wmo standards & best practices

World Meteorological OrganizationWorking together in weather, climate and water

WMO STANDARDS & BEST PRACTICES

1st GCW CryoNet Meeting (Vienna, 20-22 November 2012)

WMO/OBS www.wmo.int

WMO

Dr M. OndrášChief, WMO Observing Systems Division

Outline

1. About WMO2. Standardization within WMO and

relevance to GCW3. Recommendations for GCW Actions

WMO Organigram

WMO Convention(Part II, Article 2, Purposes)

(a) To facilitate worldwide cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for the making of meteorological observations as well as hydrological and other geophysical observations related to meteorology, and…;

(b) …(c) To promote standardization of meteorological and

related observations and to ensure the uniform publication of observations and statistics;

General Regulation of WMO ( Annex III, Structure and TOR of TCs)

I. Basic Commissions• CBS – (A)• CIMO – (A)• CHy – (A)• CAS – (B)

(A) Basic operations and facilities(B) Research in Atmospheric sciences

II. Applications Commissions• CAeM – (C)• CAgM - (C)• JCOMM - (C) • CCl - (C)

Develop, for consideration by the Executive Council and Congress, proposed international standards for methods, procedures, techniques and practices in meteorology and operational hydrology including, in particular, the relevant parts of the Technical Regulations, guides and manuals.

(C) Applications to economic and social activities

WMO Regulatory Materialhttp://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/manuals.html

Technical regulations Manuals (Standard pr.) Guides (Recommended pr.

WMO Regulatory Material

Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49) (Mandatory publication):

– Volume I: General Meteorological Standards & Recommended Practices

– Volume II: Meteorological Service for International Air navigation

– Volume III: Hydrology– Volume IV: QM– Seven Annexes: WMO Manuals

WMO Regulatory MaterialA. Manuals (standard practices):1. International Cloud Atlas (WMO-No. 407), Volume I - Manual on the observations of

clouds and other meteors2. Manual on Codes (WMO-No. 306)3. Manual on Global Telecommunication System (WMO-No. 386) and Manual on the

WMO Information System (WMO-No. 1060)4. Manual on Global Data Processing and Forecasting Systems (WMO-No. 485)5. Manual on Global Observing System (WMO-No. 544) 6. Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No. 558)7. Manual on the Implementation of ETR standardsB. Guides (recommended practices):• Guides on GOS, GDPFS, GTS, • Guide to Met. Instruments and Methods of Observation• Guide to Hydro Practices• Guides to Practices or Services for different app areas, such as Climatology,

Agrometeorology, Aviation, MarineC. Other Technical Documents needed for general understanding


International Meteorological Vocabulary

• Aimed at standardizing the terminology used in

this field and at facilitating communication

between specialists speaking different

languages

• 1st edition in 1967,

• Last hard copy edition 1992

(3500 terms in four languages)

• Further updates in digital : METEOTERM


METEOTERM

• 34662 terms in six languages• Includes:

• International Meteorological Vocabulary• International Glossary of Hydrology• Terms from related sciences that appear in WMO documents

Cryospheric Vocabulary ?

http://wmo.multicorpora.net/METEOTERM/Main2.aspx?changeTermbase=0

Partnership & Standardization

Working agreements:– UN: such as FAO and UNESCO– Intergovernmental: such as ESA and

EUMETSAT– Nongovernmental: such as IUGG, ICSU

Working agreements - standardizationstandardization:– International Organization for Standardization

(ISO), as of 2008– International Committee for Weights and

Measures (CIPM), as of 2002

Partnership in StandardizationCooperation Agreement with ISO (2008):1. Development of joint ISO/WMO tech standards2. WMO existing standards can become ISO standards3. WMO retains primary control of its own standards4. Underlines authority of WMO standards and enhances

international recognition WMO standardsNeed for GCW standards to be promoted to ISO standards ?

Working Arrangements with CIPM (2002): Ensuring traceability of measurements to SIPart of MRA: mutual recognition of standards & calibration & measurement certificatesNeed for GCW measurements to be traceable to SI ?

Partnership in Standardization

(ISO)

Partnership in Standardization

(CIPM)

Manual on the Global Observing System, WMO-No. 544

Part I. General Principles Regarding the Organization, Design and Implementation of the Global Observing System

• Part II. Requirements for Observational Data - WMO Rolling Review of Requirements

• Part III. & Part IV Surface- and Space-based Subsystems: Composition & Implementation of Elements

• Part V. Quality Control

Need for a review of existing GCW practices ? ; “GCW Manual”?

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/OSY/Manuals_GOS.html

WMO Global Observing System (GOS)(Design & Evolution)

1. A process named the Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR) has been instituted for continuously reviewing the requirements of Members and international programmes.

2. Through RRR WMO generates guidance to Members, named Statements of Guidance. 3. The Vision of the GOS provides high-level goals to guide the evolution of the Global

Observing System in the coming decades (currently Vision for 2025).4. Responding to the above Vision, the Implementation Plan for the Evolution of global

observing systems (EGOS-IP) is a key document providing Members with clear and focused guidelines and recommended actions in order to stimulate cost-effective evolution of the observing systems to address in an integrated way the requirements of WMO programmes and co-sponsored programmes.

5. As a general principal, the evolution of the system is based on proven techniques and represents the best mix of observing elements that:

– satisfies to the maximum extent the data requirements in respect of accuracy, frequency and spatial resolution;

– is operationally and technically feasible;– meets the cost-efficiency requirements of Members;– is able to meet long-term needs of relevant WMO Programmes and a wide variety of purposes;– covers ocean and data-sparse areas adequately;– permits making new technologies available at affordable costs, so that all Member countries can

maintain and satisfactorily operate their national components of the system and benefit from them in a sustainable and self reliant manner;

– permits the availability and accessibility of data for operational, research and educational purposes.

WMO Rolling Review of Requirements

Implementation Planfor Evolution of the GOS

All applications synthesis Recommendations for the

observing system

WMO Members’Space Agencies

and partner organizations’

Programmes

Critical Review

Long-term vision of the GOS

RequirementsRequirements

RequirementsRequirements

Statements of guidance

per application

Monitoringsurface/space

observingcapabilitiesand plans

Similar approach GCW Requirements?

How URs are specified in WMO RQ DB

• For each application & each geophysical variable:– (i) Horizontal and (ii) Vertical resolution,

(iii) Accuracy, (iv) Observing cycle, and (v) Timeliness

• For each parameter:– “min” (or threshold), represent the value below

which observations are worthless– “max” (or goal), represents value beyond which

improvement gives no additional value – “breakthrough” (or optimum), represents

optimal cost/benefit

Performance-benefit curve for an obs. system

WMO User Req. DB & Application Areashttp://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/OSY/GOS-redesign.html

1. Global NWP 7. Ocean applications

2. High resolution NWP 8. Agricultural met.

3. Synoptic met. 9. Hydrology

4. Nowcasting & VSRF 10. Climate monitoring

5. Seasonal & Inter-Annual F. 11. Climate appl.

6. Aeronautical met. 12. Space weather

7. Atm. Chemistry New?: Cryosphere

WMO Database to serve as one-stop-shop for Cryo UR&OSC?Identify focal points from different Cryo areas Verify existing Cryo variables and add new Cryo variables in

WMO User RQ & Obs. Systems Capabilities Database

WMO Technical RegulationsPART I. WIGOS (draft outline)

1. INTRODUCTION – Purpose of WIGOS– WIGOS component observing systems– Collaboration with co-sponsored and non-WMO observing system– Governance and management

2. COMMON ATTRIBUTES OF COMPONENT SYSTEMS– Requirements– Design, planning and evolution– Operations and Maintenance – Data and Information Management– Standardisation of Instrumentation and Methods of Observation – Quality Management – Capacity Development

3. SPACE-BASED SUB-SYSTEM OF WIGOS 4. GLOBAL OBSERVING SYSTEM (GOS) OF WWW5. GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH (GAW) – Observing Component of GAW6. WHYCOS - Observing component of WHYCOS7. GLOBAL CRYOSPHERE WATCH (GCW) - Observing component of GCW

Schematic of Global Observing Systems

SYSTEMS OCEAN ATMOSPHERE LAND

GEOSS

GOOS GTOSWIGOS

GCOSCRYO

Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation, WMO-No. 8

• Comprehensive und up-to-date guidanceon the most effective practices for making meteorological observations and measurements

• Describes instruments, systems and techniques in regular use from the simplest to the most complex

• Does not describe instruments and methods to be used only for research or experiments

• 1st edition 1954• 7th edition 2008• Supplement to 7th edition: 2011

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/IMOP/publications/CIMO-Guide/CIMO_Guide-7th_Edition-2008.html

CIMO Guidehttp://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/IMOP/publications/CIMO-

Guide/CIMO_Guide-7th_Edition-2008.htmlPart I. Measurement of meteorological Variables:• CHAPTER 1. General (Includes Measurement standards and Definitions)• CHAPTER 2. Measurement of temperature• CHAPTER 3. Measurement of atmospheric pressure• CHAPTER 4. Measurement of humidity• CHAPTER 5. Measurement of surface wind• CHAPTER 6. Measurement of precipitation (includes snow fall, depth, cover)• CHAPTER 7. Measurement of radiation• CHAPTER 8. Measurement of sunshine duration• CHAPTER 9. Measurement of visibility• CHAPTER 10. Measurement of evaporation• CHAPTER 11. Measurement of soil moisture• CHAPTER 12. Measurement of UA pressure, temperature and humidity• CHAPTER 13. Measurement of upper wind• CHAPTER 14. Present and past weather; state of the ground• CHAPTER 15. Observation of clouds• CHAPTER 16. Measurement of ozone• CHAPTER 17. Measurement of atmospheric composition

CIMO Guide

Part II. Observing Systems:• CHAPTER 1. Measurements at automatic weather stations • CHAPTER 2. Measurements and observations at aeronautical met stations• CHAPTER 3. Aircraft observations• CHAPTER 4. Marine observations• CHAPTER 5. Special profiling techniques for the BL and the troposphere• CHAPTER 6. Rocket measurements in the stratosphere and mesosphere• CHAPTER 7. Locating the sources of atmospherics• CHAPTER 8. Satellite observations (is being completely revised)• CHAPTER 9. Radar measurements• CHAPTER 10. Balloon techniques• CHAPTER 11. Urban observations• CHAPTER 12. Road Meteorological Measurements• New chapter: Measurements in the harsh environment (including cold climate)Part III. QA and Management of Observing Systems:• CHAPTER 1. Quality management• CHAPTER 2. Sampling meteorological variables• CHAPTER 3. Data reduction• CHAPTER 4. Testing, calibration and intercomparison• CHAPTER 5. Training of instrument specialists

Review existing instrument & obs methods practices for Cryo?Expand CIMO Guide to include instruments for Cryo?

Centres of Excellencein support of calibration, traceability, data

compatibility and integration16 Regional Instrument Centres (RICs) and 2 Regional Marine Instrument Centres (RMICs):

• Must operate calibration laboratories based on international standards, such as ISO 17025

• Must maintain a set of standard instruments• Must assist WMO Members in calibrating their ntl standards

7 Testbeds and Lead Centers:• Must provide guidance in integration of ground-based remote-sensing

and in situ observations, as well as in the development of standard procedures and advice related to instrument use and operation

• WMO-CIMO Testbed for In-situ Remote Sensing Instrument, Sodankylä, Finland. => opportunity for synergy

Similar approach to GCW Reference sites / Supersites ?

STANDARDIZATION – harsh (cold) environment

Courtesy: Darren Tessmer, MSC

Herschel Island AWS

Issues:Large amounts of snowPower - significant periods of no data

Elevated plateau may not always be a solution

Whistler MountainHigh Level

Courtesy Bill Scott, MSC

STANDARDIZATION – harsh (cold) environment

STANDARDIZATION –harsh (cold) environment

AWS Russkiy IslandCourtesy: A. Klepikov, Roshydromet

Issues:IcingDifficult access (helicopter)Wild animals

Pond Inlet (Nunavut) AWS

Courtesy: D. Tessmer, MSC

INTERCOMPARISONSBelow: WMO Field Intercomparison of

Thermometer Shields and Humidity Measuring Instruments

VEIG

LBOM

LLANLCOC

SCAE

SDAV

SSOCSYOUVDAV

VROT

VTHY VYOU

WMO Intercomparisonshttp://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/IMOP/publications-IOM-

series.html

• Intercomparisons:– To determine and intercompare performance characteristics of

instruments under field or laboratory conditions– To link readings of different instruments – data compatibility &

homogeneity

• CIMO Survey on National Summaries of Methods and Instruments for Solid Precipitation Measurements at AWSs, WMO/TDNo.1544, 2010

• WMO Solid precipitation intercomparison (including snowfall & snow depth, 2011-2014

Need for intercomparisons in Cryo ?Participation in WMO Solid precipitation intercomparison ?

RECOMMENDATIONS for GCW Actions & Implementation Plan

1. Standardization of Practices (networks, observations, instruments, data exchange & policy, products):

• Review existing GCW practices & develop inventory; and identify differences and inconsistencies

• Identify a need for new standard/best practices, identify priorities and develop newstandard/best practices

• Develop Cryospheric Vocabulary• Identify standard/practices that may be promoted to ISO standards?• Develop “GCW Manual”; would provide input to WIGOS Manual, CIMO Guide

2. Register user requirements in WMO RRR DB (RQs & OS capabilities):• Propose a new application area – Cryosphere• Identify focal points for Cryo different appl areas and OS Capabilities• Verify existing variables and add new (key) Cryo variables in RRR DB

3. Establish Centers of Excellence from among GCW Reference sites:• E.g., Instrument Centers and Testbeds responsible for maintaining a set of standard

instruments, calibration, intercomparison, traceability, compatibility, integration of RS and in-situ observations

4. Instrument Intercomparisons:• Identify needs• Participation in WMO Solid precipitation intercomparison (SPICE)

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