WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
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Distr.: RESTRICTED
CBS/OPAG-IOS (ET AWS-1)/Doc. 2
(20.VIII.2002)
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COMMISSION FOR BASIC SYSTEMS
OPEN PROGRAMME AREA GROUP ON INTEGRATED
OBSERVING SYSTEMS
ITEM: 1.2
EXPERT TEAM ON REQUIREMENTS OF DATA FROM
AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS
Original: ENGLISH ONLY
FIRST SESSION
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 2-6 SEPTEMBER 2002
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.
ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING
1.1
Opening of the meeting
The Meeting of the Expert Team on Requirements of Data from Automatic Weather
Stations (ET/AWS) will be opened on Monday, 2 September 2002, at 10:00 a.m. at the WMO
Headquarters, Geneva.
1.2
Adoption of the agenda
The Meeting will be invited to consider the provisional agenda with a view to its adoption.
1.3
Working arrangements for the meeting
The Meeting will agree on details concerning the organization of its work including working
hours. The documentation will be available in English only, and the Meeting will be held in English.
2.
REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN
The chairman will brief the participants on the purpose and scope of the meeting based on
the terms of reference of the Expert Team as well as on the results of the Twelfth Session of CBS
(Geneva, 29 November - 8 December 2000). He will also submit a report on the activities carried
out by the ET/AWS since CBS-XII according to the Working Plan.
3.
REVISED FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING
SYSTEMS FOR BUFR/CREX TABLE DRIVEN CODES
The meeting will consider the revised Functional Specifications for Automated Weather
Observing Systems for BUFR/CREAX Table Driven Codes after comments received from WMO
Technical Commissions and make proposal for CBS-Ext.(2002).
3.1
The BUFR Template for AWS data and new BUFR descriptors
The meeting is invited to discuss the BUFR templates and descriptors for surface
observation data, including data from AWSs recommended by ET/DR&C (Prague, April 2002) and
make recommendations for CBS-Ext.(2002).
CBS/OPAG-IOS (ET AWS-1)/Doc. 2, p.2
4.
REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTOMATED OBSERVATIONS OF “PRESENT WEATHER”,
CLOUDS, WATER VAPOUR AND THE “STATE OF THE GROUND” IN ORDER TO
IDENTIFY THE NECESSITY TO DEVELOP OR REFINE QUANTITATIVE DEFINITIONS
The meeting is invited to review the list of requirements for automated observations of
“present weather”, clouds, water vapour and the “state of the ground” with the view to identify the
necessity to develop or refine quantitative definitions.
5.
REVIEW AND REFINE PRACTICES FOR REPORTING THE INSTANTANEOUS
PRECIPITATION INTENSITY, TOTAL CLOUD AMOUNT AND CLOUD HEIGHT
Under this agenda item, the meeting is invited to review a list of recommended
measurement practices and a list of proposed new practices for reporting respective variables.
6.
SUGGESTIONS ON POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF MANUALLY OBSERVED TYPES
OF CLOUDS USING AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY
The meeting is invited to review available and near future technology for direct and indirect
measurements of clouds and make proposal on replacement manual measurement of clouds by
automatic systems.
7.
PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES FOR DATA FROM
AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATIONS
Under this agenda item, the meeting is invited to consider proposal of the new concept of
Quality Control Procedures for AWS data and consider the possibility of the validation of checking
algorithms.
8.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
8.1
Information on EUMETNET PWS-GTS project
Under this agenda item, the meeting is invited to note the activities taken by the
EUMETNET and its pilot project for exchange of observations from AWSs using BUFR code.
9.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO CBS-EXT. (4-12 December 2002)
The Meeting is invited to develop recommendations to CBS-Ext.(2002) according to the
ET/AWS Work Plan.
10.
FUTURE WORK PLAN
The Meeting is invited to develop recommendations to CBS-Ext.(2002) regarding the need
for ET/AWS continuity and its future work programme.
11.
CLOSURE OF THE MEETING
It is expected to close the meeting on Friday, 6 September 2002, afternoon.