The WMO Information System (WIS)
and Regional Association V
(South-west Pacific)
Terry Hart
Bureau of Meteorology
Australia
Weather and Ocean Services Policy
Branch
Where is RA V?
RA V - Composition
“Western countries”
- Australia, NZ, USA (Hawaii), UK (Pitcairn Island)
South-east Asian countries (part of ASEAN)
- Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei
Pacific countries
- Papua New Guinea
- Pacific Island countries ranging in population from
800,000 in Fiji to 1500 in Niue
- mostly English speaking apart from New Caledonia
and French Polynesia
Special issues for Pacific Island countries
- small populations scattered over a vast area
- limited availability and high cost of communications
- role of regional organisations (SOPAC, SPREP)
GEONETCast Current and Planned
coverage
GEONETCast Evolution to global coverage
Asia
Sat-4
Communications
• WMO Global Telecommunications System (GTS)
– Some Pacific Island countries still relying on the Aeronautical
Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN)
• HF Radiofacsimile (Australia, NZ)
• Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
(EMWIN)
• RANET (local radio; HF e-mail; satellite digital radio
broadcasts - voice and data)
• Broadcast capacity on meteorological satellites (LRIT
from GOES and MTSAT; ISCS)
• Registered User pages – providing weather
information (satellite imagery, weather charts) to
Meteorological Services of PICs
• Internet
Examples of WIS-like functionality already being used
• Internet connections on the RMTN
• e-mail data exchange and submission of observations
implemented by RTH Melbourne and Wellington
• Collection of some observations (e.g. in remote areas of
Australia) using VPN over satellite links
• Down-loading of satellite imagery by NMHSs in the region via
Internet such as from NESDIS, JMA or the Bureau, including the
use of the SATAID system
• Registered User web pages for NMHSs in the region
• Web pages from the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre
in Singapore, such as satellite imagery for hot spots and
location of haze.
Issues for WIS in RA-V
• Difficulty to engage NMHSs and Directors of NMHSs
• Benefits not apparent (“what’s in it for us?”)
– WIS seen as an idea for advanced countries and research
institutions
– It will accentuate rather than address the “digital divide”
• Seen as something remote and way into the future
• The message of WIS is still confined within the WMO
community
Potential benefits for developing countries
in RA V
• Removing the complexity of access to observations via the GTS
- headers, decoders, formats, migration to table driven code
formats, ….
• Facilitate access to new observation types and data by defining
requirements at a functional level rather than through technical
details:
- observations: scatterometer, AMDAR, lightning, …
- NWP, seasonal to interannual predictions
- satellite imagery and derived products
- climate change predictions
• Savings on leased line costs ?
• Assisting in improving the flow of multi-disciplinary information
- e.g. tsunamis
• Provide a platform to Improve services to aviation (in the Pacific)
• Enhancing the role of NMHS as a key information provider
Requirements to realise the potential benefits
• A geographical search capability to define the data needs for
real-time data feed
• Making transparent to the NMHSs the transition to table-driven
code formats
• Providing an observational data entry facility that removes the
need for a separate GTS or AFTN link
• Demonstrated simplification and improved cost effectiveness of
communications links
• Linking to visualisation capabilities e.g. SATAID
• Effective, efficient performance for tsunami information and
warnings
• Particular challenge – timeliness, robustness, multidisciplinary and
multi-agency
• Assurance that the role of NMHS will be enhanced not
diminished (e.g. in the establishment of other DCPCs or the
general expansion of scope of the WIS)
• 7.4.x.11 Congress emphasized the crucially
important role played by the WMO regional
associations in the implementation of
observing systems. While the integration
may have a positive impact on them through
the consolidation of individual systems into a
single observational focus, thereby reducing
the complexity of global programme support
structures and activities, the important
regional implementation role of the regional
associations
will
be
mandated
and
strengthened.
Some issues for the implementation of WIS in RA V
• Need to engage NHMSs and address concerns about
their role
• Need to engage regional organisations such as:
– Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
• SOPAC is the focus for ISDR in the Pacific region
–
–
–
–
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC)
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre
(engagement of international programmes such as ISDR is one
approach – but it may be very indirect and less effective)
• Confusion in badging of initiatives
- e.g. GEONETcast or IGDDS?
• Defining potential DCPCs in the region
- no consultation yet?
• Need to see concrete signs of progress
- e.g. some small steps working outwards
In conclusion
Experience in tropical cyclones and tsunamis has highlighted to the international
community the valuable and unique infrastructure WMO has in our coordinated
operational centres, underpinned by the GTS and supporting communications
WIS is a growth path that can open up access to a broader range of information as
it evolves, but still retains the GTS functions
WIS plans fit well with the current multi-hazard multi-purpose approach to disaster
mitigation and prevention but to enhance communications among broader
environmental users we need to engage agencies outside the NMHSs in the
development of WIS
NMHSs need to understand more clearly how WIS will benefit them and to see
visible signs of implementation.