ADDRESSING DATA ACQUISITION CHALLENGES

January 7, 2005
San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina
San Diego, CA

Held in conjunction with the 85th AMS Annual Meeting

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Collecting and exchanging observations needed for operational meteorological, hydrological and climate forecasts is both a local and global challenge. Practical measures can be undertaken to identify the data sources needed today to improve and sustain operational meteorology and hydrology, as well as to develop mechanisms for exchanging and archiving those observations.

Recent projects in Eastern Europe and Central America serve as examples of successful strategies for minimizing the data gap at the local and regional levels. The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) currently being planned by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) will provide a long-term strategic framework for examining these issues on a global scale.

The International Session addressed the real-time data requirements facing operational meteorology and outlined approaches for enhancing available data and expanding observation networks. We explored the pressing issues related to this theme through engaging speaker presentations and active guest participation. The outcome was an enhanced understanding of the opportunities for National Meteorological and Hydrologic Services in building and sustaining hydrometeorological data networks.

AGENDA

8:30 AM Opening Session - Welcome Remarks
General Jack Kelly, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere US Department of Commerce

8:50 AM Overview of Agenda, Speakers & Participation
Dr. William Hooke, Facilitator for International Session Director of Atmospheric Policy Program and Senior Policy Fellow, American Meteorological Society (AMS)

9:00 AM Hydrometeorological Data Programs and Challenges in the Information Age
Dr. Alan Thomas(WMO) presented for Michel Jarraud, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) [presentation]

9:30 AM Questions and Discussion

10:00 AM Coffee Break

10:30 AM Real-time Data Requirements of NMHSs and their Users
Dr. John Zillman, President, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) [presentation]

11:00 AM Questions and Discussion

11:30 AM Estimating the Economic Benefits of Improved NMHS Services
Rodney Weiher, Chief Economist, NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration [presentation]

12:00 PM Questions and Discussion

12:30 PM Lunch

1:45 PM Building and Sustaining Observation Networks
Curt Barrett, International Projects Manager, NOAA’s National Weather Service [presentation]

2:15 PM Questions and Discussion

2:45 PM Strengthening Data Networks through Regional Cooperation Initiatives - Central America
Max Campos, Director, Comité Regionale Recursos Hidráulicos (CRRH) [presentation]

3:15 PM Questions and Discussion

3:35 PM Coffee Break

3:55 PM Successful Approaches to Building Hydromet Data Networks – The Russian Federation
Lucy Hancock, Operations Analyst, ECSSD, The World Bank [presentation]
Dr. Alexander Bedritsky, President, World Meteorological Organization [presentation]

4:25 PM Questions and Discussion

4:45 PM Group Discussion and Summary of International Session and Closing
Remarks Dr. William Hooke, Facilitator Director of Atmospheric Policy Program and Senior Policy Fellow American Meteorological Society (AMS)

5:45 PM Adjourn

Participants [PDF] *

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