DATA COLLECTION, STORAGE AND EXCHANGE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

Geoff Love

vice president, WMO’s Commission for Basic Systems

and

Deputy Director, Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology

Theme for the Workshop

Data access and integration:

Global and regional

initiatives and client

perspectives.

- who are the key players?

- key technical, policy and other issues?

- addressing the issues?

- directions to take?

- Are we doing enough?

Two parts to this talk:

• A review of the WMO’s data collection, storage and exchange arrangements

• Comment on the issues identified by the Workshop convenors

From a global perspective

The World Weather Watch (WWW)

• Established in 1963

• To meet the need for standardised meteorological and related data of sufficient density to meet the operational and scientific needs of the World’s meteorological community

• Operated cooperatively by the 185 Members of WMO

WWW Operational Arrangements

The WWW is built around 3 systems:

• The Global Observing System (GOS);

• The Global Telecommunication System (GTS); and,

• The Global Data-Processing System (GDPS).

GOS: (surface meteorological parameters)

GOS: (Upper air data from radiosondes)

GOS: (Aircraft reports received at the ECMWF (in UK))

GOS: (Space-based observations - TOVS data at ECMWF)

GTS: (Configuration of major links)

GDPS: (Location of World and regional centres)

Data Exchange Policy

Resolution 40 of the WMO’s 12th Congress: As a fundamental principle of the WMO, and in consonance with expanding requirements for its scientific and technical expertise, the WMO commits itself to broadening and enhancing the free and unrestricted international exchange of meteorological and related data and products

Who are the key players?

• The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services;

• The WMO;

• Data suppliers (satellite operators, ship operators, aircraft operators, etc);

• Data and information users (the list is very large!).

Key technical, policy and other issues for data providers and end-users?

• Resources;

• Coordinating requirements;

• Agreement on technological initiatives (including rate of up-take);

• Stable, long-term system management

Addressing the issues ?

• Developing and promoting the role of the WMO;

• Re-structure of CBS;

• Broadening of terms of reference;

• Inclusion of a broader base of expertise;

• Adoption of more broadly-based standards

Moving in the right direction?

• Rapid upgrade of core GTS technologies;

• Globally accessible distributed databases;

• Better links to data supplier and data user communities;

• Work, through cooperation, to avoid systems which duplicate existing functionality.

Conclusions

• Meteorology has a “killer application”, not necessarily compatible with SDI;

• Paths are possibly converging?

• Convergence through standards?

• Data access policy will be key, systems may not be enough!

• We want to work with you.