Background
WMO Global Data Processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS) Centers provide open and free forecast data. However, their forecast quality depends on the quantity and quality of the data sent to them using the WMO Information System (WIS).
Malawi DCCMS is managing 23 manned weather stations providing 2 or 4 observations per day. In February, the data sent to GDPFS Centers through WIS were not regular and not available for many stations that appeared as black dots in the following map.
The dots represent the number of observations received on 2nd February 2021. Black dots correspond to a lack of data. Red dots correspond to one observation only.
Malawi DCCMS has reviewed some GTS data transmission issues during March with the WMO Secretariat and GISC Pretoria support. Consequently, there is now an increase in the number of observations received by GDPFS Centers, as shown in the following figure.
The dots represent the number of observations received on 6th May 2021. Black dots correspond to a lack of data. Red dots correspond to one observation only. Orange dots represent two observations.
The data exchanged on GTS after the corrections are still not enough to satisfy the requirements of GDPFS. Moreover, the pressure data are missing in almost all the stations due to the absence of a functioning barometer.
Malawi DCCMS also manages 44 Campbell Scientific automatic weather stations (AWS), providing data through a GSM connection and internet. These are the issues related to the AWS data:
data are received on a PC in Blantyre in DCCMS headquarters, which constitute a single point of failure and is not sufficient to guarantee the required continuity and resilience of the transmission,
14 stations are affected by transmission problems because their SIM card has been disabled or because the GSM signal is too weak
AWS data are used only locally and not exchanged internationally via GTS
Campbell Scientific software cannot produce BUFR. The WIGOS station identifier (WSI) cannot be encoded in SYNOP, and BUFR is required.
WIS 2.0 demonstrator project
WIS 2.0 aims to leverage new technologies, open standard, web and cloud-based services to provide simple, timely and seamless sharing of trusted weather, water and climate data. Several demonstrator projects have been established to illustrate, evolve, validate and refine the concepts, solutions, and implementation approach of WIS 2.0. The demonstrator projects will also show some of the critical benefits WIS 2.0 will bring to the WMO community. In the case of the transmission of observations a demonstrator project will help to show how the required resilience and timeliness of the data transmission can be delivered using the technologies supported by WIS 2.0.
Objectives
The objectives of the WIS 2.0 demonstrator project on the international exchange of observational data in Malawi are:
Continuous and reliable provision of hourly real-time data from 44 stations to Global NWP Centers in BUFR format through GTS and WIS 2.0.
Optimization of the acquisition system for cloud services for sustainability purposes.
Partners
Malawi Department for Climate Change and Meteorological Services
Campbell Scientific
Amazon
WMO Secretariat as the facilitator
Approach
The project will use cloud services to build a resilient and scalable system able to
acquire the data from the observing stations
provide final users access to the data according to WIS 2.0 technical specifications.
Access to the data will be unrestricted for WMO GDPFS Centers.
Depending on the support provided by Campbell Scientific, the project will aim in one year to optimize the acquisition software for efficiency and cost-effectiveness on cloud services.
The project will entail a training phase for Malawi DCCMS personnel to build skills for administering the system in the cloud environment.
Estimated costs
The following estimated cost for the project that is planned to run for one year will be met by the WMO Secretariat through extra-budgetary funding.
Amazon services one year around $10K (first year provided for free by Amazon)
Implementation of Campbell Sci. software on Amazon cloud service provided at no cost by Campbell Sci.
Implementation of BUFR production provided by Campbell Sci. at no cost.
Cost of WIS2 type transmission to be determined (rough estimate $5000/year) to replace GTS in the longer term.
Cost of improving GSM reception around $6000
Training for IT staff in Malawi to be provided by Amazon (no cost)
For the long-term running costs, a funding solution will be considered.
Benefits
The real-time observations will be assimilated by the Global NWP systems providing more accurate forecasts.
Malawi DCCMS will benefit from a reliable and continuous stream of observations from their AWSs for nowcasting and NWP purposes.
The project will serve as a blueprint for similar projects in Africa and other regions to resolve the lack of observations for Global NWP and other real-time uses. The acquisition systems based on cloud services will be potentially used for different countries, making the acquisition, and sharing of data from hundreds of stations more sustainable and resilient.
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