111 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 1

Operational Procedures

How can we build consistent, homogeneous, well-documented climate quality data?

2

311 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

The IBTrACS team should…

◦ Document BT procedures Work with agencies through a survey

◦ Provide all parameters as provided by original agency◦ Distribute official and unofficial datasets of other TC

related data◦ Archive all ancillary data◦ Get involved with the IWTC

1st IBTrACS Workshop: recommendations

411 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Best tracking agencies should …

◦ Report more parameters and use WMO format

◦ Document current and historic BT practices

◦ Standardize definitions of winds and wind conversions

◦ Rescue and archive documents relevant to BT data

◦ “Best track” throughout life cycle (through ET)

◦ Encourage best track data discussions at IWTC

1st IBTrACS Workshop: recommendations

511 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 5

Climate Quality DataThe TC community goal for best track data

611 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

historical perspective trend analysis process evaluation model development and calibration

These data have particular characteristics:

◦ High quality ◦ Homogeneity◦ Continuity◦ availability of full documentation with respect to

their technical characteristics

Climate quality data

711 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Climate change No time constraints in

production Allows time for

assessment and correction

Uses past and future data to analyze record

Understand and minimize errors

Climate Data Records

Predict weather Tight time constraint Real-time analysis,

diagnostics, forecasting

Use past data to inform present decisions

Environmental Data Records

811 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Is best track data “climate quality data”?◦ Post-event analyzed operational data

Question

Goal To make best track data “climate quality

data” as it is being producedo Avoid the task of re-analysis in future

911 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

An attempt to record historical operational changes and “best tracking” practices

Questions include:◦ Are best track positions smoothed? If so, how?◦ Which year did your agency first begin acquiring

SSM/I (other microwave imagery)?◦ What other changes to in situ, radiosondes or

remote sensing data affected forecast and best tracking capability?

◦ How was the cyclone maximum sustained wind speed determined?

IBTrACS Community Survey

10

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 10

Data SourcesWhat are the impacts of changes in technology

on the historical TC record?

11

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Survey responses from: ◦ Meteo-France La Réunion◦ Australian Bureau of Meteorology◦ National Hurricane Center◦ US Navy

Year technology became useful Year changes in procedures were implemented Other milestones

Timeline

Please add your expert knowledge to the timeline!

12

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Date ranges? Types of aircraft? Flight level to ground transformations? Instrumentation? Technological improvements?

Reconnaissance

Documented for the U.S. A single research flight for Australian BoM No aircraft data for La Réunion

13

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Date ranges? Types of observing systems? Marine buoy and automated offshore

stations? Mesonets?

Surface Data & Radar

Documented for the U.S. Still incomplete coverage of tropical

shorelines for Australian BoM Basically no surface or radar for La Réunion

14

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Satellite data acquisition date ranges? Types of imagery available? History of Dvorak implementation? Other pattern recognition algorithms?

Remote Sensing

Documented for the U.S. Dvorak implemented differently – BoM

Perth/Brisbane/Western Region Dvorak implemented much later

15

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 15

TC IntensityHow do operational decisions affect the

historical record?

16

17

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 17

Tracking ProceduresHow do discrepancies in the types of systems

recorded affect climate analyses?

18

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Tropical cyclone center fixing procedures?Subtropical systems?Post-tropical systems?

Procedures often inconsistent or change with administrations

Position

19

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 19

TrainingHow do different training approaches affect

the data being recorded?

20

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 20

New instruments

New science

New procedures

GPS Dropsondes

TC Structure

Best track of wind radii @ NHC (2004)

21

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop 21

Best Track ProcedureHow do different approaches to post season

reanalysis introduce differences in the climatology?

22

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

Who?◦ forecaster? other analyst? committee?

What?◦ systematic review? casual? no review?

When?◦ after season? after storm?

Time dedicated? days? weeks? months?

How?◦ flexibility to deviate from original

forecast? complete? bounded?

◦ track smoothing? interpolation? Review?

◦ internal? external? Re-analysis

procedure for approving changes

Document - Compare -Standardize?

23

11 - 13 April 20112nd IBTrACS Workshop

An attempt to record historical operational changes and “best tracking” practices

Included in your folder

Write on timeline

Online at

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2ndIBTrACS

IBTrACS Community Survey