1. Stephan Bojinski WMO Space Programme
WMO Priorities and Perspectives on IPWG São José dos Campos, Brazil, October 2012
Stephan Bojinski
WMO Space Programme

2. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Founded 1950, successor to IMO (1873)
Specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences (e.g., atmospheric chemistry, oceanography, agriculture);
UN “authoritative voice”
189 Member states and territories; “Permanent Representatives”
Promote, foster, facilitate world-wide cooperation, with a focus on National Meteorological and Hydrological Services

3. WMO Programmes
+ Co-sponsored Programmes: GCOS, GOOS, GTOS, IPCC, …

4. WMO High-level Priorities 2012-2015
Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS)
Integration of observation and information systems (WIGOS/WIS)
Disaster risk reduction
Support to aviation
Capacity building
(from WMO Strategic Plan )

5. WMO Space Programme Activities
Observations: Requirements Mission/orbit plans Gap analyses Inter-Calibration
Training & Awareness: Virtual Lab Regional projects
Products: Sustainability Quality ISWGs SCOPE-CM SCOPE-NWC
WIGOS GFCS
Data Dissemination& Access: Timeliness, Standards, Tools

6. WMO (and related) Requirements for observations of precipitation
Source:
wmo.int/oscar
Observing System
Capabilities Analysis and
Review Tool

7. Sat precipitation-related WMO Activities
Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP)
Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) – Regional Projects
SCOPE-CM – climate data records
SCOPE-Nowcasting – regional harmonization of nowcasting products
Use of satellite precipitation estimates
(WMO Survey 2012, 226 responses)

8. 1. SWFDP (E.g.: Eastern Africa, Lake Victoria)
SWFDP Main Goals:
Improve Severe Weather Forecasting
Improve lead-time of Warnings
Improve interaction of NMHSs with users
Focus on:
Strong winds
Heavy precipitation
Hazardous waves
(Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria)
Dry spells
Users: general public, disaster management,
media, agriculture and fisheries
Global Centres: ECMWF, UKMO, NOAA/NCEP
(NWP guidance material)
MSG satellite products (EUMETSAT products)
Regional Centre: RSMC Nairobi
National Met. Centres: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda,
Burundi, Rwanda and Ethiopia
Southern Africa (ongoing; 16 countries; RSMC Pretoria, RSMC La Réunion)
Southwest Pacific Islands (ongoing; 9 Island States; RSMC Wellington, RSMC Fiji)
Eastern Africa (ongoing, 6 countries; RSMC Nairobi, RFSC Dar)
Southeast Asia (in development, 4 countries)
Bay of Bengal (in development, 6 countries)

9. 2. Flash Flood Guidance Systems in Regions
Development and implementation of regional flash flood guidance (FFG) and early warning systems
Regional development of technology, training, procedures to address the issues of mitigating the impacts of flash floods
Adapted FFG system implemented in Central America, Black Sea region, Pakistan, Mekong basin
FFG is an estimate of how much rainfall over a specified time in a small basin is needed to initiate flooding on small streams
Example: 3-hour FFG = 50 mm, flooding should begin on small streams if that amount or more falls in a 3-hour period over the basin

10. 2. Flash Flood Guidance: Schematic
Source: Hydrologic Research Centre, Central America 10

11. 3. SCOPE-CM: Sustained Co-Ordinated Processing of Environmental Satellite Data for Climate Monitoring
Coordinated international network of space agencies (…) to produce Climate Data Records (ECV records) from multi-agency satellite data
SCOPE-CM conducts projects to jointly elevate CDR generation capabilities to a higher maturity level, aiming at
Sustained CDR production
Increased knowledge, methodologies and capabilities
Maximized benefit from investments through coordination and cooperation
SCOPE-CM is connected with relevant stakeholders:
WMO, GCOS, CEOS, GEO, CGMS/GSICS, WCRP/GEWEX, ESA (observer)
Phase I ( ) completed: Clouds/aerosols (AVHRR), TWV/LWP (SSM/I), Surface albedo (GEO), AMV, UTH
→ Call for proposals for new SCOPE-CM projects in January 2013
Invite IPWG to contribute project on precipitation climatology 11

12. 4. SCOPE-Nowcasting (NWC) - Outline
Sustained, Co-Ordinated Processing of Environmental Satellite Data for Nowcasting (SCOPE-NWC) initiative
Ensuring continuous, sustained provision of consistent satellite products for nowcasting and severe weather risk reduction

13. 4. SCOPE-Nowcasting (NWC) - Objectives
Provide a mechanism through which satellite data/products can be made available simply and quickly
Primarily for users in the NMHSs of smaller or developing nations, where expertise and facilities for processing and utilizing satellite data may be limited or non-existent
Also for more advanced nations where there may be efficiencies possible through combining resources, expertise, and efforts

14. 4. SCOPE-NWC: Concept of operations
! Establishing a collaborative network
! Among experts, user institutions and satellite operators
! To include IPWG, WWRP, SWFDP

15. 4. SCOPE-NWC Pilot project outlines
Category
Product
Region
Provider
User
Gaps
Basic nowcasting
Imagery, RGB composites and enhancements, fog detection and cloud products
WMO Region II (Asia) and Region V (SW Pacific)
JMA, CMA, KMA (TBD)
NMSs in Region II and V
No standard products available; products limited
Advanced nowcasting
Ice cloud detection and turbulence to support aviation; potentially adding precipitation, fog
Australia and adjacent Region II (Asia) and V (SW Pacific)
CMA, JMA, KMA (TBD), NASA, NOAA (for precip)
NMHSs in RA II and RA V
No products currently available (except for precipitation)
Blended satellite global precipitation product (GEO+LEO)
Global coverage
Hydro Estimator, NASA TRMM (3B42), NOAA (real-time MW)
Civil authorities, NMHSs, Flash flood guidance systems, general users
Rapid, facilitated access to quantitative precipitation estimates
RT Ocean Products
Near-Real-Time (3-hourly) Ocean surface winds for NWP
Initially Indian Ocean
IMD/ISRO (Oceansat-2) and EUMETSAT OSI-SAF
NWP Centres, Marine Forecasters
OSVW not fully exploited
RT Atmospheric Composition products
Dust Monitoring and Prediction Products
WMO Region II (Asia) and V (South-West Pacific)
CMA, JMA
SDS-WDCs, NMSs (to issue results and warnings) in RA II and RA V
Regional diversity of aerosol-related products not harmonized

16. 4. SCOPE-NWC Pilot project outlines
Category
Product
Region
Provider
User
Gaps
Basic nowcasting
Imagery, RGB composites and enhancements, fog detection and cloud products
WMO Region II (Asia) and Region V (SW Pacific)
JMA, CMA, KMA (TBD)
NMSs in Region II and V
No standard products available; products limited
Advanced nowcasting
Ice cloud detection and turbulence to support aviation; potentially adding precipitation, fog
Australia and adjacent Region II (Asia) and V (SW Pacific)
CMA, JMA, KMA (TBD), NASA, NOAA (for precip)
NMHSs in RA II and RA V
No products currently available (except for precipitation)
Blended satellite global precipitation product (GEO+LEO)
Global coverage
Hydro Estimator, NASA TRMM (3B42), NOAA (real-time MW)
Civil authorities, NMHSs, Flash flood guidance systems, general users
Rapid, facilitated access to quantitative precipitation estimates
RT Ocean Products
Near-Real-Time (3-hourly) Ocean surface winds for NWP
Initially Indian Ocean
IMD/ISRO (Oceansat-2) and EUMETSAT OSI-SAF
NWP Centres, Marine Forecasters
OSVW not fully exploited
RT Atmospheric Composition products
Dust Monitoring and Prediction Products
WMO Region II (Asia) and V (South-West Pacific)
CMA, JMA
SDS-WDCs, NMSs (to issue results and warnings) in RA II and RA V
Regional diversity of aerosol-related products not harmonized

17. Summary I: General WMO recommendations to IPWG
Evaluate and assess methods and datasets
Harmonize quality assessment and verification
Develop best practices and access/interface tools
Assist in integration and interoperability of rainfall estimates from different sources
Many WMO application areas require satellite precipitation estimates: weather, hydrology, climate, cryosphere, ocean, …
Develop concise high-level recommendations (<5) to WMO/CGMS

18. Summary II WMO emphasizes its support to IPWG Encourages IPWG to
Discuss scientific state-of-the-art
Take action to leverage research for operations
IPWG encouraged to contribute to SCOPE-CM
IPWG encouraged to contribute to SCOPE-NWC

19. Thank you!

20. From Global to Regional to Local
Computational Core
Global/Regional Observations
& ATM Model Forecasts
Adjustments and Warning
Core
Computational
Component
Local Products
& Uncertainty
Local Data
Regional Centers
(Hydromet expertise)
Local or Country
Warning Generation System
(e.g., WFO or NMHS)
Local or Country
Warning Dissemination System
1. Decisions are made with multiple datasets and under uncertainty
2. There is a need to modify the products of the global/regional system locally and have capability for estimating consequences to local variables of interest
Public Warnings

21. WMO Space Programme Activities
Observations: Requirements Mission/orbit plans Gap analyses Inter-Calibration
In support of:
Weather
Climate
Water
Disaster Risk Reduction
Hydrology
Cryosphere
Space Weather
Training & Awareness: Virtual Lab Regional projects
Products: Sustainability Quality SCOPE-CM SCOPE-NWC
WIGOS GFCS
Data Dissemination& Access: Timeliness, Standards, Tools

22. SCOPE-NWC Products
Products need to be consistent across platforms and use standard formats
Useful in the forecasting range zero to six hours where, in the case of NWP, current model forecasting capability is limited.
Four broad categories of SCOPE-NWC products
Basic (Atmospheric) Nowcasting Products: these are primarily products used qualitatively, such as visible and infrared imagery, RGB composites and enhancements, fog detection and cloud products;
Advanced (Atmospheric) Nowcasting Products: these include quantitative products requiring the application of algorithms for their generation; products such as precipitation, atmospheric motion vectors, stability indices, total precipitable water, convective initiation and sounding products, and other products to support aviation such as turbulence or aircraft icing potential;
Realtime Ocean Products: these include scatterometer data for sea surface winds and sea state data from altimetry; and
Realtime Atmospheric Composition Products: these include fire detection, smoke, sand and dust, aerosols and volcanic ash