Building and Sustaining Data Networks by Curt Barrett-NWS International NWS/AMS International Workshop January 7, 2005 San Diego, California

WEATHER RELATED DISASTERS CRED Statistics 90% of all natural disasters are weather related 622,000 Lost their lives-2 billion affected $446 billion in losses

Total Insured and Uninsured Losses from Weather related Natural Disasters Figure 1

NMHS’s REQUIRE REAL TIME HYDROMET DATA Climate models need GCOS Data Mesoscale models are increasing Distributed hydrologic models need high resolution data Tsunami models require pressure data

End-to-End Forecast Process Disaster Mitigation and Integrated Water Management Data Communication Forecast Decision Support Notify Coordinate Actions

There are Multiple sources of Data NASA TRMM TMI PR VIRS GOES IR VIS SOUNDING NASA EOS MODIS IR+VIS ASTER CERES Precipitable Water Wind Speed + Direction Radar Gauge Surface Temperature Soil Moisture Vegetation Topography (Elevation + Slope)

The Challenge: Sustaining our present HYDROMET networks 33% of EXISTING GUAN AND GCOS SURFACE STATIONS DO NOT REPORT

GCOS Surface Network (GSN) 989 Stations GCOS Secretariat 26 May 1999

GCOS Secretariat 21 April Stations GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN)

How to Build a network Have a Disaster –Hurricane MITCH Build a case to include Data Network as part of Bank LOAN –Russia, Poland,Romania Seek Donors –-Mekong streamgage network-Australia

Building your Case Analyze existing network –Develop Data network scenarious (ideal vs basic) –Examine forecasting and warning requirements for climatology, hydrology, meteorology and coastal surge/tsunami –Conduct GAP analysis

Some Major DATA Players Global Earth Observing System GEOSS) GCOS Program European Union United States Agency for International Development World Bank United Nations (such as WMO WWW) NOAA

Develop a Strategy To acquire funds to modernize Data Networks - Look at what opportunities exist! Develop a “marketing plan” –What are existing network limitations and resultant negative impacts ? –Describe users and Data needs (the Gap) –Describe Data Network benefits vs costs for network scenarious

Develop USER Partnerships User Requirements for Data are your requirements Develop USER partnerships USERS assist NMHS in developing plan USERS lobby government to execute plan

Partnerships

New Weather Stations in Central America

SUMMARY NMHS’s cooperate to develop VISION (how?) Develop Partnerships with USERS –(energy. Emergency services,agriculture,media,transportation Costs vs Benefits calculated for network enhancement (how?) Make sure maintenance plans and funds included to assure sustainability Sell plan at every opportunity Have patience