1. 1 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 1 Operational Procedures How can we build consistent, homogeneous, well- documented climate quality data?

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3. 3 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  The IBTrACS team should… ◦ Document BT procedures  Work with agencies through a survey ◦ Provide all parameters as provided by original agency ◦ Distribute official and unofficial datasets of other TC related data ◦ Archive all ancillary data ◦ Get involved with the IWTC 1 st IBTrACS Workshop: recommendations

4. 4 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Best tracking agencies should … ◦ Report more parameters and use WMO format ◦ Document current and historic BT practices ◦ Standardize definitions of winds and wind conversions ◦ Rescue and archive documents relevant to BT data ◦ “Best track” throughout life cycle (through ET) ◦ Encourage best track data discussions at IWTC 1 st IBTrACS Workshop: recommendations

5. 5 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 5 Climate Quality Data The TC community goal for best track data

6. 6 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  historical perspective  trend analysis  process evaluation  model development and calibration  These data have particular characteristics: ◦ High quality ◦ Homogeneity ◦ Continuity ◦ availability of full documentation with respect to their technical characteristics Climate quality data

7. 7 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Climate change  No time constraints in production  Allows time for assessment and correction  Uses past and future data to analyze record  Understand and minimize errors Climate Data Records  Predict weather  Tight time constraint  Real-time analysis, diagnostics, forecasting  Use past data to inform present decisions Environmental Data Records

8. 8 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Is best track data “climate quality data”? ◦ Post-event analyzed operational data Question Goal  To make best track data “climate quality data” as it is being produced o Avoid the task of re-analysis in future

9. 9 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  An attempt to record historical operational changes and “best tracking” practices  Questions include: ◦ Are best track positions smoothed? If so, how? ◦ Which year did your agency first begin acquiring SSM/I (other microwave imagery)? ◦ What other changes to in situ, radiosondes or remote sensing data affected forecast and best tracking capability? ◦ How was the cyclone maximum sustained wind speed determined? IBTrACS Community Survey

10. 10 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 10 Data Sources What are the impacts of changes in technology on the historical TC record?

11. 11 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Survey responses from: ◦ Meteo-France La Réunion ◦ Australian Bureau of Meteorology ◦ National Hurricane Center ◦ US Navy  Year technology became useful  Year changes in procedures were implemented  Other milestones Timeline Please add your expert knowledge to the timeline!

12. 12 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Date ranges?  Types of aircraft?  Flight level to ground transformations?  Instrumentation?  Technological improvements? Reconnaissance  Documented for the U.S.  A single research flight for Australian BoM  No aircraft data for La Réunion

13. 13 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Date ranges?  Types of observing systems?  Marine buoy and automated offshore stations?  Mesonets? Surface Data & Radar  Documented for the U.S.  Still incomplete coverage of tropical shorelines for Australian BoM  Basically no surface or radar for La Réunion

14. 14 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Satellite data acquisition date ranges?  Types of imagery available?  History of Dvorak implementation?  Other pattern recognition algorithms? Remote Sensing  Documented for the U.S.  Dvorak implemented differently – BoM Perth/Brisbane/Western Region  Dvorak implemented much later

15. 15 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 15 TC Intensity How do operational decisions affect the historical record?

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17. 17 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 17 Tracking Procedures How do discrepancies in the types of systems recorded affect climate analyses?

18. 18 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Tropical cyclone center fixing procedures?  Subtropical systems?  Post-tropical systems? Procedures often inconsistent or change with administrations Position

19. 19 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 19 Training How do different training approaches affect the data being recorded?

20. 20 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 20 New instruments New science New procedures GPS Dropsondes TC Structure Best track of wind radii @ NHC (2004)

21. 21 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop 21 Best Track Procedure How do different approaches to post season reanalysis introduce differences in the climatology?

22. 22 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  Who? ◦ forecaster? other analyst? committee?  What? ◦ systematic review? casual? no review?  When? ◦ after season? after storm?  Time dedicated?  days? weeks? months?  How? ◦ flexibility to deviate from original forecast?  complete? bounded? ◦ track smoothing? interpolation?  Review? ◦ internal? external?  Re-analysis  procedure for approving changes Document - Compare -Standardize?

23. 23 11 - 13 April 20112 nd IBTrACS Workshop  An attempt to record historical operational changes and “best tracking” practices  Included in your folder  Write on timeline  Online at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2ndIBTrACS http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2ndIBTrACS IBTrACS Community Survey