1. Dr Anthony Rea, Australia, Chair, OPAG IOS
Data availability for Earth System Prediction - New Requirements for Global
Data Exchange
Dr Anthony Rea, Australia, Chair, OPAG IOS
Commission for Basic Systems
Technical Conference
Geneva, Switzerland, March 2018

2. The Role of Numerical Models
Medium-range forecasts (5-10 days)
Global models
Global producers – distributing to all members
Seasonal forecasts
Global coupled models
Climate predictions
Nowcasting and short-term prediction
Local area models
Rapid update cycles
Users are globally-distributed

3. Global NWP NMHS Services Impact and Value Observations
Forecast products
Observations
Forecast Systems
Meteorologists
Services
Impact and Value

4. computed over the extra-tropical northern and southern hemispheres.
A measure of forecast skill at three-, five-, seven- and ten-day ranges,
computed over the extra-tropical northern and southern hemispheres.
P Bauer et al. Nature 525, (2015) doi: /nature14956

5. Explosion in Satellite Observations

6. New Observation Types Since Resolution 40
Surface
GPS water vapour
Profilers
Commodity automatic weather stations
Digital radar
Space
Hyperspectral infrared sounders
Scatterometers
Precipitation radars
Microwave imagers
Altimeters
GPS-Radio Occultation
Hourly AMVs

7. Impact of Observation Systems1 4 7
Global impact per OBS platform
(Bureau of Meteorology ACCESS System)

8. Global Climate Observing Systems
Climate observing systems require increased temporal and high-quality observations from automated weather and remote sensing systems.
Types of data:
Weather radar and ground-based GNSS data,
Lightning detection systems,
Comprehensive national networks not exchanged in regional network,
Measurements contributing to Essential Climate Variables (ECVs).
GCOS Request: Update Resolution 40 Annex 1 to stipulate:
Distribution of hourly surface data from all automated systems contributing to RBON,
Removing or not referencing specific data exchange code types,
Including all surface-based systems being assimilated operationally by NWP including weather and wind profiling radars, GNSS-IWV and lightning systems.

9. Rolling Review of Requirements
Under the direction of the Inter-Program Expert Team on Observing System Design and Evolution (IPET-OSDE), the WMO administers the Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR) for observational data
Requirements are defined in OSCAR/Requirements and codified in Statements of Guidance for a variety of application areas.
IPET-OSDE also monitors the Evolution of the Global Observing System Implementation Plan (EGOS-IP) which provides actions on members toward realisation of the Vision for the GOS 2025.
Observation gaps exist across the range of application areas
Many observations are taken but not exchanged

10. Satellite Data Exchange
Resolution 40 Annex 1, Item (8) states:
"Those data and products from operational meteorological satellites that are agreed between WMO and satellite operators (These should include data and products necessary for operations regarding severe weather warnings and tropical cyclone warnings)"
CBS Inter Programme Expert Team on Satellite Data Utilization and Products (IPET-SUP) has been considering the issue of "Essential Data" for a number of years
position paper defines what constitutes critical satellite data and specifies eight principles that satellite data providers should fulfil to meet the needs of the meteorological community.
Refer Document 6(9)

11. Emerging Data Issues and Partnerships
The CBS-led Review into Emerging Data Issues examined, amongst other issues, the impact of new entrants to the global weather enterprise
Noted:
members concerns escalated around the potential impact of commercially available data on free and open data sharing in accordance to Resolution 40 and the flow-on impacts to global NWP.
that the private sector is increasingly active in providing data and services in areas that have been traditionally served by NMHSs and public sector partners;
A key recommendation is to review definition of 'essential' data in the Annex to Res 40
The Task Team on WIGOS Data Partnerships (TT-WDP) has also been considering these issues and recommends in its draft report
Links to WIGOS Manual and Guide – Network Design Principles
Refer Document 2(3)

12. Observing Network Design (OND)
WIGOS Manual
Observing Network Design Principles are included in the WIGOS Manual and WIGOS Guide
Improve compliance by:
Development of targeted communication materials including case studies demonstrating real word examples of observing networks designed based on the OND Principles.
Add OND Principles to the list of required OPAG IOS training topics.
Active outreach by Training Centers and Regional Associations.
Refer Document 6(3)
OND Principle 9:
"Observing networks should be designed and should evolve in such a way as to ensure that the observations are made available to other WMO Members, at space-time resolutions and with a timeliness that meets the needs of regional and global applications."
Image from Guide to the WMO Integrated Global Observing System, 2017 edition.

13. Regional Basic Observing Network (RBON)
The Regional Basic Observing Network (RBON) definition and Technical Regulations are under development (to replace RBSN and RBCN).
Defining RBON to better link the requirements for exchange of obs data (defined in OSCAR) with the identification of RBON stations and operating requirements.
Need to address consistency between RBON and Annex 1.
Refer Document 6(3)

14. Next Steps Breakout Group Discussion Advice for CBS-MG:
Tuesday – Salle B – 17:00
Chaired by Michel Jean, CBS President
Will consider options and recommend best approach
Advice for CBS-MG:
To propose update of Res40 (CG-12) Annex 1 by means of draft EC-70 recommendation to Congress on new requirements for the exchange of observational data in support of WMO Applications, and adjust it as needed, in particular with consideration of CBS TECO 2018 feedback.
Advice on recommendations to EC and Congress:
Executive Council to recommend to Congress to update Res40 (CG-12) Annex 1 to allow this annex to better reflect evolving requirements for the exchange of observational data in support of WMO Applications.

15. Thank you
Merci

16. Notes
Model output has become an integral part of the value chain for all NMHSs
Much of the value of observations to members is now through models (at least for forecasts)
Direct use of observations is shifting to nowcasting and quantitative products
Members are increasingly reliant on the outputs of global NWP centres to deliver their services
The needs of global NWP are evolving and increasing
Observations are also required for post-processing/calibration/forecast verification/process diagnostics