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Guidance on Modernizing NMHSs
Box 6.5 Technical Insight: Component 2: Modernization of the Observation Infrastructure and Forecasting Component 2 aims to (a) modernize the observation networks, communications system, and information and communication technology (ICT) system of the National Meteorological Service (NMS); (b) improve the meteorological (and hydrological, if part of the NMS’s responsibility) forecasting system; and (c) refurbish NMS offices and facilities. This component generally has the following subcomponents and activities: • Technical modernization of observation networks, which includes • Rehabilitating and reequipping meteorological, hydrological, and other networks as requireda • Introducing ground-based remote sensing systems for nowcasting and very-short-range weather forecasting (for example, radar weather surveillance equipment, wind profilers, and lightning detection networks, as appropriate)b • Including upper-air measurements using radiosondes, although temperature soundings may also be available from commercial aircraft as a part of the AMDAR (Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay) system • Strengthening quality control by setting up calibration facilities • Modernization of the NMS’s communication and ICT systems, which includes • Introducing new communication equipment that meets World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Information System standards • Developing archiving, database management, and digitizing capabilities • Providing computers and software to support numerical weather prediction (NWP)c • Improvement of the hydrometeorological forecasting system, which includes introducing modern computer equipment for processing observational data from in situ surface networks, satellites, upper-air stations, radar, and other in situ remote sensing systems (for example, radar, wind profilers, and lightning detection networks) • Refurbishment of the NMS’s offices and facilities because experience shows that facilities that have generally deteriorated and that are in a poor state of repair contribute to poor staff working conditions and are unable to house modern equipment a. This task may also support aviation, agriculture, or other sector-specific networks, depending on the NMS’s responsibility. b. Generally, all these ground-based remote sensing technologies are complex. If the NMS staff has little or no experience with these technologies, they should be introduced with sufficient long-term technical support. It is also important to weigh alternative technologies that can partly fill the role of these in situ systems, such as satellite-based techniques and systems for nowcasting, which are freely available to WMO Members. c. In the meantime, or as an alternative, many advanced centers can provide NWPs tailored to a country’s specific needs and run them as part of the product suite produced by these centers. Guidance from the WMO and other regional centers is invaluable.
methods are typically based on as much automation as possible because automation increases the frequency and reliability of the observations. For example, traditional temperature measurements with mercury-filled thermometers are often recorded only every six hours, whereas automatic stations can report temperatures every 5–10 minutes. During extreme events, when conditions are Weather and Climate Resilience • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0026-9