RA-IV WIGOS Implementation Workshop
(English),
1 - 3 December, Willemstad Curaçao
United States of America
Presentation
Robert Grumbine
National Weather Service
Robert.Grumbine@noaa.gov
Outline of the Presentation
1.Mission of the NMHS
2.National Observing Issues or Needs
3.Plans for the Observing Networks
4.WIGOS Implementation Status
5.Summary
Mission of the NMHS
Provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and
warnings for the protection of life and property and
enhancement of the national economy.
Event
Date
Area Affected
Fatalities
Hurricane Katrina
2005 U. S. Gulf Coast states
Tornado outbreak
2011
Six southern U. S. states 346
$11 million
Mississippi River Flood
2011
Mississippi River Valley 20
$2-$4 billion
•NWS Office of Observations
2,000
Economic
Losses
$80 billion
- Component of the reorganized NWS Headquarters
-Aligns programs for optimal management of resources
Major needs and gaps in observing capabilities and
access
No major gaps, but collaboration opportunities
to meet needs:
Ocean surface vector winds, Arctic observations,
vertical wind profiles and aircraft observations (Gulf
of Mexico and Caribbean Sea)
Methods under development to assess needs and
gaps within NOAA and other agencies in the U. S.
government
Plans for the National Observing
Networks
Develop real-time monitoring and reporting capability to support
operations
NWS Headquarters reorganization, April 2015 leading to new
procedures and approach to managing observations
Regional Instrument Centers (RICs)
Sterling Field Support Center is being analyzed as a potential RIC
Mt. Washington
National Data Buoy Center (Regional Marine Instrument Center)
Maintain observing capabilities
NEXRAD Service Life Extension Program
ASOS Service Life Extension Program
Frequency migration for radiosondes
Mesonet
WIGOS Implementation Status
WMO monitoring indicates 8 silent stations:
6 RBSN surface/1 silent RBSN upper air/1 silent RCBN
NWS investigating to resolve this discrepancy
Several U. S. databases
NWS Office of Observations analyzing combining databases
(MADIS, by interacting with OSCAR, may do this)
Data access via Global Telecommunication System (GTS) and
WMO Publication No. 9, Volume A
Data and metadata access via National Centers for
Environmental Information NCEI (archived) and Global
Information System Centers (GISC)
WIGOS Implementation Status
Completion of updated National WIGOS
Implementation Plan anticipated by early 2016
WIGOS Quality Management Pilot Project
Aircraft observation over Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Caribbean radar data for Numerical Weather Prediction
Training is needed to take full advantage of Observing
Systems Capability Analysis and Review tool (OSCAR)
WIGOS Implementation Status
Formal agreements with partners including:
USGS
USACE
IOOS
NASA
DoD
DOT
US Navy
US Air Force
Partners access our data via:
Web interface
FTP
WIS/GISC
NOMADS
No significant barriers or constraints
Barrier to locating/accessing information
WIGOS Implementation Status
WIGOS Pilot Project – assisting development of
Quality Management processes and procedures
U. S. is exploring quality management options through
MADIS
NWS process includes policy, directives and
instructions
Implementation is monitored
Summary
U. S. NWS Headquarters reorganization is
improving observing operations
All observations activities, including monitoring
and planning are now in one office
WIGOS implementation progressing
U. S. participating in quality monitoring pilot with
WIGOS Project Office
Updating national implementation plan in 2016