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Complexities of Establishing an Automated Monitoring Network in Support of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games:. Bill Scott Manager, 2010 Winter Games, Atmospheric Monitoring Networks Meteorological Service of Canada Pacific and Yukon Region. Siting Requirements & Considerations.
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Complexities of Establishing an Automated Monitoring Network in Support of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games: Bill Scott Manager, 2010 Winter Games, Atmospheric Monitoring Networks Meteorological Service of Canada Pacific and Yukon Region
Siting Requirements & Considerations • VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee) requirements. • Full, primary autostation per venue • Need for consideration of specific users: • Forecaster, climatologist, computer modeler, sport manager, public/media, site cooperative agency • Requirement for increased density of 24/7 reporting sites meteorologically upstream. • Concentration to the west and southwest • Utilization to upgrade existing MSC and/or cooperative Provincial gov’t agency automated systems. • Increased degree of cooperative installations = decreased cost/max time savings • Decreased costing = increased network density. • To be installed ASAP to capture maximum number of winters in advance • Environmental impacts at absolute minimum. • Primary site selection considerations: • Nearness to services (power, comm) • Ease/safety of access for techs • Vandalism potential • Camera view from sponsor TV networks • Avoidance of native lands, parks, etc. • Subjective degree of deviation from standard Meteorological exposure • Away from VANOC construction activities • No conflict with private ski operations
(star indicates Olympic site of significance whether a venue, practice site or people gathering location)
Whistler Mountain High Level OAN Site Platform Collection…… Whistler Mtn Low Level Whistler Nesters Port Mellon Callaghan Valley
Callaghan Valley Ski Jump Top (VOW) Portable Tripod
Remote wind systems to supplement full platform systems Whistler Mountain High Level (Wind) (VOH) (VOG)
Squamish Airport – LAP-3000 Wind Profiler co-located with Full compound autostation. Site also had Remote Video System and Automatic Weather Station EC OAN
Mobile Upper Air Radiosonde Located alongside existing Whistler manned weather station (WAE) during event periods.
High Resolution Web Cams
Weather Radar • Low level installation optimized for: • Views of Callaghan, Whistler & Squamish • Low cost service delivery (power, comm, roadway) • Ease of installation/technician access • Ease of approval process • (co-location at new Whistler Waste Transfer Station.
Typically serviced on 2 - 3 week interval in winter by MSC technicians. (coastal OAN as required – pcpn) Alpine OAN sites visited after every major snowfall. (via local contracted ski co. staff) Full sensor inspection - start of winter - end of winter
High maintenance due to heavy, wet snow
Port Mellon Capping
Whistler Mountain High Level Heavy, wet snow under calm conditions. Pluvio Now has a “Heated Collar”
Precipitation Sensor Alter (Wind) shields to be removed at sites deemed to be naturally sheltered (little significant wind).
Snow depth sensor arm with 1meter extension to raise it to 5 meters AGL. Snow depth over 300 cm. Cypress Bowl North (VOE)
“To prepare for the Winter Olympics, No matter how much time you think you have... … It won’t be enough.” (Tom Potter – April 2004) Tom Potter 1929 - 2007