1. Weather Radar as a component of the Global Observing System
Malcolm Kitchen
24th April 2014

2. Plan of talk
The requirement – global data for global weather forecasting
Some personal thoughts on how to achieve global radar data exchange

3. The requirement
Lopez (2012):- ‘.....the direct 4D-Var assimilation of NCEP Stage IV (radar) data has a an overall neutral or positive impact over the northern extratropics.... significant improvements are found over Europe around day 5 of the forecast and over Asia around days 8-9. Future efforts will focus on extending the assimilation of radar composites to other continents (e.g. Europe with Odyssey products, Chinese network,…).’

4. The driver
Global NWP centres see benefits from assimilation of surface rainfall – the benefits are likely to increase from assimilation of volume reflectivity and winds.
Within a few years, global quality assured, timely, reliable reflectivity and wind data will need to be available.
Need to start doing this now – otherwise there will be a long delay in realising the benefits.

5. Some issues How is this going to be organised? Practical Questions:-
What to Exchange (data model)?
How to exchange (format)?
How to achieve consistency ( standards, quality control)?
Who needs to be involved in what role (NMS’s , WMO, manufacturers)?
How is this going to be organised?

6. Some organisational options
Exchange based on NMS’s or self-organising consortia (as now)
Data concentrated in regional processing centres that exchange products with each other
More radical options - e.g. managed cloud service

7. Organisation Option 1 – the Status quo
Exchange between network operators – National Met Services, or consortia.
Consistency achieved through collaboration and consensus.

8. Option 2 - Regional Processing Centres
Less reliant on consensus?
Possibility of faster progress?

9. More radical options
3rd party managing data/products in the cloud?

10. WMO involvement can assist progress because:-
Benefits of global exchange are not localised, immediate or measurable.
Weather radar data always important and frequently commercialised. Global exchange is not going to be top priority for everyone.
Consensus on organisation and mechanisms may be difficult to achieve. Solutions may need to be ‘recommended’.

11. Hurricane GUSTAV

12. Thank you.