EC-PORS-ATT2/Doc. 4.2.1, p. 4
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION______
EC Panel of Experts on Polar Observations, Research and Services
Antarctic Task Team Meeting
Wellington, New Zealand
24 February 2014 / EC-PORS-ATT2 / Doc. 4.2.1
______
Date: 12 February 2014
AGENDA ITEM: 4.2
Original: ENGLISH
WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS)
(Submitted by the Secretariat and Chair, ICG-WIGOS Task Team
on WIGOS Regulatory Material (TT-WRM))
SUMMARY
PURPOSE OF THE DOCUMENT:This document provides information on a current status of WIGOS Implementation, including the development of WIGOS regulatory material with an emphasis on CryoNet.
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED:
Development of the CryoNet Section 6 of the WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No.49), Vol. I, PART I - WIGOS; and Manual on WIGOS.
WMO INTEGRATED GLOBAL OBSERVING SYSTEM (WIGOS)
1. The Sixteenth WMO Congress decided to implement WIGOS in the sixteenth financial period (2012-2015); the implementation will focus on developing and implementing a framework for improved governance, management, integration and optimization of the multiple observing systems coordinated by WMO, and it will lay the groundwork for an operational system from 2016 onward.
2. Congress agreed that the implementation of WIGOS must be reflected in the revised WMO Technical Regulations, documenting the WIGOS concept of operations and contributions of all WIGOS component observing systems (GOS, Observing component of GAW, Observing component of GCW and WMO Hydrological Observing System, including WHYCOS).[1] It is emphasized here for EC-PORS that the observing component of GCW is recognized as one of the four WIGOS component observing systems and is given consideration by ICG-WIGOS as it addresses the plans and activities for the implementation of WIGOS described below.
3. EC-64 (May 2012) and EC-65 (May 2013) adopted the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan (WIP).
4. The WIGOS framework Implementation Plan (WIP) addresses the necessary activities to establish an operational WIGOS by the end of 2015, as per the direction of WMO Congress. The following Key Activity Areas are identified and described in the WIP:
i. Management of WIGOS implementation;
ii. Collaboration with the WMO co-sponsored observing systems and international partner organizations and programmes;
iii. Design, planning and optimized evolution of WIGOS component observing systems;
iv. Observing System operation and maintenance;
v. Quality Management;
vi. Standardization, system interoperability and data compatibility;
vii. The WIGOS Operational Information Resource;
viii. Data and metadata management, delivery and archival;
ix. Capacity development;
x. Communications and outreach.
5. The WIP also addresses a number of additional activities that would substantially improve the operational capabilities of WIGOS beyond 2015. During the implementation of WIGOS, the Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR) process, originally developed in formulating the Implementation Plan for the Evolution of the Global Observing Systems (EGOS-IP) will be a major tool for observational gap analysis and observing network design.
6. The Regional WIGOS Implementation Plans (R-WIP)[2] have been developed in all WMO Regions. R-WIPs take into account regional and sub-regional needs, requirements and priorities. R-WIPs address regional requirements for standardization, data compatibility, data management, quality management procedures including performance monitoring and data quality monitoring, and proposed improvements in observing networks/systems.
7. The sustainability of the regional basic networks in some regions, and the reduced availability of data from those networks, is an issue of concern. It agreed that WIGOS and WIS have the potential to further strengthen all basic networks, especially those in developing and the least developed countries, through optimized design and evolution of WIGOS component observing systems, improved operation and maintenance and interoperability arrangements. All regional associations were requested to address the issue of availability of observations from the regional basic networks in their Regional Implementation Plans.
8. WMO has agreed on the Vision for the Global Observing Systems in 2025[3] which provides high-level goals to guide the evolution of the global observing systems during the coming decades. Coordinated strategic planning at all levels will be based on the RRR process, and will be supported by the WIGOS regulatory material.
9. WIGOS Quality Management will strive for compliance of all components of WIGOS with international standards. Further guidance to Members on WIGOS Quality Management will be provided via the standard and recommended practices and procedures specified in the WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49), Vol. I., PART I – WIGOS) and further described in the Manual and Guide on WIGOS, and other WIGOS relevant material, such as the CIMO Guide (WMO-No. 8). Such guidance, for both mandatory and desirable practices, can be referenced for the application and implementation of quality management in regional and national observing systems.
ICG-WIGOS guidance (the most recent)
10. ICG-WIGOS-3 (10-14 February 2014) reviewed deliberations of its Task Teams, Regional Associations and Technical Commissions relevant to the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan (WIP). ICG-WIGOS further reviewed the status of the WIGOS Key Activity Areas according to the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan (WIP) (v.2.0), approved by EC-65 and agreed on the updated version of the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan (WIP) to be submitted to EC-66.
11. ICG-WIGOS has identified those critical activities of the WIP that can be implemented by Cg-17 and those that cannot, including an assessment of any remaining risks to the former. EC-66 will be advised on any potential delays or necessary revisions in the plans for the WIGOS Framework implementation, as appropriate. In this regard, ICG-WIGOS formulated its recommendations and guidance to EC-66 on the key WIGOS implementation components. (Note: more detailed information will be presented at the meeting.)
WIGOS Regulatory Material Development
12. According to guidance of ICG-WIGOS-2, the Task Team on WIGOS Regulatory Material (TT-WRM) has been developing the draft Vol. I, PART I – WIGOS of the WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No. 49); and the draft Manual on WIGOS (first edition). More issues identified by TT-WRM can be found in the Final reports from its meetings. The progressively updated drafts can be found at http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/wigos/TT-WRM.html. EC-PORS is invited to familiarise with the current drafts of these documents and provide comments to the WIGOS Project Office. The "Guidelines on the Preparation and Promulgation of WMO Technical Regulations" has been utilised as helpful guidance for the content and process of development of these drafts.
13. As a component of WIGOS, the standard and recommended practices and procedures for the observing component of GCW are drafted in the WIGOS regulatory material. The regulations which apply to the observing component of GCW are found in sections 1 and 2 (in common with all components of WIGOS), section 3 (for the surface-based observing elements of GCW in common with other surface-based observations), section 4 (for the space-based observing elements of GCW in common with other space-based observations), and section 6 (those additional regulations which apply specifically only to the observation component of GCW). So far section 6 is very brief. It is expected that future updates and editions will provide additional provisions, after Congress in 2015 adopts the GCW Strategic Plan and decides to make GCW operational. The contributions of an expert on GCW in the TT-WRM have been helpful and are greatly appreciated.
14. TT-WRM-3 specified the steps for the finalization the drafting process and updated the schematic Timeline (deadlines) for the First Editions (see Annex 1). The following key milestones were indicated:
1) ICG-WIGOS-3 (10-14 Feb 2014): the consolidated drafts of both, Vol. I, PART I – WIGOS, and the Manual were provided for consideration;
2) Mid April to June 2014: distribution of the consolidated drafts to all TCs and Chairs, EC-PORS (by correspondence to Presidents of TCs) (in English only);
3) August-September 2014: revision and translation;
4) October-November 2014: distribution of the final drafts to all PRs (in all WMO languages);
5) January-February 2015: final revision and translation
6) March 2015: agenda paper including draft documents submitted to Cg-XVII.
WIGOS Metadata Development
15. The Task Team on WIGOS Metadata (TT-WMD) has focused on the standardization of WIGOS component observing system metadata. A near final draft WIGOS Core Metadata Standard has been developed. It includes 10 main categories of WIGOS metadata, each one containing several metadata elements. It also includes a table with the classification of each element as mandatory/conditional/optional for each WIGOS component observing system/WMO Programme.
16. This draft has been considered for by the TT-WRM and incorporated into WIGOS regulatory material, so the draft Manual on WIGOS contains an Appendix on WIGOS Core Metadata Standard, including the above mentioned classification.
WIGOS Design, Planning, and Evolution
17. Design, planning and optimized evolution of WIGOS component observing systems is one of the key activities of the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan (WIP). The corresponding activities are coordinated through the CBS OPAG-IOS Inter Programme Expert Team on Observing System Design and Evolution (IPET-OSDE).
18. The IPET-OSDE is the successor of the former Expert Team on the Evolution of Global Observing Systems (ET-EGOS), which inter alia guided the development of the Implementation Plan for the Evolution of Global Observing Systems (EGOS-IP)[4]. The EGOS-IP, which is responding to the Vision of the GOS in 2025[5] was adopted EC-65 (May 2013).
19. While the WIGOS Framework Implementation Plan (WIP) addresses the overarching framework for the integration of the observing systems, the EGOS-IP addresses their evolution. The EGOS-IP is a key document providing Members with clear and focused guidelines and recommended actions in order to stimulate cost-effective evolution of the observing systems to address in an integrated way the requirements of WMO programmes and co-sponsored programmes. The EGOS-IP had been prepared in response to the “Vision for the GOS in 2025[6]” and new needs of WIGOS, GFCS and other WMO priorities, through valuable contributions from various expert teams and other collaborators. The EGOS-IP includes a total of 115 actions, including 13 over-arching and cross-cutting actions, 59 surface-based observing systems’ related actions, 35 space-based observing systems’ related actions, and 8 space weather related actions.
20. An ad hoc reduced IPET-OSDE was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 12 to 14 November 2013 and developed a draft guidance regarding observing system network design principles that was further developed and is under discussion (see Annex 2).
EC-PORS-ATT2/Doc. 4.2.1, p. 4
Annex 1
EC-PORS-ATT2/Doc. 4.2.1, p. 4
Annex 2
A. Observing System Network Design (OSND) Principles
(Draft by John Eyre for IPET OSDE discussion, as of 10 December 2013)
1. SERVING MANY APPLICATION AREAS
Observing networks should be designed to meet the observational needs of many application areas within WMO and WMO co-sponsored programmes.
2. MEETING USER REQUIREMENTS
Observing networks should be designed to address stated user requirements, in terms of geophysical variables to be observed and the space-time resolution, accuracy, timeliness, and measurement stability needed.
3. MEETING NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL REQUIREMENTS
Observing networks designed to meet national needs should also take into account the needs of the WMO community for applications for which requirements are regional or global.
4. MAKING OBSERVATIONAL DATA AVAILABLE
Observational data from national observing networks should be made available to other WMO Members, at space-time resolutions and with a timeliness needed to meet the needs of regional and global applications.
5. PROVIDING INFORMATION SO THAT THE OBSERVATIONS CAN BE UNDERSTOOD
Observing networks should be designed and operated in such a way that the details and history of instruments, their environments and operating conditions, their data processing procedures and other factors pertinent to the interpretation of the observational data (i.e. metadata) are documented and treated with the same care as the data themselves.
6. DESIGNING COST-EFFECTIVE NETWORKS
Observing networks should be designed to make the most cost-effective use of available resources.
7. DESIGNING APPROPRIATELY SPACED NETWORKS
Where high-level user requirements imply a need for spatial and temporal homogeneity of observations, network design should also take account of other important user requirements, such as the representativeness and usefulness of the observations.
8. DESIGNING RELIABLE, STABLE AND SUSTAINABLE NETWORKS
Observing networks should be designed to be reliable, stable and sustainable.
9. DESIGNING THROUGH A TIERED APPROACH
Observing network design should use a tiered structure, through which information from reference observations of high quality can be transferred to and used to improve the quality and utility of other observations.
10. ACHIEVING HOMOGENEITY AND CONSISTENCY
Observing networks should be designed to deliver observations of the level of homogeneity and consistency required by intended applications.
11. ACHIEVING TRANSITION FROM RESEARCH TO OPERATIONS
Improvements in observations should be promoted where appropriate through the transition of appropriate research systems to operational status.
12. MANAGING CHANGE
The design of new observing networks and changes to existing networks should ensure adequate consistency and quality of observations across the transition from the old system to the new.
B. Observing System Network Design (OSND) Principles and high-level guidance
(Draft by John Eyre for IPET OSDE discussion, as of 10 December 2013)
1. SERVING MANY APPLICATION AREAS
Observing networks should be designed to meet the observational needs of many application areas[7] within WMO and WMO co-sponsored programmes.
· When designing observing networks the needs of WMO Application Areas, as documented in WIGOS guidance should be taken into account [Link to RRR material on Applications Areas and Statements of Guidance]
· The design of observing networks implemented primarily to support operational forecasting should also take into account the needs of other applications, including climate and environmental monitoring, and climate services.
· Observing systems and their networks should be designed and operated, where technically and/or economically possible, in such a way that the needs of multiple applications are satisfied.
· Partnerships with other organizations responsible for observations should be exploited, through the integration of observing systems and multi-purpose design in order to achieve synergies and better cost effectiveness.
· … [others?]
2. MEETING USER REQUIREMENTS
Observing networks should be designed to address stated user requirements, in terms of geophysical variables to be observed and the space-time resolution, accuracy, timeliness, and measurement stability needed.