presents the Panama Canal Alert System

The Panama Canal One of the most important waterways in the world Over 700,000 transits through the canal since its opening on August 15, 1914 Over 700,000 transits through the canal since its opening on August 15, 1914 Uses a central lake, an 8 mile cut through the Continental Divide and 3 sets of locks to provide passage from one ocean to the other.Uses a central lake, an 8 mile cut through the Continental Divide and 3 sets of locks to provide passage from one ocean to the other.

Water Resource Management Water resource management is done by the Panama Canal Commission Meteorological and Hydrographic Branch Water resource management is done by the Panama Canal Commission Meteorological and Hydrographic Branch Management objectives are to provide enough water for canal navigation and carry out an effective flood control program Management objectives are to provide enough water for canal navigation and carry out an effective flood control program This is a large responsibility because of the watershed size and operating policiesThis is a large responsibility because of the watershed size and operating policies

The Panama Canal Watershed

Reservoir Operating Policy Maintain lake levels as high as possible Maintain lake levels as high as possible This policy reduces response time to flood control situations This policy reduces response time to flood control situations Which makes a real-time data collection system critical to operate the reservoir system efficiently Which makes a real-time data collection system critical to operate the reservoir system efficiently

Real-Time Hydrologic Monitoring System Over 50 stations report real-time rainfall and water level data to forecast hydrologists A radio interrogation system was replaced A radio interrogation system was replaced Tipping bucket sensors accurately measure the intense tropical rainfallTipping bucket sensors accurately measure the intense tropical rainfall Shaft encoders and floats measure water level to 0.01 feet.Shaft encoders and floats measure water level to 0.01 feet.

Weather Monitoring System Weather stations supply real-time data to forecast meteorologists NovaStar base station software does weather data computationsNovaStar base station software does weather data computations Dewpoint temperatureDewpoint temperature Hourly wind speed meanHourly wind speed mean Mean vector wind direction Mean vector wind direction Mean basin precipitationMean basin precipitation

Slide Detection System Land slides that occur in the Gaillard cut can be a threat to canal traffic A slide detection system will allow the canal operators to warn ship traffic A slide detection system will allow the canal operators to warn ship traffic

Data Distribution NovaStar ALERT base station computers are connected to the Panama Canal Commission intranetNovaStar ALERT base station computers are connected to the Panama Canal Commission intranet Real-time data and automatically generated reports are shared with other branches through the intranet using mounted file systemsReal-time data and automatically generated reports are shared with other branches through the intranet using mounted file systems Weather and river forecast computer systems share data with the NovaStar ALERT systemWeather and river forecast computer systems share data with the NovaStar ALERT system

System access Operators at workstations connect to the base station through the intranet for system maintenance Remote access for operators at home is provided through dial-up telephone modems Remote access for operators at home is provided through dial-up telephone modems A web page server provides intranet and internet access to the real-time data A web page server provides intranet and internet access to the real-time data

Internet data access

Rainfall and Reservoir Forecasting A technology transfer is being made between the National Weather Service and the Panama Canal Commission Short 6 hour peak times requires Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts to extend lead time Short 6 hour peak times requires Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts to extend lead time Forecasters must always strike a balance between preventing floods and keeping lake levels as high as possibleForecasters must always strike a balance between preventing floods and keeping lake levels as high as possible