1. ET-SBO Report to ICT-IOS-9
Stuart Goldstraw, Met Office UK, Chair ET-SBO, April 2016
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2. Content Achievements Issues Recommendation EGOS-IP Action G10
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3. Original ET-SBO ToR #1 Helping WIGOS succeed
#2 Improving Technical Documents
#3 Status of Implementation
#4 Meeting User Requirements
#5 Delivering the EGOS-IP
#6 Promoting Best Practice
#7 Purposeful Horizon Scanning
#8 Reporting Progress to ICT-IOS
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4. #1 Helping WIGOS Succeed
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #1:
Contribute to the implementation of WIGOS by undertaking those tasks assigned to it by the OPAG IOS Chair from the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan
Achievements:
WIGOS Data Quality Monitoring System Development
OSCAR Capabilities of Observing Systems
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5. #2 Improving Technical Documents
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #2:
Develop and update relevant elements of the Manual and the Guide on the GOS in the context of WIGOS, with initial priority on weather radars and AWSs.
Achievements:
ET-SBO/SG-RM developed outline regulatory material on Weather Radars, Radar Wind Profilers and AWS. This material is being reviewed and refined by IPET-WIFI/SG-RM with support from ET-SBO experts.
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6. #3 Status of Implementation
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #3:
Monitor and assess the status of planned and operational surface-based observing systems and ensure this is adequately described in Volume A and metadata database(s) of Members’ observing system capabilities.
Achievements:
Questionnaire on Members Utilisation of Radar Wind Profilers
Maintenance of the WMO Weather Radar Database
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7. #4 Meeting User Requirements
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #4:
In collaboration with IPET-OSDE, assess the contribution of current and planned SBO systems to meeting user requirements for all Application Areas
Achievements:
Establishment of a new WxR Group
Provision of expert support for IPET-OSDE activities
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8. #5 Delivering the EGOS-IP
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #5:
Facilitate the delivery of those EGOS-IP actions identified as priorities for OPAG-IOS
Achievements:
Leading the delivery of G48 – Weather Radar Data Exchange, to be moved to the new WxR Group
Outline planning for delivery of G10 – Optimising Global Radiosonde Scheduling
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9. #6 Promoting Best Practice
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #6:
Monitor the status of operational networks of SBO systems, promote best practice among WMO Members and provide advice on operational matters.
Achievements:
Establishment of Google Groups Forum
Ideas discussed
Awaiting new Extranet
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10. #7 Purposeful Horizon Scanning
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #7:
Assess the potential contribution of new and emerging SBO technologies in meeting the Vision for the GOS in 2025, in collaboration with CIMO.
Achievements:
Not able to resource this task in the last 2 years
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11. #8 Reporting Progress to ICT-IOS
ET-SBO Terms of Reference #8:
Provide advice and support to the Chairperson of OPAG-IOS on the implementation of the WIGOS framework and its operational aspects.
Achievements:
To be determined ….
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12. Issues Contribution to WIGOS Pre-Operational Phase
Regulatory Material Generation
OSCAR/Surface metadata definition
WDQMS support
Resourcing Future Tasks
Work plan for 2017 to 2020 key to attracting the right experts
Succession Planning
Mix of experienced and new Experts
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13. Recommendation Context: Recommendation:
OSCAR/SURFACE is (will be) the mandated source for observational metadata
WMO Radar Database (WRD) is a key contributing source to OSCAR/SURFACE
Currently WRD is not being populated by all Members who exchange observational data, therefore OSCAR/Surface will not be complete
Recommendation:
For Members exchanging Weather Radar observational data to record observational metadata in the WRD - text to be developed in Breakout Group
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14. WRD – Snapshot (873 Radars)
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15. EGOS-IP G10 Action EGOS-IP Action G10 States:
Action: Investigate possibility to optimize the radiosonde network in order to make the upper-air conventional observation coverage more uniform taking into account all the user requirements in terms of space and time distribution; and make relevant recommendations to the CBS for updating Technical Regulations accordingly.
Who: NMSs/NMHSs, in coordination with WMO’s own and co-sponsored programmes, TCs, RAs and other relevant organizations. CBS and RAs to lead the action.
Time-frame: 2015, then continuous.
Performance indicators: Standard monitoring indicators.
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16. EGOS-IP G10 Action
Existing national Radiosonde programmes result in radiosonde ascents being predominately flown at 00Z and 12Z (with a few flown at 06Z and 18Z).
A significant increase in the volume of AMDAR data in the last 10 years has allowed this observational data source to move from a supplementary observing network to a complimentary observing network.
The spatial and temporal distribution of AMDAR observations has a general minima between 2200 local and 0400 local when air traffic is generally at a minimum.
In some time zones this night-time minimum is aligned with the 06Z or 18Z centred NWP assimilation windows.
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17. EGOS-IP G10 Action
In some time zones there is an overlap between the maxima in AMDAR data and the flights of 00Z and/or 12Z national radiosonde programmes. 
By moving some radiosonde flights from 00Z or 12Z to 06Z or 18Z there will be an improved temporal distribution of upper air data, as called for by the Action.
The adjustment in the timing of radiosonde programmes to improve the temporal distribution of upper air observations will result in an improved skill of NWP – this needs csrtesting.
Not all users of radiosonde data will be happy with the move from 00Z or 12Z to 06Z or 18Z but some will be. Careful selection of sites at the national level will be necessary.
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18. EGOS-IP G10 Action Radiosonde Timing Aircraft Observation Timing 00Z
00 local
06 local
12 local
18 local
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19. EGOS-IP G10 Action Radiosonde Timing Aircraft Observation Timing 00Z
06 local
12 local
18 local
00 local
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20. EGOS-IP G10 Action Radiosonde Timing Aircraft Observation Timing 00Z
06 local
12 local
18 local
00 local
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21. EGOS-IP G10 Action Radiosonde Timing Aircraft Observation Timing 00Z
06 local
12 local
18 local
00 local
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22. EGOS-IP G10 Action
A series of activities to confirm each of the arguments that have been outlined.
Headlines:
A large Member or a collection of Members with active AMDAR programmes in the zone 120 degrees West to 60 degrees West or 60 degrees East to 120 degrees East to agree to be part of the evaluation
~$0.25M* of additional radiosonde consumables – assuming 30* days of additional flights for ~40* radiosonde stations
At least one global NWP centre (and one regional NWP centre) to undertake the evaluation
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23. EGOS-IP G10 Action Next steps: Refine proposal
Discuss with experts at Impacts Workshop
Raise profile of ‘experiment’ with candidate Members
Establish an EGOS-IP Action Organising Committee / Task Team
Questionnaire to be sent to potential candidate Members
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24. Thank you for your attention
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