| IMPROVEMENTS OF JMA's WIND PROFILER DATA |
| Notification from Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) |
JMA will upgrade its wind profilers through March 2014 for all the 31 JMA’s windprofiler sites except for Sendai (47590) and Aizu-wakamatsu (47570). Each observation site shuts down for a few weeks to a few months during the replacement and starts sending new data after that period. The first new observation data will be available in the afternoon of December 6th for Takamatsu (47891) and Ichiki (47848).
There will be no changes in data format and GTS abbreviated headings: IUPC[41-50] RJTD.
Data can change in quality, because of the improvements of specifications of profiler equipment, which might require some adjustments in data assimilation system.
Main improvements are:
- Minimum observation height will change from about 400 m to 300 m.
- Resolution of observation heights will be slightly improved.
- Maximum observation height will be improved and expected to be able to observe higher than 10 km in good conditions.
|
| |
| Published: |
2 December 2013 |
|
| CODES |
| WMO No 306 - Manual on Codes, Volume II - Regional Codes and National Coding Practices |
The national coding procedures by the Czech Republic will be amended on 1 December 2013 for FM 12 SYNOP.
The national coding procedures by the Netherlands were amended on 14 November 2013 for FM 15 METAR, FM 16 SPECI and FM 51 TAF. |
| The amendments are available from: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WMOCodes/WMO306_vII/VolumeII.html. |
| Published: |
25 November 2013 |
|
| JAPANESE WIND PROFILER DATA - CHANGE TO LOCAL CODE TABLE |
| Notification from Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) |
JMA will change BUFR local table version number of its wind profiler data at 0900 UTC on 24 October 2013.
GTS headings affected are IUPC[41-50] RJTD.
The data files use a local descriptor for quality control information, and the local table version number will be changed from 0 to 1.
|
For details of the data format see:
http://www.wis-jma.go.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/JMA_Windprofiler_format_1021.pdf |
| Published: |
21 October 2013 |
|
| CESSATION OF TAC LAND SYNOP TRANSMISSIONS |
| Migration to Table Driven Code Forms - announcement that UK will stop issuing land SYNOPs in TAC |
The UK Met Office will continue to transmit Land SYNOP bulletins in both BUFR and TAC format until 1200 UTC on Monday 20th October 2014. SYNOPs with a nominal observation time of 1200 UTC on Monday 20th October 2014 will be transmitted in both formats.
From 1300 UTC on Monday 20th October 2014, the transmission of UK Land SYNOPs in the TAC format on the GTS will cease. |
| |
| Published: |
21 October 2013 |
|
| CODES |
| METAR and SPECI reporting examples of sea surface temperature and significant wave height |
In accordance with the recent amendment to METAR and SPECI, reporting of sea surface temperature and significant wave height (WTsTs/HHsHsHs) will be operational as from 14 November 2013. The approval of this amendment was announced in the WWW Operational Newsletter on 13 May 2013 (Ref. WMO Circular letter No. OBS/WIS/DRMM/DRC (PR-6688).
In this context, please be reminded that following are some reporting examples of WTsTs/HHsHsHs in compliance with the template in the ICAO Annex 3 (see Table A3-2 - Template for METAR and SPECI in Appendix 3 of Part II).
- W12/H75 (Sea surface temperature and significant wave height are 12 degrees Celsius and 7.5 m, respectively) and similarly,
- W15/H7 (Sea surface temperature and significant wave height are 15 degrees Celsius and 0.7 m, respectively) and
- W15/H175 (Sea surface temperature and significant wave height are 15 degrees Celsius and 17.5 m, respectively
|
| |
| Published: |
04 October 2013 |
|
| CODES |
| Adoption of amendments to the Manual on Codes (WMO No. 306) by fast-track procedure |
In accordance with the fast-track procedure for adoption of amendments to the Manual on Codes, the Secretariat sent an email to the focal points for codes and data presentation matters for comments on 21 June 2013.
No disagreements were received from the focal points and the amendments were approved by the president of CBS on behalf of the Executive Council (EC) for implementation on 14 November 2013.
|
| The amendments are available in: English, French, Russian and Spanish. |
| Published: |
16 September 2013 |
|
| Enhanced ECMWF tropical cyclone trajectory forecast products |
ECMWF is enhancing its tropical cyclone trajectory (TC track) forecast products.This change includes technical and meteorological aspects.
The switch from the current to the new products will be implemented for the 12 UTC run on 1 December 2013.
This long period was chosen so as not to interfere with the operational use of the data during the ongoing tropical cyclone season. Test data will be available via the ECMWF ftp data portal from now until the implementation date. On the implementation date the new products will replace the current products on all dissemination systems (e.g. GTS, DCPC, ftp data portal).
The way to request these products will not change. Also any file names and GTS headers will remain unaffected.
|
Further information about the change can be found on the following web page:
http://www.ecmwf.int/products/changes/tc_products/
|
| Published: |
31 July 2013 |
|
| Additional Data and Products - Resolution 40 (Cg-XII) |
The Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), Austria, have provided an amended list of their "Additional" data.
|
| View the Additional Data and Products home page ... |
| Published: |
4 July 2013 |
|
| METEOROLOGICAL DATA FROM CTBTO IMS/RN STATION NETWORK |
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is implementing a global International Monitoring Network of 80 Radionuclide monitoring stations (IMS/RN), of which 60 are presently providing surface meteorological data to WMO under a cooperation agreement. The installations of the meteorological instruments have been carried out using
As of 11 June 2013, the meteorological data from 27 CTBTO stations, i.e. those with WMO IDs, will migrate to the new system of transfer, and will be available on WIS/GTS under the bulletin header ISAX30 LOWM. The data from the remaining 33 stations (without WMO IDs) will continue to be transferred via the current system under the bulletin header SNCN19 CWAO until a WMO ID is officially assigned.
As additional CTBTO radionuclide stations are installed and certified, their meteorological data will be added to the transfer to WMO under bulletin header ISAX30 LOWM if a WMO ID has been assigned.
|
| View the list of CTBTO IMS/RN stations and the status of their data transfer. |
| Published: |
04 June 2013 |
|
| CODES |
| Adoption of amendments to the Manual on Codes (WMO No. 306) between CBS sessions |
In accordance with the Procedure for the Adoption of Amendments to the Manual on Codes between CBS session, and as concurred by the president of CBS, the WMO Circular letter No. OBS/WIS/DRMM/DRC (PR-6688) (English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic) dated 25 February 2013, including draft amendments to the Manual on Codes, was dispatched to all WMO Members for comments.
The WMO Secretariat received replies approving the draft amendments in the Circular letter by 24 April 2013. The amendments are therefore approved in accordance with the Procedure.
The president of CBS agreed to notify all WMO Members and members of EC of the approval of the amendments by the WWW Operational Newsletter. The implementation date of amendments is on 14 November 2013. |
| |
| Published: |
13 May 2013 |
|
| Volume D - Information for Shipping |
| Notification from the Hellenic National Met. Service |
To amend Volume D as follows (amendments):
Chapter 1 - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
Chapter 2 - Satellite - INMARSAT-C
Chapter 3 - Radio-Facsimile Broadcasts
Chapter 4 - Broadcasts by Radiotelegraphy and Radiotelephony
|
| To view Volume D |
| Published: |
03 May 2013 |
|
| Volume D - Information for Shipping |
| Chapter 6 - Focal Point Contact Information for Port Meteorological Offices |
Amendments (in country alphabetical order):
January |
February |
March |
April |
|
| To view Volume D |
| Published: |
03 May 2013 |
|
| CODES |
| Adoption of amendments to the Manual on Codes (WMO No. 306) by fast-track procedure |
In accordance with the fast-track procedure for adoption of amendments to the Manual on Codes, the Secretariat sent an email to the focal points for codes and data presentation matters for comments on 12 February 2013.
No disagreements were received from the focal points and the amendments were approved by the president of CBS on behalf of the Executive Council (EC) for implementation on 8 May 2013.
|
| The amendments are available in English, French, Russian and Spanish.
|
| Published: |
23 April 2013 |
|
| WMO to explore IPv6 for usage in the GTS |
The new version 6 of the Internet Protocol (IPv6) an its applications for meteorological data will be explored by the WMO Expert Team on Communication Techniques and Structure.
The five year WMO IPv6 initiative has as objective "to enable the usage of IPv6 for WIS/GTS related exchanges". The main focus of the initiative will be to assess the current situation with respect to IPv6 as used by WMO Members, to conduct a pilot project to exchange meteorological data using IPv6, to update the WMO Regulatory Material, as well as to develop a capacity develpoment strategy for IPv6.
In 2013, the main focus will be to assess WMO Members awareness of IPv6 and to conduct the pilot project. An online questionnaire has been circulated for the assessment, which is available at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WMOIPV6
The pilot project is implemented by volunteer sites. WMO Members interested in participating can contact the WIS Team (wis-help@wmo.int) at the WMO Secretariat.
The internet protocol is the basis of most of the data exchange in the GTS. Since the address space of IPv4 is rapidly becoming depleted, a migration to IPv6, with its increased address space, will become necessary at some point in the future. The WMO IPv6 initiative makes sure that WMO is prepared for an eventual activation, and that the advantages of using IPv6 are available to all WMO Members.
|
| Published: |
27 February 2013 |
|
| METEOSAT switch over |
EUMETSAT announces that the Meteosat 0 degree service will switch from Meteosat-9 to Meteosat-10 on 21 January 2013. For full details on the satellite relocations and the service swaps planned for this transition, please see:
http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Satellites/SP_2012113011418367?l=en
If you have any questions, please contact the EUMETSAT User Service Helpdesk at ops@eumetsat.int. |
| Published: |
22 January 2013 |
|
