QuikScat Commercial Distribution and Use

1. QuikScatCommercial Distribution and Use

2. Commercial Use & Distribution • Markets • Barriers to Entry • Usage Statistics • Case Studies

3. Market Targets • Sail and Power Cruising • Ocean Racing • Commercial and Sport Fishing • Tug and Barge • Shipping

4. Markets • Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial Distribution • Cost-effective data access and transfer • Intuitive data display and interpretation

5. Data Transfer • All Markets Share Common Data Transfer Traits • Slow speed of data transfers (1200 to 9600 baud) • High cost of minutes for data transfers ($1 to $3 per minute)

6. Data Transfer • OCENS included QuikScat into its WeatherNet data distribution system: • World’s largest collection of weather, ocean and aviation content • Organized into a cohesive library of graphical, text and GRIB products allowing for site-specific selection • Built around an efficient and cost-effective engine for the retrieval of these data over satcomm and other networks.

7. WeatherNet

8. Data Transfer • Included in WeatherNet after converting to an interactive GRIB format • GRIB data format reduced size of data transfer; • Interactive data selection allows user to customize product request to their specific area of geographic interest.

9. Data Transfer • Net effect of WeatherNet integration and conversion to GRIB on satcomm download times: • QuikScat GRIB covering NE Pacific • Globalstar: 20 seconds • Iridium: Just under 1 minute • Inmarsat, MSAT: Just over 1 minute • As opposed to minimum 5 to 10 minute satcomm connect to retrieve QuikScat bmps from http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/quikscat/

10. Markets • Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial Distribution • Cost-effective data access and transfer • Intuitive data display and interpretation

11. Data Display • Must address need for auto-display • Must offer user insight into coverage and age of most recent data available for their geographic area BEFORE data is downloaded • Must deal with issue of rain flagging and differences in age of data retrieved and displayed.

12. Data Display • OCENS GRIB Explorer • Auto-launched by WeatherNet at end of data retrieval • Orbital model in GRIB Explorer displays date and time of QuikScat scatterometer passes; • Age differences are coded to unique colors; Square box is added to base of rain contaminated QuikScat wind flags

13. Data Display

14. Data Display

15. Data Display

16. Usage • Dramatic Growth in QuikScat Usage

17. Usage • QuikScat represents sizable fraction of all WeatherNet wind downloads (graphical and GRIB)

18. Usage • Atlantic Ocean is region of highest demand • Better than 80% of all QuikScat downloads are for downloads covering the Atlantic Ocean basin • Higher resolution data, if available, is popular • Better than 60% of all Atlantic Ocean QuikScat downloads are selected from 12.5 km categories • Average size of QuikScat download increasing through time • Users are benefiting from customizable categories

19. Case Studies • Global Challenge circumnavigation • MWXC route forecasting

20. Case Studies • Global Challenge circumnavigation • 30,000 nm ocean yacht race sailing against the prevailing winds • Outfitted with OCENS WeatherNet and GRIB Explorer • QuikScat data proved indispensable

21. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Used to calibrate model forecast wind GRIBS • Compare observed location of a weather feature in QuikScat with predicted location from the pertinent weather model • Determine ‘on-the-fly’ if model was running ahead of or behind reality

22. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Dissect weather features • Estimate wind speed and direction over anticipated course • Using repeated images, estimated speed and dynamics of approaching frontal activity • Permits advance prep of sail and yacht maneuvers AHEAD of the wind shifts and maintain optimum course DURING the frontal passage!

23. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Dissect Weather Features

24. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Used Rain Contamination flags as ‘canaries’ • Forewarned of squally conditions that may not appear on other met products • Aids in vessel position, sail deployment and crew safety

25. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Use of Rain Contamination Flags

26. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in MWXC Routing • Vessel routing service that supports much of the Caribbean yachting community • Uses QuikScat to validate suite of model and text forecast products • Communicates routing recommendations to client vessels using sideband… • Obtains immediate feedback from clients about prevailing conditions

27. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in MWXC Routing • QuikScat data ‘amazingly precise’ when validated against in situ observations by client vessels • Squall activity which is very important to the at-sea sail cruiser is readily identified in QuikScat • Not well depicted in model data or other analysis/forecast products

28. Looking Ahead • Suggested Improvements from User Community • Higher resolution data for wider geographic area • Ability to depict time series of historical along with current data for a target area • Make data available for inshore areas • Rain contamination info is valuable product in and of itself