and Spatial Analyst used in climate change model ReGCM3 (Regional Climate Model Version 3) Development of HARMONIE version in HIRLAM project for HIRLAM NWP work group Improving HIRLAM on a new scale Geophysical turbulency in lower thickness Management of automatical meteorological stations and data analysis BUFR code (decoding and encoding software within LHMS pre-processing system) Restoration of agrometeorological network and analysis of its data

3. Weather forecasters take part in: NOMEK EUMeTrain EumetCal HIRLAM GIS Additional courses and exercises

4. Training includes: Classroom learning Distance learning EumetCal Library use SatManu independent studies etc. Other activities

5. In detail... NOMEK (once a year ) EUMeTrain (continuous distance learning - Visit View lectures and weather briefings, Mini courses in autumn, convection week in June, case studies; Visit View, Wiki technology) EumetCal (blended learning courses – once a year; permanent working groups; Centra tools)

6. In detail... HIRLAM (verification and development of new version) GIS (May 2007 - May 2008) Exercises in hazardous ecological situations Other activities

7. In detail...

8. Other activities

9. Advantages Rich experience of very qualified team of teachers Tight relations between scientists and users Quickly accessible Clear Actual Innovative Cheap Storage on PC Time not limited Not easy but interesting

10. Problems Objective online sessions time (morning, summer holiday) work in shifts limited financial funding Subjective language proficiency lack of interest age of staff

11. Proposals and future plans More flexibility and timing with expected dangerous weather situations (especially for weather breafings) To involve hydrologists and climatologists in distance learning Involving students and teachers from Natural Faculty of Vilnius University New challenges – Radar and Metop data LHMS could organize some training for meteorologists in future (as it was in 2001, 2002).

12. Better than ever...