RA II WIGOS Project

Background

Note: the RA II WIGOS Project Product Links can be found here (Also accessible via the right hand menu)

The 14th session of WMO Regional Association II (XIV-RA II), held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 5 to 11 December 2008, adopted a resolution to establish a pilot project for the development of support for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the areas of satellite data, products and training. After the session, the WMO Secretariat invited WMO Members to join the Pilot Project Coordinating Group, whose members as of 31 May 2011 are Japan (Co-coordinator), the Republic of Korea (Co-coordinator), Bahrain, China, Hong Kong – China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and, as an observer, EUMETSAT.

At the 15th session of Regional Association II (XV-RA II) held in Doha, Qatar in December 2012, it was decided that the RA II Pilot Project to Develop Support for NMHSs in Satellite Data, Products and Training should continue and become the RA II WIGOS Project from 2013 in light of its importance in improving dialogue between satellite providers and users in the Region.

The Association stressed the importance of identifying and regularly documenting Region-oriented requirements for satellite data access and exchange, following the guidance provided by the “Procedure for Documenting Regional Requirements for Satellite Data Access and Exchange” [See Recommendation 4.2/4 (CBS-15)]. It tasked the Project to develop an initial set of such requirements.

Mission

This project assists NMHSs in RA II to make better use of satellite-related information. The major focus of the initiative is to facilitate the timely provision of satellite-related information by satellite operators themselves to users, i.e., NMHSs in RA II, especially developing countries including LDCs. It is necessary to create synergy between other ongoing projects such as the WMO-CGMS Virtual Laboratory (VLab) and provide greater benefits while avoiding duplication of effort.

Accomplishments

The first four phases of the Project 2009-2013 have resulted in the following accomplishments:

Issuance of bi-monthly newsletters for RA II members
Establishment and maintenance of project web pages on the WMO Space Programme website
Identification of the status of availability and use of satellite data by RA II Members through an online survey (results are available: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/documents/RA-2-PP_Newsletter-Vol3-N2.pdf )
Assistance to organizing the Asia/Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users Conferences (AOMSUC)
Organization of two Coordination Group meetings (2011 and 2012)
Reporting to WMO RA II and CBS/ET-SUP
Development of next-phase work plans

Work Plan for the Next Project Phase

The next phase from September 2013 onwards will see continuation of these key activities.

Emphasis will be placed on

(i) identifying and regularly documenting Region-oriented requirements for satellite data access and exchange,

(ii) addressing the deficiencies and challenges reported by RA II Members in response to the survey,

(iii) preparation of satellite data users in RA II to the new generation of geostationary meteorological satellites (such as Himawari-8, FY-4A, GEO-KOMPSAT-2A), in line with the CBS-15 “Guideline for Ensuring User Readiness for New Generation Satellites”. The preparation should involve user training, guidance to upgrade processing software and hardware, information and tools,

(iv) further improvement of the GTS and implementation of the WIS/WIGOS,

(v) establishment of a region-wide multi-hazard early warning system for Disaster Risk Reduction,

(vi) invite Lao PDR to become a member of the RA II WIGOS Project, given the emerging interest in utilization of satellite data in this country. All efforts should be taken to ensure that all RA II Members have the opportunity to contribute to the Project, and

(vii) issuance of newsletters for RA II members.

The next Coordination Group meeting is planned for 2015 in conjunction with the AOMSUC.

Illustration 1: Structure of the RA II WIGOS Project

Coordination Group

Illustration 2: Coordination Group

Coordination Group Meetings

1st Meeting , Tokyo, Japan (21-23 February 2011).

2nd Meeting, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea (8 October 2012)

The newsletter is aimed at sharing the latest satellite-related information in areas such as imagery, data, products and training, including:
- Information on access to satellite imagery, data and products including application products
- Training activities currently available or planned
- News on meteorological satellites
- News on new services
- Progress reports on the Project
- Introduction to activities of other RAs and the WMO VLab
- Reports of relevant meetings

We look forward to receiving your contributions to the newsletter!

Articles from satellite operators or from any RA II Member are welcome, regardless of whether they are registered as members of the Project Coordinating Group or not. Topics could include, for example, satellite-related activities, such as how Members have used satellite data to improve weather/climate products.

Survey Results

The RA II Pilot Project Web-based Questionnaire survey conducted in the third phase, which drew responses from 20 of 35 RA II members as reported in RA II Pilot Project Newsletter Vol. 3 No 2.

The key findings are following:

Digital data disseminated via satellites and digital data obtained from the internet were the most popular mechanism of data reception, and it was recognized that analogue data obtained from the internet was also the popular mechanism
There was a strong need for the data from Research and Development and other environmental satellites, especially TRMM. Data from NPP was also requested.
A stronger product processing capability is needed.
It can be said that monitoring dust is highly interested in RA II and it seems that atmosphere-ocean interaction is getting an interest from RA II Members.
A large scale of training, the support of E-learning in satellite meteorology by WMO and the regular training were required.