NWS Partners Workshop-9/11/03

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NWS Partners Workshop – Trip Report
September 11, 2003
Linda Miller

Meeting Agenda

The NWS Partners represent the broad sector of the NWS user community, i.e., other branches of government, emergency managers, private sector, universities (Unidata).A lunch time session regarding XML was conducted by Frank Richards, PH: (301)713-1630 x164, covering the questions of “should the weather service use it for transmission of information?” The highlighted benefits presented were:

• Support of fewer decoders
• Allow the NWS to better assure accurate and consistent “packaging” of information
• Provides framework that makes it easier to evolve in response to changing needs

Several topics were raised during the day which ultimately led to action items for the NWS. Many of the issues revolved around lack of communication. Several of us recommended the use of topical listservs or email lists to facilitate communication among interested constituents. Some of the listservs recommended are:

• NDFD
• VTEC
• XML

It was recommended that the NWS conduct two Partners meetings each year, and provide a lot of advanced notice about the meetings. After lunch the NWS announced a Partners meeting to be held during the AMS meeting in Seattle and another one on 17 June 2004.

John Ward’s NCEP update included:

Formation of a “Scientific Review” committee with representatives from private industry and government, but no academic representation was mentioned
I suggested the need for an academic representative, along with a Unidata representative (UserComm or PolComm rep?) I will obtain additional information on the Committee and John Ward intends to use me as focal point to get potential names
NCEP is moving toward redundancy for their FTP servers

Tom Graziano, Hydrologic Services

$60 million ten year modernization to advance the hydrologic prediction services
Currently has 717 forecast points, by end of FY04 will have 1224 points

Mike Tomlinson, Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services

Presented IFP/NDFD overview (see presentation)
- Post NWS products and data on the Internet in graphic-oriented format (2002)
- Prepare and disseminate NWS forecast products in digital form (2003)
- Provides more forecast detail in time and space
- Enables more effective communication with users (e.g., graphics)
How does it work?
- A 7-day digital forecast database is established at each WFO
- Forecasters continuously interactively modify the contents of the database using the latest observations and model guidance
- NWS text, tabular, voice, and graphic products are generated from the database
- The database itself is provided as an NWS product to customers and partners
- Contains a seamless mosaic of NWS digital forecasts
- Grids available 95 percent of the time
- Meteorological consistency along WFO CWA boundaries of all transmitted grids are within prescribed thresholds 90-95 percent of the time
Mike asked me about potential interest from the university community
Recommendations are currently being made to NWS (Glenn Austin) regarding products to be added to the NDFD
Future products that have been suggested include: derived parameters, fire weather, marine GIS, cell phone, pager, wireless systems used by First Responders and specific needs for emergency managers
Format-GRIB2 with meteorological objects in BUFR

Linda Miller
External Liaison, Unidata

			Unidata is a member of the UCAR Community Programs, is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
			P.O. Box 3000 • Boulder, CO 80307-3000 USA • Tel: 303-497-8643 • Fax: 303-497-8690

NWS Partners Workshop – Trip Report September 11, 2003 Linda Miller

NWS Partners Workshop – Trip Report
September 11, 2003
Linda Miller