1. CBS Technical Conference
The Weather Observations Website – linking citizen scientists and third party data providers with NMHSs
CBS Technical Conference

2. Running order Potential for accessing new observations
Available systems
Benefits for NMHSs
The value question
Conclusions

3. Potential for accessing new observations

4. Potential for accessing new observations
Proliferation of network enabled environmental sensors
Consumer (smartphone) and enterprise level (smart city) devices
Driverless cars equipped with a sophisticated suite of sensors – LIDAR, radar etc

5. Available systems
WOW
mPING
Weather Underground

6. Available systems Weather Observations Website (wow.metoffice.gov.uk)
Traditional observations and Impact Reports
Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground (mPING)
NOAA NSSL, used for real time forecast and warning generation and validation
Research into Rainfall Radar
Weather Underground
Huge global reach
Weather company partnership with IBM allowing research into benefits of data for weather advice

7. Benefits for NMHSs Forecasting Climate Monitoring
Numerical Weather Prediction

8. Benefits for NMHSs Forecasting Climate monitoring NWP Intangibles
Greater density of observations, reports of the impact of severe weather
Climate monitoring
Volunteers are a key source of climate observations in many countries
NWP
Varying quality and error characteristics presents challenges
Intangibles
Greater engagement with citizens and users, strengthening the NMHS as the authoritative source of weather and climate advice

9. The value question
Understanding the value of crowd sourced data is a challenge
The observations can be put to many uses, from ‘weather watch’ for forecasters to validation of impact based warnings and forecasts
Not treated by NWP in the same way as ‘known quality’ traditional observations – but does not mean it has no intrinsic value

10. Conclusions
The quantity and variety of observational data will continue to grow
There is an appetite from society to contribute to these initiatives
NMHSs can benefit in a number of tangible and intangible ways
Use of the data requires careful consideration