The EMWIN Transition Plan – A Status Report

1. The EMWIN Transition Plan – A Status Report IMPLEMENTATION - COORDINATION MEETING ON THE GTS AND ISS IN RA V  WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND 8 - 12 DECEMBER 2003 Fred Branski U.S. National Weather Service Team Leader for Data Management RTH Washington Focal Point

2. What is EMWIN? • The Emergency Managers Information Network is a wireless, priority-driven computer weather data broadcast system. • EMWIN provides rapid dissemination of: • Warnings < 2 minutes • Forecasts ~ 5 minutes • Graphics ~ 10 – 15 minutes • Imagery ~ 10 – 15 minutes • Other (as time permits) • In severe weather non-warning products may take longer

3. Sample Forecast • FPHW60 PHFO 201348 • SFPHI • STATE FORECAST FOR HAWAII • NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI • 4 AM HST FRI JUN 20 2003 • HIZ001>003-005-006-210200- • STATE FORECAST FOR THE ISLANDS OF KAUAI-OAHU-MAUI-MOLOKAI-LANAI- • 4 AM HST FRI JUN 20 2003 • ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY CANCELLED AT 4 AM... • .TODAY AND SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR BUT FOR ISOLATED SHOWERS. • HIGHS MID 80S. LOWS 70 TO 75. TRADE WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH. • .EXTENDED FORECAST... • .SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED • WINDWARD SHOWERS MONDAY AND TUESDAY. HIGHS 80 TO 85. • LOWS 70 TO 75. TRADE WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WEAKENING TO 10 TO 20 • MPH MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

4. Sample Image

5. Sample Graphic

6. EMWIN – How it works • Data are collected from a variety of sources • Gateway • Weather Wire • FTP • Internet • They are assembled at the EMWIN servers and: • Prioritized • Split into packets • Assembled into a data stream • The data stream is then sent to Wallops CDA (NESDIS) where it is: • Up-linked to satellite (GOES 10 & 12) • The data stream is then available to be received by user stations • From here EMWIN products can be retransmitted by other methods • Up-linked to another satellite (ex. PSAT) • Transmitted via radio frequency • Sent on the Internet (BYTE Blaster)

7. EMWIN Architecture

8. Methods of Dissemination • Primary Wireless Methods • GOES East and West • PeaceSAT • Secondary Wireless Methods • Commercial Satellites • TV SAP channel • TV Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) • Radio • Pagers • Internet

9. Why it works so well • The equipment is inexpensive • An entire turnkey system costs as little as $1k • System needs little to no infrastructure • Easy to run on a laptop • Ex. Solar powered version exists • Signal is “Weather Proof” due to L-Band transmission • Equipment is relatively compact and is very rugged • The Data-stream is free, repeatable and can be customized for local retransmission • EMWIN is non-proprietary • Multiple inexpensive software display packages are available • A large and knowledgeable user community to help monitor performance and answer user questions (EMWIN user list) • Transmission covers 3/4 of world surface

10. GOES East and West footprint

11. EMWIN in the Pacific • GOES West broadcast • PeaceSAT broadcast • Currently PeaceSAT rebroadcasts the entire EMWIN data-stream • Could be customized for the Pacific • Provides advance warning of Tsunami and Typhoons • Testimonials received have reported that after a severe event the only weather system still functioning is EMWIN • Many island nations already use EMWIN to save lives and property

12. EMWIN current specs • Frequency on GOES - 1690.725 MHz • Modulation – Dual Frequency Shift Keying (DFSK) • Speed - 9.6 kbps • Power – EIRP = 51 dBmi

13. Why is change necessary? • EMWIN shares spare bandwidth in the existing WEFAX channel • The EMWIN/WEFAX broadcast was allowed to exceed UN ITU authorized power level by special exception • NESDIS GOES N/Q series will use all of former WEFAX channel bandwidth for new Low Rate Information Transfer (LRIT) broadcast • Must move EMWIN to its own channel, at reduced power

14. What changes will be made? • Power level will be reduced to 44.5 dBmi • New L band carrier frequency will be 1692.7 MHz • Forward error correction will be added • Modulation scheme will be changed from DFSK to binary phase shift keying (BPSK)

15. What the NWS has done so far • Upgrade of all EMWIN servers • All programs now 32 bit • Network has been upgraded • All servers now fully redundant • EMWIN GOES-N Transmission server created • Transmission now 19.2 kbps (downlink 9.6) • It’s been under test since May 1, 2003 • No problems have been encountered • Communication lines to NESDIS installed • Lines have been tested operationally using the current system • Installed new modems and they are in use operationally • Installed a downlink system to monitor EMWIN GOES-N broadcast when available

16. Space segment restrictions • Original plan to use GOES-8 • GOES-8 now diverted to back up GOES-9 • Present view: • GOES-8 & 9 available for manufacturer testing • Use GOES-11 during its annual test cycle For west coast of US and Pacific area

17. EMWIN transition planning • NWS/NESDIS joint effort • Revised transition plan in preparation, to include • Technical specifications • Schedules • Transition steps • Prototype software demodulator and receiver is being developed by NESDIS • Will be capable of operating in both present and future EMWIN operational modes with keystroke switching • Development contract awarded on June 23, 2003 with delivery expected in November, 2003 • System currently under test

18. 2003 Sept – Prototype user workstation available, Dec – Complete user workstation testing & documentation 2004 Jan - Issue final technical specifications to manufacturers and users Mar – Integrate & test EMWIN-N uplink equipment 2004 cont’d Apr to July – Manufacturers & users test new workstation using GOES-8 or GOES-9 June – GOES N available for public testing Sep to Jan 2005 – Deployment of new workstations 2005 Transition GOES-West to the EMWIN-N Transition GOES-East to the EMWIN-N Prospective timetable