WMO STRATEGY FOR MIGRATION TO
TABLE DRIVEN CODE FORMS
18 April 2007
(Joël Martellet,
WMO, World Weather Watch, Data Processing and Forecasting
Systems)
OUTLINE
• THE SITUATION IN 2007
• A MIGRATION WITH GOALS AND CONSTRAINTS
• IMPACTS ON WORLD WEATHER WATCH DATA
FLOW AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAMMES
• MIGRATION PLAN
– IMPACT ON MEMBER STATES
– MIGRATION SCHEDULE
– SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
• STATUS
• ISSUES
Observations data flow in 2007
•
For the operation of the World Weather Watch, traditional
meteorological and marine in-situ observations are still
exchanged between Countries in Traditional Alphanumeric
Codes (TAC). Although their total volume is only several tenth
of megabytes (in comparison to about 1.5 GB for BUFR satellite
data) per day, it is still (for many years) a required input for all
meteorological applications - the number of observations for
some types exchanged in one day (1 March 2007) is indicated:
– FM 12 SYNOP (65077), FM 13 SHIP (7825), FM
18 BUOY (22016) FM 32 PILOT (855), FM 35
TEMP (1260), AIREP (23207)
(from ECMWF Global Data Monitoring Report)
DATA in BUFR or CREX already on GTS (e.g. 26/09/2005)
Data type
Number of bulletins
AMDAR
4371
2 368 667
ATOVS retransmitted by
EUMETSAT
ATOVS data
7411
98 518 455
AVHRR radiances
12 395
8 832 569
Buoy data
3 505
5 159 848
Wind profiler data
6 557
4 233 909
TRMM radiances
97 101
ACAR aircraft data
429
Geostationary
radiances
winds
Tropical storm data
236 300
and
23 427
14
Volume in bytes
507 877 149
284 840 312
3 389 556
97 789 699
4 594
ERS2 wind and wave
982
Ice concentration data
24
HD winds Terra satellite
764
CREX ozone data
11
MSG radiances, winds
10 581
EUMETSAT HD winds
348
3 906 782
Goes HD winds
2033
15 995 910
EUMETSAT radiances
1 350
17 899 182
Jason radiances
6
GPS surface pressure
309
TAMDAR aircraft data
1724
Total
3 224 970
11 012
4 591 694
81 040
152 304 931
8 322
1 414 133
809 590
1 213 262 324
ESTIMATE OF DATA VOLUME DAILY ON THE GTS OF TRADITIONAL
OBSERVATIONS IF ALL MIGRATED TO BUFR: ABOUT 60 À 65
MBYTES
Data type
Single observation size
Number of obs/day
SYNOP
332
65077
PILOT
400
855
TEMP
1500-
1260
CLIMAT SYNOP
?
?
CLIMAT TEMP
600
370
AWS
264-320
SAREP
146
SATEM
190
SATOB
Volume in bytes
21 605 564
342 000
1 890 000
222 000
30 047
5 708 930
272 116
10 918 212
METAR
178
42000
TAF
?
AMDAR
104
BUOY
Up to 398
22016
SHIP
Up to 332
7825
CLIMAT TEMP
600
370
7 476 000
2 368 661
8 762 368
Up to
2 597 900
222 000
WMO decisions on Table Driven Code Forms
• WMO Executive Council approved as operational codes:
BUFR in 1988, CREX in 2000, GRIB Edition 2 in 2001
• The Commission for Basic Systems (CBS XII - December
2000) agreed to generate a PLAN for the migration from
Traditional Alphanumeric Codes to Table Driven Codes and
established an Expert Team on Migration to Table Driven
Codes.
• The Team developed a PLAN.
• CBS Ext. (2002) endorsed the PLAN.
• The XIV WMO Congress approved the PLAN.
– http://www.wmo.int/web/www/WMOCodes/MigrationTDCF/SummaryMi
graPlan_en.pdf
• CBS XIII (March 2005) established the Coordination Team
on Migration to Table Driven Code Forms (MTDCF).
MIGRATION GOAL
• ULTIMATELY ALL OBSERVATIONS TO BE
EXCHANGED IN BUFR (WHICH OFFERS
MORE FEATURES THAN CREX, E.G.
QUALITY FLAGS, ASSOCIATED VALUES,
PACKING).
• FOR SOME COUNTRIES, HOWEVER,
CREX CAN BE AN INTERIM SOLUTION.
CBS defined constraints for the MIGRATION
to Table Driven Codes BUFR/CREX
• CBS REQUESTED:
– IT SHOULD BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION
WITHOUT NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE
WORLD WEATHER WATCH OPERATIONS
– NOT ALL AT ONCE, BUT PROGRESSIVE AND
VOLUNTARILY, BY COUNTRY OR PRODUCER,
BY DATA TYPE AND EVEN BY STATION OR
PLATFORM.
– THE PLAN FOR THE MIGRATION TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT THESE PRINCIPLES.
THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE PLAN ARE:
– THE PLAN SHOULD ALLOW FOR EVERY WMO
MEMBER TO MIGRATE.
– ALL WMO MEMBER STATES SHOULD HAVE THE
FREEDOM TO “SWITCH” INTERNATIONAL
TRANSMISSION TO BUFR (OR CREX) WHEN THEY
WANT AND WHEN THEY ARE READY TO DO SO.
– THE DATA PRODUCER, NOT THE USER, IS THE
INITIATOR OF THE MIGRATION PROCESS.
– THE MIGRATION WOULD BE A LONG-TERM PROCESS
WITH CONSIDERABLE FLEXIBILITY.
– INCENTIVES FOR MEMBER STATES TO MIGRATE TO
TABLE DRIVEN CODE FORMS SHOULD EXIST. THE
BENEFITS OF THE MIGRATION HAVE TO BE CLEARLY
EXPLAINED TO MEMBERS.
– MANUFACTURERS OF OBSERVING SYSTEMS AS WELL
AS DEVELOPERS OF PROCESSING SOFTWARE
(INCLUDING WORKSTATIONS) SHOULD BE MADE
WELL AWARE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE MIGRATION
AND OF ITS BENEFITS.
CONSIDER
THE WORLD WEATHER WATCH
DATA FLOW:
DATA
PRODUCERS
Global
Observing
System
GOS
DATA
CONVEYORS
Global
Telecommunication
System
GTS
DATA USERS
Global Data
Processing
System
GDPS
EACH WMO MEMBER STATE should find:
What is the level of automation?
Global
Observing
System
GOS
Observer
encoding
on
Teletype
Global
Telecommunication
System
GTS
Global Data
Processing
System
GDPS
Teletype Paper
Manual plotting
Forecaster
Automation for data processing:
Global
Observing
System
GOS
Observer
encoding
on
Teletype
Global
Telecommunication
System
GTS
Global Data
Processing
System
GDPS
Automatic
decoding,
plotting,display
program
Forecaster
Automation for data processing and some at
observing level
Encoding
program
Observer
Global
Observing
System
GOS
Global
Telecommunication
System
GTS
Typing through an
encoding program
Global Data
Processing
System
GDPS
Automatic
decoding,
displaying
program
Forecaster
Total automation:
Global
Observing
System
GOS
Automatic
Weather Station (AWS)
automatic encoding
Global
Telecommunication
System
GTS
Global Data
Processing
System
GDPS
Automatic
decoding,
displaying
program
Forecaster
Different functions within the data flow:
• Not to confuse the functions of:
–
–
–
–
–
Data acquisition
Data collection
Data transmission
Data reception
Data visualization
• The format used to represent data could be
different at each stage, if it is more efficient.
The format used to represent data could be different at each
stage, if it is more efficient. Not to confuse the functions of:
– Data acquisition: AWS sensors value format (or
observer reporting data)
– Data collection: Encoding in a data representation form
the observer report (or the AWS sensors values) for
national collection
– Data transmission: Keeping format or Encoding with a
view to perform international transmission
– International transmission process: If possible do not
change the data representation, just move a mail
“envelope”
– Data reception: Decode the data representation form to
feed data base or other processing applications
– Data visualization: Visualize the data values for a
human reader = convert to the most appropriate display
format for the user
WMO OBSERVATION
DATA PRODUCERS
(Global Observation System)
• 188 NMCs PRODUCE TRADITIONAL OBSERVATIONS:
– SYNOP, TEMP, PILOT, CLIMAT (also METAR; SPECI;
TAF)
• A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SPECIALISED COLLECTING
CENTRES PRODUCE:
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
SATELLITE DATA (THE MAJORITY ALREADY IN BUFR)
AIRCRAFT DATA (AMDAR, ACARS (MANY ALREADY IN BUFR), AIREP)
SHIP DATA
BUOY DATA
XBT/CTD
SUB-SURFACE PROFILING FLOATS DATA
PRODUCERS WILL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SWITCH TO BUFR
WHEN THEY NEED (INTEREST OF THEMSELVES OR SOME OF
THEIR USERS FOR NEW PARAMETERS, DATA TYPES,
METADATA). HOWEVER, ONE HAS TO ENSURE THEIR OTHER
USERS WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA (ONE HAS TO
ANALYSE DATA FLOW AND USER REQUIREMENTS)
The Global Observing System (GOS) and the concept of temporary
double-dissemination (or dual transmission) for the migration : BUFR
and CREX, or BUFR and TAC
Observation site
encodes
observation
report in:
Concentration site or
National Meteorological
Centre converts to:
National or other
non-WMO
standard format
Only TAC (to evolve)
Only CREX (to evolve)
BUFR and TAC (for a time)
BUFR and CREX (for a time)
Only BUFR
No conversion (to evolve)
Concentration site or
National Meteorological
Centre transmits
(depending on their
potential users
requirements) in:
Only TAC
CREX with all users to be OK
BUFR and TAC
BUFR and CREX if users OK
BUFR with all users to be OK
TAC
BUFR
BUFR and TAC (for a time)
No conversion (to evolve)
CREX if all users OK
BUFR
BUFR and CREX (for a time)
TAC (not recommended)
BUFR and TAC (for a time)
CREX (for a time)
BUFR and CREX (for a time)
No conversion
BUFR if all users OK
TAC
CREX
BUFR
Data conveyors: 31 RTHs (GTS)
Later: WMO Information System (WIS):
Information collection data flow
Various communication
networks
DCPC
NC
NC
NC
GISC
NC
DCPC
GISC
NC
GISC
NC
DCPC
NC
GISC
NC
NC
NC
GISC
Global Information
System Centre
NC
NC
DCPC
NC
Data Collection or Product Centre
National Centre
WIS: Information distribution data flow
Managed
data communication network
WIS DATA FLOWS
•
Impact of the migration for a Regional Telecommunication Hub
(RTH) or DCPC or GISC which receives data (routine operational
transmission: store and forward or push system):
• in Traditional Alphanumeric Codes (TAC)
– retransmits in TAC
•
in CREX:
– retransmits in CREX
• in BUFR:
– retransmits in BUFR
• Conversion BUFR to TAC or BUFR to CREX (only if possible
and easy and if associated NMCs really need it, that is: only if
there is no double dissemination)
•
•
Message Switching Directories will have to be updated (Same
MSS for BUFR or CREX bulletins as for TAC. Hence, new bulletin
header system has been developed by WMO telecommunications
experts (eg. TEMP, PILOT BUFR: 2 messages (1st) up to 100 hPa,
(2nd) all measurements):
http://www.wmo.int/web/www/ois/Operational_Information/TDCF/T
able1.html
Real time operational
DATA USERS
• The Global Data Processing System :
– 16 Centres running operationally global models
– 80 Centres running operationally regional or
mesoscale models
– 188 (all NMCs) Centres performing meteorological
applications (about 30 are not automated!)
• Who has a BUFR decoder? A universal one?
• Who has a CREX decoder? A universal one?:
• First priority of the migration:
• universal BUFR and CREX decoder for all!
GDPS CENTRES: WMCs; RSMCs; WAFCs
GDPS CENTRES RUNNING MODELS
G LOB AL O B SERV ING SY STEMS
GLOBAL DATA PROCESSING AND FORECASTING SYSTEMS
3
The migration requires
preparatory corrective actions at
GDPS Centres to avoid missing data:
•
•
•
•
•
Some Centres will have to ensure that their BUFR and CREX
decoders in their processing chain is fully universal, to avoid
missing observations.
Other Centres will have to implement from scratch a universal
BUFR and CREX decoders, to be able to receive observations in
BUFR or CREX.
Manufacturers of "turn key" work-stations inputting GTS data
would need to be approached so that they include in their
software universal BUFR and CREX decoders, either in the
existing systems, or for the new systems currently in development
or to be developed.
Centres, which are currently operating manually (about 30 over
188), will have to seriously consider automation with software
including a universal BUFR and CREX decoder. Before automation
is implemented, or before they have a “binary” connection, they
could receive and understand CREX messages with training, and
also encode and transmit observation reports in CREX.
For some Centres the Internet could allow access to data in binary
formats that are not available over their GTS link
.
ACTIONS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN (1)
• CBS (Ext. 2006) HAS APPROVED TEMPLATES AND
REGULATIONS FOR TRANSMITTING ALL TRADITIONAL
OBSERVATIONS IN BUFR (Work of Dr Eva Cervena)
– ESSENTIAL TO HAVE DESCRIPTORS FOR ALL
PARAMETERS THAT CAN BE ENCODED IN A
TRADITIONAL CODE FORM INCLUDING REGIONAL AND
NATIONAL PRACTICES
– AND TEMPLATES = LAYOUT OF THE FORMAT, LIST OF
DESCRIPTORS TO BE TRANSMITTED (COMMON
SEQUENCES)
– TEMPLATES DEFINED FOR: SYNOP, SHIP, SYNOP
MOBIL, PILOT, PILOT SHIP, PILOT MOBIL, TEMP, TEMP
SHIP, TEMP MOBIL, TEMPDROP, CLIMAT, CLIMAT SHIP,
CLIMAT TEMP AND CLIMAT TEMPSHIP
• CBS has approved amendments for GTS exchanges to
cope with BUFR and CREX bulletins, in particular Rules for
transmitting NIL BUFR/CREX bulletins or reports for
monitoring purpose>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
BUFR/CREX TEMPLATES have been defined and
some are used for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
BUOY, Sub-surface float, TESAC and BATHY data
TRACKOB data (approved by CBS)
Single level Standard AMDAR (approved by CBS)
More complex Single level AMDAR data (approved by CBS)
Ascent/descent AMDAR profile data (approved by CBS)
Old AIREP
SAREP data (Part A: Information on tropical cyclone) (approved by
CBS)
RADOB data (Part A: Information on tropical cyclone) (approved by
CBS)
AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION DATA OF:
- N-MINUTE PERIOD
- ONE-HOUR PERIOD
FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACKS DERIVED FROM EPS
EPS GRAMS
Buoy data including directional and non-directional wave data (not
validated)
VOS SHIP (not validated)
METAR/SPECI (not validated) and TAF (not validated)
CREX TEMPLATES have been defined and some are
used for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bloemhof Flood Monitoring Code for Hydrology
Tide Gauge data
Total Ozone Measurement
Ozone Sounding Coupled to a Brewer Spectrophotometer
Ozone Sounding not Coupled to a Brewer Spectrophotometer
Tropical Cyclone information
Monitoring Information
CREX sequences for coding of Squall Lines in West Africa
(approved by CBS)
CREX Template for synoptic reports from fixed land stations
suitable for manual encoding (in validation)
New CREX templates for Tide Elevation (in validation)
ACTIONS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN (2)
•
THE WMO SECRETARIAT HAS DESIGNED A WEB PAGE WITH
MUCH INFORMATION ON CODES AND MIGRATION TO TDCF. IT
INCLUDES, AMONG OTHER INFORMATION, THE INTERNATIONAL
MIGRATION PLAN AND A NEW GUIDE ON BUFR/CREX WITH 3
LAYERS : http://www.wmo.int/web/www/WMOCodes.html
• For training 3 levels have been defined:
•
– LAYER 1: FOR GENERAL PHILOSOPHY
– LAYER 2: FOR APPLICATION INTERFACING USERS, DATA
AND TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGERS
– LAYER 3: FOR ENCODER/DECODER PROGRAMMERS
WMO ORGANISED TRAINING SEMINARS (Level 1 and 2) : 2003 in
RA1 (English), in RA III/IV, 2004 in RA1 (French), in East RA II/West
RA V, 2005 in West RA II/East RA VI, 2007 in West RA VI (also a bit
Level 3) (about 130 countries have been covered so far)
ACTIONS EXPECTED FROM ALL
WMO MEMBER STATES
•
•
•
DEFINE MIGRATION CONTACT POINTS (national focal point on
Codes matters) (105 over 188 so far) does your country has one?
NOMINATE A NATIONAL STEERING GROUP ON MIGRATION TO
TDCF (TO INCLUDE THE NATIONAL FOCAL POINT)
DEFINE A NATIONAL PLAN FOR MIGRATION TO TDCF FOLLOWING THE
INTERNATIONAL PLAN - FOUND IN WMO WEB SITE:
–
http://www.wmo.int/web/www/WMOCodes.html
– IDENTIFY IMPACTS OF MIGRATION ON NATIONAL OPERATION
– IDENTIFY SOME NECESSARY (BUT USUALLY LIMITED) FINANCIAL
AND STAFF RESOURCES
•
•
DEFINE and RUN NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME ON TDCF
DEFINE AND PERFORM SOFTWARE ADJUSTMENTS:
•
•
1)process BUFR/CREX bulletins in MSS
2)introduce BUFR/CREX processing with decoder in PROCESSING CHAIN:
– RECEPTION, DECODING, DISPLAY, ARCHIVING
3)introduce BUFR/CREX encoder for the concerned data type at:
OBSERVATION or/and CONCENTRATION site (test and check format)
4) transmit BUFR/CREX Bulletins (with proper headers after notification to
WMO Secretariat)
•
•
MIGRATION:
WHAT ARE THE KEYS
TO SUCCESS? (1)
• MIGRATION TO TDCF WILL GO WITH AUTOMATION
• CANNOT BE UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT
– CAREFUL PLANNING
– TRAINING
– SOME RESOURCES:
•
•
•
•
COMPETENT STAFF
FINANCIAL
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (GROUPING FOR PROJECTS)
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
MIGRATION:
WHAT ARE THE KEYS
TO SUCCESS? (2)
• TRAINING ON BUFR/CREX - WHAT IS IT?:
–
–
–
–
LEVEL 1: FOR GENERAL PHILOSOPHY
LEVEL 2: FOR APPLICATION INTERFACING USERS, DATA AND
TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGERS
LEVEL3: FOR ENCODER/DECODER PROGRAMMERS
WMO SEMINARS:
• SEMINAR FOR WMO REGIONS
• TRAIN ALSO THE TRAINERS (WMO RMTCs, METEOROLOGICAL SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES)
– TRAINING WITHIN COUNTRIES: NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES
• SOFTWARE PROJECT:
–
SOFTWARE HOUSE: A CENTRE DISTRIBUTING FREE BUFR/CREX (GRIB 2)
DECODER and ENCODER SOFTWARE AND PROVIDING REMOTE ASSISTANCE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION, ANSWERING QUERIES
• ECMWF: encoder/decoder BUFR, CREX and GRIB1/2, transcoder CREX-BUFR
(FORTRAN, C languages and UNIX, LINUX operating systems, on Windows if
emulator UNIX CYGWIN)
• NOAA/NCEP: software under UNIX
• UNIX For WINDOWS: Brazil (INPE software), German software (BUFR), Slovak
software (private company),
BUFR
SOFTWARE
ECMWF
(DECODING/
ENCODING)
NCEP, USA
(DECODING/
ENCODING)
APPLICABILITY
(OS)
UNIX, LINUX,
Windows with
GIGWIN emulator
UNIX, LINUX
LANGUAGE
FORTRAN
FORTRAN,
C
SOURCE
CODE
AVAILABILITY
YES
INTERNET,
FREE DOWNLOAD,
DOCUMENTATION ON LINE
http://www.ecmwf.int/products/data/s
oftware/
(also CREX/GRIB 1/soon GRIB 2)
YES
INTERNET,
FREE DOWNLOAD,
DOCUMENTATION ON LINE
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/sib/d
ecoders/BUFRLIB/
or CREXLIB
DWD
(DECODING/
ENCODING)
UNIX, WINDOWS
C
NO
AT REQUEST,
AT COST
(FROM 100 $ TO 2500$)
www.ebp.de
BUFR-World (DWD)
(DECODING/
ENCODING/ GUI)
WINDOWS,
UNIX, LINUX,
SOLARIS, …
JAVA
NO
AT REQUEST,
AT COST
UKMO
(DECODING/
ENCODING)
UNIX
FORTRAN?
?
AT REQUEST FREE
BRAZIL (INPE)
WINDOWS
FORTRAN
SUPPORT
- ECMWF WILL ANSWER
LIMITED QUERIES BY
EMAIL
- ECMWF WILL UPDATE
TABLES AND MAKE NEW
VERSION FOR NEW
EDITION
- NCEP WILL ANSWER
LIMITED QUERIES BY
EMAIL
- NCEP WILL UPDATE
TABLES AND MAKE NEW
VERSION FOR NEW
EDITION
- DWD WILL ANSWER
LIMITED QUERIES BY
EMAIL
- DWD WILL UPDATE
TABLES AND MAKE NEW
VERSION FOR NEW
EDITION AND NEW OS
VERSION
LIMITED SUPPORT
NO SUPPORT,
NOR FOLLOW UP
INTERNET,
FREE DOWNLOAD
LIMITED SUPPORT
http://tempo.cptec.inpe.br:8080/pub
licacoes/
ACTIONS BY ASSOCIATED
PROGRAMMES
• THERE ARE OTHER PRODUCERS AND USERS
– SATELLITE PRODUCERS PRODUCE ALREADY IN BUFR
– OTHER PRODUCING CENTRES WILL START TO SWITCH
TO BUFR
– MARINE (JCOMM), NEED FOR BUFR ENCODERS,
DOUBLE DISSEMINATION FOR USERS:
• Service ARGOS has started dissemination in BUFR for
buoys, XBT/CTD and sub-surface profiling floats
– ICAO: ACARS, AMDAR TRANSMITTED IN BUFR, SIG
WEATHER DATA TRANSMITTED IN BUFR, SIGMET IN
BUFR BUT FAR AWAY FOR METAR/SPECI/TAF !
– USERS WILL HAVE TO BE PROVIDED WITH BUFR/CREX
DECODERS
Schedule
•
•
•
•
•
ORGANIZED BY DATA CATEGORIES WHICH HAVE BEEN DEFINED.
DIFFERENT STEPS:
START OF EXPERIMENTAL EXCHANGE: data will be made available in BUFR (CREX)
but not operationally, i.e. in addition to the current alphanumeric codes, which are
still operational.
Relevant conditions to be satisfied before experimental exchange may start:
– Corresponding BUFR/CREX-tables and templates are available;
– Training of concerned testing parties has been completed;
– Required software of testing parties (encoding, decoding, viewing) is
implemented;
START OF OPERATIONAL EXCHANGE: data will be made available in BUFR (CREX)
whereby some (but not all) Members rely on them operationally. Still the current
alphanumeric codes will be distributed (double dissemination or dual transmission ).
Relevant conditions to be satisfied before operational exchange may start:
– Corresponding BUFR/CREX-tables and templates are fully validated;
– Training of all concerned parties has been completed;
– All required software (encoding, decoding, viewing) is operational.
MIGRATION COMPLETE: at this stage the BUFR (CREX) exchange becomes the
standard WMO practice. Double dissemination or dual transmission is terminated.
For archiving purposes and at places where BUFR (CREX) exchange still causes
problems, the alphanumeric codes may be used and disseminated on a local basis
only.
MIGRATION SCHEDULE
CATEGORY OF
TRADITIONAL
ALPHANUMERIC
CODES
(TAC)
Nov.
2005
1. Common:
SYNOP; TEMP
PILOT; CLIMAT
Start
operational
exchange
2. Satellite
Observations:
SARAD, SAREP
SATEM, SATOB
3. Aviation:
METAR, SPECI,
TAF
AMDAR
4. Maritime:
BUOY, TRACKOB
BATHY, TESAC
WAVEOB, SHIP
CLIMAT SHIP
PILOT SHIP TEMP
SHIP
CLIMAT TEMP
SHIP
5. Miscellaneous:
RADOB, IAC
IAC FLEET
GRID, RADOF
Operational
exchange
Nov.
2006
Nov.
2007
Nov. Nov.
2009 2010
Nov.
2011
Nov.
2012
Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov.
2013 2014 2015 2016
Migration
Complete
Migration
Complete
Start
experimental
exchange
Operational
exchange
Nov.
2008
Start
operational
exchange
Migration
Complete
Migration
Complete
Start
experimental
exchange
Start
operational
exchange
Migration
Complete
Experimental
exchange
Start
operational
exchange
Migration
Complete
6. Obsolete: ICEAN, GRAF, NACLI etc, SFAZI, SFLOC, SFAZU, ROCOB, ROCOB SHIP, CODAR, WINTEM, ARFOR, ROFOR, RADREP, MAFOR, HYDRA, HYFOR
NOT APPLICABLE
All dates above are meant as "not later than". However, Members and Organizations
are encouraged to start experimental exchange, and, if all relevant conditions are
satisfied, to start operational exchange as soon as possible.
MIGRATION COMPLETE: For archiving purposes and at places where BUFR (CREX)
exchange still causes problems, the alphanumeric codes may be used on a local basis only.
Status of the migration to BUFR/CREX (information on 3/2007)
–
BUFR is used for archives of all data types and operational exchange of satellites data,
ASDAR, AMDAR ,wind profilers, tropical cyclone data, ARGOS data: buoy, XBT, XCTD,
sub-surface floats, RADAR data and starts to be used for translating Traditional
Alphanumeric Codes (TAC).
– RA I: Some African countries are working seriously on the migration: e.g. Botswana,
Ethiopia, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania. Some are considering to use
CREX (more metadata more precision and more flexibility compare to traditional
SYNOP code) – Senegal produces squall line data in CREX
– RA II: Japan Meteorological Agency is disseminating since November 2005 in BUFR all
TAC data (SYNOP, SHIP, PILOT; TEMP, CLIMAT, etc..), BUOY, BATHY, TESAC;
TRACKOB, tropical cyclone, wind profiler data and RADAR data - Hong-Kong produces
AMDAR - China will produce SYNOP in BUFR in 2007.
– RA III: Brazil and Argentina work seriously on development for implementation.
– RA IV: USA produces internally upper-air data in BUFR, and sea level data in CREX.
Mexico tested encoding of SYNOP, TEMP, CLIMAT and CLIMAT TEMP. Costa Rica works
on implementation.
– RA V: Australia produces tropical cyclone data in BUFR and in CREX will produce
soon SYNOP in BUFR for Australia and Papua New Guinea and works for other data
types - Fiji produces tropical cyclone data in CREX
– RA VI: Czech Republic: SYNOP, TEMP and AWS data, Israel: TEMP, SYNOP and
CLIMAT data, Jordan: SYNOP data, Germany: AWS data, Netherlands: AWS and TEMP
data (Note: “TEMP data in BUFR” means radiosonde data including time and position
of the radiosonde at each level) - Météo-France disseminates JASON 1 satellite data in
BUFR.
ACTIONS PLANNED
• Development (2007) of a data verification service
to help testing encoding of BUFR messages
• Development (2007) of a migration guidance
document explaining how to start migration
• Manufacturers are preparing: for radiosondes
and for AWS data in BUFR
• Training material (2007) to be put into the WMO
web site
ISSUES
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Misunderstanding: migration is not a drastic brutal change (as previously
for TAC codes), but slow and smooth with dual dissemination (TAC and
BUFR in parallel), TARGET DATES in the plan, Countries should plan
migration targeting those dates
Lack of visibility for the migration, for its necessity
Initial purpose: for operational real-time exchange of data between
NMHS (not for external users: e.g. OPMET)
Because it affects the whole meteorological observation data flow: it
requires a lot of attention and commitment by NMHS
Misunderstandings- Confusions:
– between visualization and transport format:
• Exchange process = several steps:
– producing (encoding), transport, decoding, DB storage,
visualizing, archiving
– between physical representation (or format) and envelop (wrapper)
(e.g. XML and NetCDF are wrappers, BUT standards of physical
representation within the general standard have to be defined).
– XML and Net CDF are not alternative to BUFR and GRIB 2: the
physical meteorological standards within XML and Net CDF would
have to be entirely defined. Many years of work would be needed (it
would be again other migration processes!).
THESE CONFUSIONS SLOW THE PROCESS FOR MIGRATION TO TDCF!
Summary: ACTIONS NEEDED
• Countries not sufficiently informed, Secretariat needs to:
– To send more circular letters with information on migration
– Improved and make up-to-date WMO web site
• Countries should develop their national migration plan and
implement it (including national training) – The FIRST ACTION,
if NMC is automated is to implement a universal BUFR/CREX
decoder
• Help for developing countries still needed (Migration goes with
automation):
– Training workshops
– Assistance by expert missions
– Pilot projects to demonstrate implementation
– Development of encoding/decoding software under Windows
would help
• Advanced countries should be models and leaders for the
migration
• Bring more considerations on TDCF migration by WMO
constituent body meetings (CBS, RAs, EC, Congress)- WMO
BUDGET REQUIRED!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
Questions???