Introduction to AMDAR Dean Lockett, WMO

Background on AMDAR & Aircraft-Based Observations History of Aircraft-Based Observations What is AMDAR Introduction to WMO-IATA Collaborative AMDAR Programme & Synergies with WIGOS

Aircraft began collecting weather observations in 1919 NWS = National Weather Service of the USA

Attaching a Meteograph to the wing of a bi-plane

Weather Balloons Replace Aircraft in the Early 1940s Aircraft soundings were discontinued in the early 1940s with the advent of the weather balloons with radiosondes. Aircraft Weather Data Regains Popularity in the 1960s The use of modern navigation and communication systems in the 1960s and 1970s sparked renewed interest in the use of aircraft to measure and report meteorological data. *

AIRCRAFT to SATELLITE DATA RELAY Automated Weather Observations by aircraft was first used to relay wind and temperature data in support of the Global Weather Experiment FGGE* in 1978-1979 Observing system called prototype-ASDAR (USA) 17 Systems installed in 16 commercial B747s and one C-141 US airforce aircraft later re-installed in commercial aircraft, mainly outside USA (KLM, LH) *First Global GARP Experiment (Global Atmospheric Research Programme) B747-100 C-141 Cargo * *

AIRCRAFT to SATELLITE DATA RELAY (2) Prototype-ASDAR Data communication via Meteorological Geostationairy Satellites (Meteosat, GOES, GMS) [80N-80S] Large and heavy equipment Additional cost for extra fuel consumption for weight and antenna drag Power Supply Data Acquisitie & Processing; Satellite Transmitter * *

AIRCRAFT to SATELLITE DATA RELAY (3) ASDAR 2nd Generation DPU STU 1982: 10 WMO Member States 1991: ASDAR Second Generation: Data communication via Meteorological Geostatioary Satellites (Meteosat, GOES, GMS) Smaller and lighter equipment 23 Units; 7 airlines worldwide (SAA, Air Mauritius,SAUDIA, Aerolineas Argentinas, KLM, LH, BA) Cost for extra fuel consumption (weight and antenna drag) Last ASDAR unit decommissioned in 2006 (Air Mauritius B767-200ER) ASDAR 2nd Generation Satellite antenna * *

2. What is amdar

What is AMDAR AMDAR is: An automated aircraft-based observing system Component of WIGOS and WMO GOS PPP - Operated by WMO Member NMHSs with partner national airlines Operated based on meteorological (WMO) requirements for provision of data A system that: provides meteorological data in near-real-time on the WMO GTS Predominantly uses existing aircraft sensors and communications

What is AMDAR AMDAR onboard software (AOS) integrated into avionics: Data acquisition Data processing into messaging Interaction with communications via ACARS [Addition of water vapour sensor] Data relayed via DataLink (ARINC/SITA) Provision to NMHS for: Decode/re-encode (BUFR) Transmission on GTS Integration into national met. Applications Provision to data users National Quality monitoring International: WMO Data Quality Monitoring System Archival and access (WMO GDC)

What is AMDAR Parameters reported: Observations metadata Data quality: Wind speed Wind direction Temperature Humidity Turbulence Observations metadata Pressure altitude Latitude, Longitude Observation time Data quality: +/- 2-3 ms-1 (vector) +/- 1.0C +/- 50 ppmv n/a +/- 4 hPa Meets requirements

WMO Aircraft-Based Observations Programme (ABOP) Apr-18 WMO ABO from various sources AMDAR still ~95% of all ABO data Supplemented by AIREPs & now ADS-C And commercial data services Data Quality Monitored and Controlled Global ABO growing – but slowly 40 participating airlines 5,000+ AMDAR aircraft (10,000 all ABO) Over 850,000 observations per day Turbulence and WVM – also slow Turbulence Reporting has increased at a few airlines Quantity of Water Vapour Measurement data unchanged since 2016

WMO Aircraft-Based Observations Programme (ABOP) Graphic Courtesy of NOAA/ESRL/GSD Geographic Coverage Varies Good: USA, W. Euro, E. Asia, Australia, NZ, So. Africa Moderate: So. Am., Cent. Am., Canada Poor: E. Euro, No. & Cent. Africa, Mid-East, W. Asia, SE Asia, Cent. Asia, SW Pacific Islands Profile Temporal Distribution is uneven in those areas Excellent: > 24 per day Good: 8 – 24 per day Minimum: 1 – 7 per day Poor: <1 per day AMDAR Profiles of Winds and Temps only But not evenly spread in Time And mostly Winds & Temps only

AMDAR Benefit vs Cost of Production WMO For Global NWP: 3rd largest impact on error reduction (~10%) - behind satellite sounders Satellites provide High volume & global coverage But with less accuracy At a very high cost RAOBs provide Good accuracy when available But poor space/time coverage At a high recurring cost ABO/AMDAR Provides Growing global spatial coverage Much higher temporal coverage than radiosondes Better accuracy than satellites Lowest cost of these systems At very low implementation risk ABO achieves the Highest Benefit/Cost Ratio

Why isn’t AMDAR Growing? While AMDAR data volume is growing, expansion over data-sparse areas has been limited with only slow growth of new programs. Due to: Difficulty obtaining aviaton industry cooperation. Inadequate NMHS technical capacity. Lack of funding – despite its low cost!

Background on IATA-WMO Collaboration Dec. 2016: WMO and IATA reps met in Geneva -IATA presented Key Recommendations from a consultancy study on AMDAR and turbulence: IATA to work with the WMO to expand the AMDAR program across the globe and establish a more equitable cost-recovery mechanism for the participating airlines; IATA to set up a global turbulence database with real-time data transmission to airlines during flight operations.

Why Partner with IATA AMDAR – 40 airlines within 12 programs (800K observations per day) IATA now represents around 265 airlines in over 117 countries Carrying 83% of the world’s air traffic, IATA members include the world’s leading passenger and cargo airlines See: http://www.iata.org/about/members/Pages/index.aspx http://www.iata.org/about/members/Pages/airline-list.aspx?All=true

Developing WMO-IATA Collaboration WMO and IATA agreed on the benefits of working together towards possible future collaboration on AMDAR development and operation. Established Working Arrangement on AMDAR – July 2017 Since then CBS and IATA working on developing Concept of Operations & Terms of Reference Decision by Cg-18 (June 2019) on establishing WMO-IATA Collaborative AMDAR Programme

Key Aspects of WICAP Centralisation: WMO Members provide data processing & management operations IATA promotes/faciliteates AMDAR participation to airlines Agreed Data Policy (Res. 40), improved security WMO-IATA Governance Agreement/contract framework Regional: RA collaborative planning & resourcing of operations - participating RA members - coordinated by TT-ABO Regional Operational centres – data processing, quality management – Established as Regional WIGOS Centres

WIGOS - WICAP In each region: Annual planning and development cyle Ongoing operations TT-ABO Operations provided by Regional/Global WIGOS Centers: 1 (or more) Regional AMDAR Data Processing Centers (each RA) WIGOS Data Quality Montioring Centers (each RA) Global AMDAR Data Optimisation System

Thank you Merci