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Part III - Individual Session of JDIMP


D 6. Organization of the Individual Session of JDIMP

Mr Karl, Chairman of JDIMP, opened the individual session of JDIMP at 09:00 on 29 April 1998. The agenda of the individual session was modified and adopted (Annex II).

D 7. Current Activities and Developments

D 7.1 JDIMP Data Plan

Dr W. Murray presented the draft of the revised Data Management Plan prepared with Mr R. Keeley, who was not able to attend the session. He stressed the importance of the linkages to other programmes, highlighted the key changes chapter by chapter, and summarised issues to be addressed in a working group to be formed during the session (Annex D-I).

D 7.2 Technical Advisory Group

Dr Webster reviewed the concept of the Technical Advisory Group. The group planned to set up a transparent data management system to deal with technical issues and to be composed of distributed data centres. He proposed that a participating data centre workshop be held in the next year making use of the results of the meeting of the Data System Task Group[12]. The importance of defining a role of the G3OS data centres was pointed out. Such centres should not only be data archiving centres but also have clearinghouse function. The metadata issue was suggested as the primary focus at the workshop. It was agreed that the workshop was necessary but its scope needed further discussion.

D 7.3 JDIMP Metadata Project

Dr Heino informed the panel of the progress of the JDIMP metadata pilot project. He stressed that the project had been addressing the directory level of metadata and not with the actual data itself. He reported that ocean keywords had already been selected, atmospheric keywords were chosen as were the variables in the GCOS/GTOS Plan for Terrestrial Climate-related Observations. INFOCLIMA was cited as a good reference.

Mr B. Searle demonstrated the Australian Oceanographic Data Centre (AODC) Environmental Data Web System designed to provide users with basic information on data sets in ocean, climate and terrestrial fields including contacts to get the data sets. He explained that keywords were essential for data discovery, especially for users from other disciplines. Keywords on satellites have not been incorporated. With regard to the linkage between this metadata system and the Information Center (IC), Dr Webster noted that the IC, which was to be designed to serve users, would point to the metadata system. It was confirmed that metadata would be managed at distributed sites and that data sets would reside with the collectors. It was suggested that the G3OS data centres workshop discuss this matter (see D 7.2).

D 7.4 Activities in the Asia-Pacific Region

Dr A. Jose reviewed some climate-related activities in the Asia-Pacific Region. She emphasised the provision of data for assessing the potential of developing countries to improve existing observational networks and data and information management. She pointed to some regional meetings and workshops for improving awareness of policy and decision-makers, for building regional capabilities, and for demonstrating the value of the end-to-end climate monitoring systems supporting greater participation of national governments. She listed some climate monitoring development projects at regional and national levels. She stressed the potential for enhanced participation of developing countries, proposed the establishment of national committees and a regional co-ordinating body to guide and to harmonise national climate-related activities. A pilot project on the utilisation of global observing system data in short-term climate prediction and assessment of climate change has been developed. Documentation of experiences in the use and benefits of seasonal climate forecast and early warning systems in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region would provide a focus for the project.

D 7.5 ACSYS Data Management and Information Panel (ACSYS DMIP)

Dr Razuvaev, member of the Arctic Climate System Study (ACSYS) Data Management and Information Panel (DMIP), informed the panel about the results of the first session of the ACSYS DMIP (St.Petersburg, Russia, 10-12 March 1998). The goal of the ACSYS is to determine the role of the Arctic as an interactive component of the global climate system. A high priority objective is the development of the ACSYS Data and Information Service (ADIS), a pro-active monitoring service and clearinghouse of data and information under the paradigm of distributed data centres. ADIS would not contain actual data itself but would contain a metadata base about existing data sets, status of data sets and related information, as well of the status of proposed and planned data collection activities. Terms of References of the ACSYS DMIP were discussed and importance of the free and unrestricted dissemination of ACSYS data for non-commercial purposes was underlined. One of the main goals of the ACSYS DMIP is to co-ordinate data and information flow management with existing data management centres and other appropriate organisations.

D 8. Future Activities

D 8.1 Future Atmospheric Data Management Issues

Mr Atheru reported on the Drought Monitoring Project for Eastern and Southern Africa. There are two operational centres, one in Nairobi, Kenya, and the other in Harare, Zimbabwe. He reviewed the status of the network under this project and some products being prepared and disseminated, including ten-day weather advisories and monthly drought monitoring bulletins. He discussed some problems encountered by the Drought Monitoring Centers, including lack of near-real-time data, poor upper-air network, lack of reliable and efficient communication system for data and products exchange, gaps in climate data sets, and insufficient computer capabilities, especially for data storage. He expected the improvement of communication system with upgraded GTS links and Internet connection, greater use of remotely-sensed data to supplement observation networks and proxy data to fill the data gaps, and upgrade of the computing facilities with the enhancement of data rescue measures.

Dr Razuvaev presented a report about Russian data centres' activity in the preparation of data sets for monitoring changes in extreme events in Russia. A data set of daily mean, maximum and minimum air temperatures for 223 USSR stations for the period from the onset of records (since 1874) up to 1995 has been prepared. One of the major tasks is to update the data set by including recent data and to extend the data set by increasing the number of stations. The development of data processing techniques and the use of advanced computing facilities and computer-readable data media make it possible to create a baseline daily precipitation data set for Russia. The baseline data set is supposed to contain primarily daily precipitation totals for the period of 1966 up to the present day from the stations included in the WMO list of observational stations (containing about 1000 Russian stations). Provision is also made for augmenting the basic data set by including data for the earlier periods (like the onset of regular precipitation observations) and using additional precipitation data from a number of the stations of the National Meteorological Network. The data set is planned to be created based on pluviograph data for 546 Russian stations (period 1984-1996 is the first stage). In Russia, pluviograph data are processed for the whole rainy period using ten-minute intervals. Precipitation total and mean intensity of rain are calculated for each rain event. The data set includes comprehensive information on rain and on the intervals of equal intensity within the same rain event.

Mr Werscheck briefed the participants on the planned Satellite Application Facility (SAF) on Climate Monitoring, which would be a joint activity of several European Organization for Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Member States. It will provide quality-controlled data sets extracted from EUMETSAT satellite data for climatological services, climate analyses and model validation. The focus will be put on the determination of consistent parameters of cloud and radiation for Europe and the North Atlantic, on the production of homogeneous global data sets of sea surface temperature and sea ice cover, and on a statistical evaluation of global vertical profiles of temperature and humidity. He envisaged the first pre-operational production in 2003.

Mr Scholefield highlighted some future activities of WMO, including the development of CLIPS in regional products, revision of the Guide to Climatological Practices[13], an ENSO retrospective, evolution of CLICOM software and the development of a WMO data and information management plan.

D 8.2 Future GOOS and Related Oceanographic Data Management Issues

Mr Hasegawa discussed the development of quality control with oceanographic data on GTS, important for the future evolution of NEAR-GOOS. He added that NEAR-GOOS data had limited metadata and therefore the development of the metadata project was of interest.

Mr R. Zöllner presented the WMO Marine Climatological Summary Scheme (MCSS). Global Collecting Centres, hosted by the national weather services of Germany and the United Kingdom, gather marine information. He reviewed in particular the dataflow in real-time and delay modes for the marine meteorological observations made by Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS).

Mr Guddal stressed that the cross-cutting issues between ocean and land in coastal zones be further developed.

D 8.3 Future GTOS and Related Terrestrial Data Management Issues

Dr A. Singh discussed UNEP's reports and assessments on the status of the global environment and he pointed out that these reports and assessments suffer from limited data. He reviewed some current terrestrial products including IGBP Global Land Cover Classification, Global Topographic Data, and Drainage Basin Database, and he stressed the huge demands for these data sets by showing statistical figures at the UNEP Global Resources Information Database - Sioux Falls.

Dr G. Szejwach reported that IGBP was engaged in a three-year data integration exercise, starting with a global wetland map, and that IGBP should make maximum use of G3OS, IGOS and CEOS experiences.

D 9. Recommendations and Final Report

D 9.1 Establishment of Ad Hoc Working Groups

Based on the earlier discussions, three ad hoc working groups were set up to discuss further some of the specific items. Ad Hoc Group 1 was formed jointly with AOPC.

D 9.2 Reports of Ad Hoc Working Groups

Mr Karl reported to JDIMP on behalf of the Ad Hoc Working Group 1, a joint group with AOPC. The group recommended that the monitoring of GUAN and GSN be performed for temperature (including maximum and minimum temperature) in an operational mode and for temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind in a delayed mode. [Recommendation 1]

WMO and its Commission for Climatology should write a letter requesting the operating countries to provide historical climate data for GUAN and GSN stations. [Recommendation 2]

The group recognised that an Extreme Events Workshop to be held in 1999 would be very important. [Endorsement 1]

The Information Centre should secure a close linkage with the IPCC Data Distribution Centre (see A 8.7). [Action 1]

Dr Webster and Mr Searle reported on behalf of the Ad Hoc Working Group 2. The group felt that a formal procedure would be necessary for the data centres to participate in the metadata-related activities and that a mechanism for the feedback from users should be developed. With regard to the roles of JDIMP and other scientific panels in the data management activities, the former should overview the adequacy of procedure, dataflow, etc., while the latter should identify data sets. [Recommendation 3]

The participating data centres in the G3OS data centres workshop, recommended to be held in 1999, should be identified by science panels. Data set registration is closely related to the issue of "What is a G3OS data set?" (see Annex D-II). [Action 2, Recommendation 4]

Dr Murray reported on behalf of the Ad Hoc Working Group 3. The group proposed that the Data Management Plan be composed of a main part covering matters of all the three observing systems in common and three separate annexes dealing with specific issues for each observing system. A chapter specific to the metadata issue would be necessary. The Plan should be consistent with the "template to guide JDIMP" which was discussed at the last session of JDIMP[14]. [Action 3]

The group noted the fact that the GOOS Steering Committee (GSC) had suggested modifications to the JDIMP Terms of Reference which had earlier been renewed by the GCOS JSTC (Annex D-V). However, this should be a matter of the steering bodies of G3OS. The group only briefly discussed the WMO Resolution 40 on the exchange of meteorological data.

D 9.3 JDIMP Data System Processes

Based on the "template to guide JDIMP", a flow chart for the JDIMP data system processes was developed to facilitate the discussion of the Data Management Plan (Annex D-III). Each issue in the sequence of dataflow was identified as "green" for primary responsibility of JDIMP, "yellow" for secondary responsibility, or "red" for minimal responsibility. For the issues with secondary responsibility of JDIMP, JDIMP should assist others with primary responsibility.

D 9.4 Establishment of Ad Hoc Working Groups for the Data Management Plan

In order to discuss details of the Data Management Plan, four ad hoc working groups were newly set up which addressed the respective issues in the flow chart for the JDIMP data system processes (see D 9.3).

D 9.5 Reports of Ad Hoc Working Groups

Mr Withrow, Prof. Kohnke, Mr Searl and Dr Wilson reported on behalf of the Ad Hoc Groups I, II, III and IV, respectively. The reports are summarised in Annex D-IV.

D 9.6 Action Items

Based on the discussions during the individual JDIMP session, the Chairman emphasised some particular action items to be addressed for the inter-sessional period.

Dr Murray will prepare a draft Data Management Plan with the assistance of Mr Withrow, Ms Martin, Mr Searle, Dr Wilson, and Prof. Kohnke. The draft plan should be based on the reports of the ad hoc working groups in Annex D-IV. [see Action 3]

Dr Webster will secure a linkage to the IPCC Data Distribution Center (http://ipcc-ddc.cru.uea.ac.uk). [see Action 1]

Mr Searle and Dr Heino continue as principals for the Metadata Project. The keywords should be endorsed by each related science panel. This project should be put into an operational mode. Mr Withrow and Ms Martin will be contact points for GOOS and GTOS, respectively on this project. Dr Wilson will make a presentation on metadata at the fourth session of TOPC (25-29 May 1998, Corvallis, Oregon, USA). [Recommendation 5]

D 10. Closure of the JDIMP Individual Session

The Chairman closed the JDIMP individual session at 10:45, 1 May, 1998.

[12] Report of the GCOS Data System Task Group (GCOS-5)
[13] Publication available at WMO (WMO-No. 100).
[14] Report of the GCOS/GOOS/GTOS Joint Data and Information Management Panel, third session, Tokyo, Japan, July 15-18, 1997, (GCOS-39).

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