WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Weather – Climate - Water

1. WMO Information System (WIS)Managing & Moving Weather, Water and Climate Informationin the 21st Century WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Weather – Climate - Water World Meteorological Organization

2. Overview • What is the WMO Information System (WIS)? • Why is it being developed? • What services will it provide? • What will the NMHS gain from WIS? • What is the overall WIS plan? • How far has its implementation progressed? • What are the major challenges still to be met? • How to ensure ownership and involvement of RA I? World Meteorological Organization

3. WMO Information System (WIS) Direction from WMO Congress (2003) • Develop: • Over-arching approach for solving data management problems for all WMO and related international programmes • A single, coordinated global infrastructure, the WMO Information System (WIS) for the collection and sharing of information World Meteorological Organization

4. Reasons for WIS • Various WMO Programmes developing information systems independently • Incompatibilities, inefficiencies, duplication of effort and higher overall costs • Continued systems development in an uncoordinated manner would: • Exacerbate these problems • Increase difficulty in sharing information between programmes • Further isolate WMO Programmes from each other and from wider environmental community World Meteorological Organization

5. Current situation: GTS WWW GTS Regional/Specialized Meteorological Centres Meteorological and R&D Satellite Operator Centres World Meteorological Centres National MeteorologicalCentres interconnects World Meteorological Organization

6. Current situation: GTS For WWW • GTS provides: • Information collection and distribution • Real-time push for WWW data & products (and some other programmes data) • Information management • Standard data formats • Implicit metadata & catalogs World Meteorological Organization

7. Current situation: GTS and Other WMO Programmes systems • Information exchange • Multiplicity of procedures • Real-time and non-real-time • Very limited pull • Information management • Multiplicity of data formats • Uncoordinated/lack of metadata & catalogs • No discovery World Meteorological Organization

8. WIS Vision • Integrated approach for all WMO Programmes • Routine collection and dissemination of time-critical and operation-critical data and products: • Real-time “push”through dedicated telecommunication • Data Discovery, Access and Retrieval service: • “Pull” through the Internet (HTTP, FTP,…) • Timely delivery of data and products: • Delayed mode “push” through dedicated telecommunication means and public data networks, especially the Internet • Unified procedures • More efficient data exchange • Coordinated and standardized metadata • Interoperability between programmes • Improved data management • ISO 191xxx series for geographic information World Meteorological Organization

9. DCPC NC NC NC/ DCPC Managed, Regional and Internet NC NC/DCPC Communication Networks NC GISC NC GISC GISC NC DCPC DCPC GISC GISC Satellite Dissemination (IGDDS, RETIM, etc) NC NC SatelliteTwo-Way Systems NC NC On-demand “pull” WIS World Radiation Centre Regional Instrument Centres International Organizations (IAEA, CTBTO, UNEP, FAO.. ) GAW World Data Centres GCOS Data Centres Global Run-off Data Centre Global Precip. Climatology Centre IRI, Hadley Centre, and other climate research centres; Universities; Regional Climate Centres (CIIFEN, etc.) Commercial Service Providers WMO World Data Centres International Projects (e.g. GMES HALO) internet Real-time “push” World Meteorological Organization

10. WIS brings new features and opportunities • Common information exchange standards, functions and services forall WMO programmes • Inter-disciplinarydiscovery, retrieval and exchange of information in real-time and non-real time • Inter-operability through on-line catalogues usingmetadata based on ISO 19100(geographic information standard) • Industry standards and off-the-shelf hardware and software systems to ensurecost-effectiveness and compatibility World Meteorological Organization

11. What will a NMHS gain from the WIS? • Improved forecasting/warning services • Faster and more cost-effective exchange of operation-critical information; • Improved and expanded range of services • Discovery and access to new data and products: • Satellite data and products, ensemble prediction products, climate predictions, oceanographic data and products, operational, and research data and products, reports, publications • Strengthened role as national service provider • Ability to “push” to national users critical information: • Warnings, advisories, selected measurements, etc.; (eg: national agencies dealing in disaster mitigation, agriculture, energy and water management,) • Better appreciation by partner agencies • Supports their “pulling” relevant information from WMO World Meteorological Organization

12. Structure of WIS Functional centres: • National Centres (NC) • Global Information System Centres (GISC) • Data Collection and Production Centres (DCPC) and • Data communication networks WIS concerns only information exchange and data management functions World Meteorological Organization

13. National Centre (NC) • Provides information collected/generated in the country to a GISC or DCPC • Serves as portal for national users and/or administrates their access to WIS • Several NCs in a country are possible (not just the NMC) Data Collection or Production Centre (DCPC) • Provides the programme-related data & products for international exchange • Supports information “Push” and ”Pull” mechanisms • Generates, maintains,makes accessible and provides to GISCs metadata catalogues of its data & products World Meteorological Organization

14. Global Information System Centre (GISC) • Receives information from NCs and DCPCs • Exchanges information (data and metadata) with other GISCs • Disseminates, within its area of responsibility, the entire set of WMO data and products for routine global exchange • Supports information ”Pull” mechanisms • Generates, maintains and makes accessible metadata catalogues of all data and products for global echange • Ensures around-the-clock, reliable and secure operations World Meteorological Organization

15. WIS, a key issue: interoperability • Interoperability enables the discovery, the retrieval and the usage of the data • It needs the development and the implementation of Metadata standards • Development of a WMO Metadata Profileof the ISO 191xx series for geographic information • Step 1done: development of the WMO Metadata Core Profile of ISO 19115 for data discovery • Step 2: Use of the ISO 191xx series for the access and use of the data World Meteorological Organization

16. WIS SERVICES WIS provide various types of services to meet the different requirements: (1) Routine collection and dissemination service for time-critical and operation-critical data and products: Based on real-time “push” mechanism (incl. Multicast); implemented essentially through dedicated telecommunication means with guaranteed quality of service, e.g. leased circuits, dedicated data communication network services and satellite-based data-distribution systems; (2) Data Discovery, Access and Retrieval service: Based on request/reply “pull” mechanism with relevant data management functions; implemented essentially through the Internet (HTTP, FTP,…); (3) Timely delivery service for data and products: Based on delayed mode “push” mechanism; implemented through a combination of dedicated telecommunication means and of public data networks, especially the Internet. World Meteorological Organization

17. WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES • EC “emphasized that with the sustained progress benefiting from Information & Communication Technology (ICT) development made in its implementation, operation and upgrade, the GTS, including satellite-based data-distribution systems and the Improved MTN, would effectively contribute to the WIS implementation as the core communication component for exchange and delivery of time and operation-critical data and products.” World Meteorological Organization

18. 64 Toulouse Rome Moscow Int. Algiers 0.1 0.05 2.4 Madrid 0.05 64 New Delhi Casablanca 0.1 0.05 128 64 2.4 NI 0.1 Tunis Western Sahara 1.2 Jeddah Tripoli Cairo 0.1 Canary 0.075 9.6 AFTN NO NO Offenbach 64 9.6 AFTN Int. NI Nouakchott Toulouse 9.6 Khartoum 9.6 19.2 Asmara 64 28.8 Dakar Niamey 19.2 0.050 NI 19.2 Bamako via Toulouse 19.2 Banjul Djibouti 1.2 64 1.2 NI Ouagadougou N'djamena Bissau 1.2 via Toulouse 19.2 0.05 2.4 Addis Ababa Conakry 1.2 2.4 0.05 Bangui 19.2 Sal 1.2 19.2 Freetown 2.4 Int. Entebbe 33.6 Mogadiscio Accra Cotonou Lagos Monrovia Nairobi 0.05 0.05 AFTN Kigali Abidjan Lome Douala 1.2 0.05 AFTN via Toulouse (64) NI 0.05 AFTN Bujumbura Malabo Seychelles 33.6 1.2 1.2 19.2 Libreville Int. Dar Es Salaam Brazzaville NI 64 0.05 AFTN Washington NI Lusaka Lilongwe Kinshasa NI Mauritius Sao Tome Luanda NO via Exeter NI E-mail Int. RTH, CRT NI Int. Int. Harare St Denis Ascension Moroni Int. Windhoek Gaberone NMC, CMN DCP 64 9.6 9.6 Centre in other region 64 Maputo NI 64 St. Helena 64 64 Pretoria Antananarivo Int. Int. Manzini MTN circuit, circuit RPT 19.2 Maseru 64 64 New Amsterdam Kerguelen Regional circuit 9.6 Via Internet Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Network for Region I (Africa)point-to-point circuits implementation (transmission speed in kbit/s) Interregional circuit NI Not implemented NO Not operational IX.2006 World Meteorological Organization

19. Coverage of RETIM-Africa, EUMETCast 38 RETIM receiving stations in 18 RA I Countries All RA I Countries equipped with EUMETCast receiving stations World Meteorological Organization

20. Data pull Data push WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES(for weather, water, climate and related data and products) DAR WIS IGDDS GTS WIS/GTS: for time and operation-critical data & products WIS/IGDDS: for space-based data & products WIS/DAR: data discovery, access and retrieval Data push: routine distribution of data & products Data pull: access to and retrieval of data & products World Meteorological Organization

21. Data pull Data push WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS IMPLEMENTATION(for weather, water, climate and related data and products) DAR Essentially through the Internet(HTTP, FTP, VPN…) Essentially through telecom. with guaranteed quality of service, e.g. leased circuits, dedicated data com network services, sat.-based systems, .. WIS Essentially through satellite based data distribution systems, e.g. DVB-S IGDDS GTS WIS/GTS: for time and operation-critical data & products WIS/IGDDS: for space-based data & products WIS/DAR: data discovery, access and retrieval Data push: routine distribution of data & products Data pull: access to and retrieval of data & products World Meteorological Organization

22. WIS Data Policies • Complies with WMO data policies • Res. 40 (Cg-XII) and Res. 25 (Cg-XIII) • Will follow evolution of WMO data policy • Procedures for managing of access rights, control of data retrieval, registration and identification of users, etc can be defined, as and when required • Anonymous downloading is technically possible, but depends on whether a NC permits that feature • Has no system-inherent features that would violate international legal frameworks World Meteorological Organization

23. WIS contribution to GEO W M O Weather Domain Climate Domain Water Domain W I S GTS IGDDS Internet GEO-NetCast G E O Health Energy Disasters Weather Climate Water Agriculture Ecosystems Biodiversity World Meteorological Organization

24. WIS implementation • Phase A: GTS Evolution into WIS • Provides consolidation/improvement for time-critical and operation-critical data • Includes extension to meet operational requirements of WMO programmes in addition to World Weather Watch (including improved management of services); • Phase B:Extension to WIS • Provides for an extension of the information services through flexible data discovery, access and retrieval services to all users, as well as flexible timely delivery services; World Meteorological Organization

25. WIS Implementation – accomplishments • Continued GTS upgrades (IMTN, satellite-based datacast,..) • WMO Core metadata • Internet portal • Basic data acquisition, discovery and push-pull services • GISC prototype: RA VI VGISC project • DCPCs prototypes: • ECMWF & EUMETSAT associated with VGISC project • NCAR (Boulder) • NODC (Obninsk) for JCOMM related data • IGGDS (Space-based data) • Asia-Pacific VPN pilot project • Technical Conference on WIS (Korea, 6-8 November 2006); VGISC & DCPC prototype demo World Meteorological Organization

26. European Virtual GISC Project World Meteorological Organization

27. Key Future Milestones • Consolidate plans on development, governance and implementation of WIS: 2006-2008 • Develop WIS regulatory documentation and guidance material for implementation, including specifications for the GISC interfaces and a unified user interface: 2006-2008 • Develop scheme and practices for security, authentication and authorization procedures for WIS services : 2007-2008 • Implementation of first operational GISC: 2008 • Implementation of other operational GISCs: 2009 - 2011 • Implementation of DCPCs, i.e. WIS interfaces at WMO programmes’ centres: 2008-2011 World Meteorological Organization

28. Challenges • Good progress made in concept, technological solutions and prototypes for WIS, but much work to be done for an operational WIS • Understanding of WIS – both internal and external to WMO: • What it is, why it is important, what it does for NMHSs, what needs to be done, … • Active participation of WMO Technical Commissions and other bodies -- stating requirements, developing metadata and implementing WIS interface at their data centres, etc • Involvement of all NMHSs in the WIS development, including awareness of users communities • Adequate financial and human resources for WIS development into operations World Meteorological Organization

29. WIS and RA I Goal: Integrate RA I into more active ownership and involvement in planning, development and implementation of WIS … to meet the data and information distribution needs of its NMHSs World Meteorological Organization

30. What is needed for an active RA I ownership and involvement? • Statement of needs and priorities for RA I related to all WMO programmes • Defining/developing workable solutions (design & implementation) that match ability and needs of RA I Members • Involvement in developing implementation strategies and plans for the Region, including: • Pilots projects • Capacity building options World Meteorological Organization

31. How can the XIV-RA I session help increase ownership and involvement? Objectives: • Develop RA I-endorsed WIS goals • Establish RA I WIS Task Team for pro-active participation and collaboration with CBS teams and ICG-WIS in planning the development and implementation of WIS • Works in close cooperation with or integration into RA I/WG-PIW (consistent with leading role of CBS in WIS development and implementation) World Meteorological Organization

32. Initial Ideas 1-Identify WIS pilot projects suitable for RA I Members that will test WIS concepts in developing countries & LDCs. • Involve potential African DCPCs (RSMCs, RTHs, Drought monitoring centres) • Enhanced use of effective GTS components (links, VSAT, RETIM-Africa) for operation-critical data exchange for other WMO Programmes • Develop plans/projects for enhanced application of cost-effective ICTs to further improve the WIS/GTS component for operation-critical data exchange for all WMO Programmes • Exploit ICTs (Internet, VPNs) to access data from prototype/pre-operational GISCs and test their suitability for developing countries requirements 2-Develop planning and implementation phases for the introduction of WIS services and components in RA I, including capacity building World Meteorological Organization

33. Thank you World Meteorological Organization