Meteorological preparations for the Meteorological preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games:Games:

Al WallaceDirectorMeteorological Service of Canada

Pacific and Yukon Region

On July 2, 2003, the IOC awarded Canada with the rights to host the 2010 XXI Olympic and X Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver & Whistler

QUICK FACTSDuring the 2010 Games

• 17,000 media representatives on-site• 3 billion international television viewers

Olympic Games: February 12 to 28, 2010• 17 days of Olympic events• 7 Winter Sports/ 15 Disciplines – 15 venues• 80 + countries participating; 5,500 athletes and officials

Paralympic Games: March 12 to 21, 2010• 10 days of Paralympic events• 5 Winter Sports – 5 venues• 40+ countries participating; 1,350 athletes and officials

VENUES - WHISTLER

Whistler OlympicPark

VENUES - LOWER MAINLAND

Federal Government Role:“Together in 2010”

Environment Canada and 2010: role• Weather • serious impact on the Games operations • safety of participants and spectators

• EC is the official provider of weather services to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

• Must meet • public safety requirements and the meteorological needs of other federal

departments and agencies, particularly those involved in security and transportation

• VANOC’s requirements for venue-specific weather information (data and forecasts)

• Partnerships with the province• Monitoring & data sharing• Avalanche forecasts, snow clearing forecasts, flood forecasts

• Leaving a Legacy• Infrastructure• Engagement• Knowledge and Skills

Red Dots – new or upgraded MSC weather observation stations for the 2010 Winter Games

Blue Dots – existing stations

Olympic Autostation Network (OAN)completed fall 2007

Mt Washington

Mount Washington BC – Dec 2007

Anemometers sticking out

There’s an autostation Under here somewhere

Same Station – 2 months later..

Data for 2010: observed weather data• Federal Surface weather observing network in place &

operational.• Approximately 35 new or upgraded surface observations• Surface Sensors for Sport• 12 VANOC (6 main, 6 wind/temp only)• 3 webcams

• Plus (to be operational this Winter)• Surface Radiometers (2) • Visibility Sensors• Wind Profilers/RASS –Installed at Squamish Airport; • Doppler radar; installation Fall/Winter 08/09• Profiling Microwave Radiometer: Fall/Winter 08/09 Whistler.

• Upgrades to some partner sites (Nav Canada, BC)

• Upper Air (Radiosonde program)• Operational for test events 2009 and 2010 Games

(Whistler and upstream on Vancouver Island at Comox DND base)

• Nowcasting Sensors : (paid by research)• Visibility/ceilometers• POSS

Heavy wet snow requires frequent inspection

Science for 2010

• GEM/LAM, special high resolution forecast model• Understanding/choosing/siting Complex new sensors in

complex terrain• Nowcasting Research Demonstration Project (Snow V10)• High Impact Weather case studies

• 2008/09 THORPEX (2009/10 Thorpex – TBD)(THe Observing system Research and Predictability EXperiment)

• T-PARC Winter Phase (Jan-March 2009)• Data assimilation• Russian radiosondes• Socioeconomic aspects of Olympic forecasts

• Annual Climatology studies

Forecaster selection & training

• Forecasters and Instructors representing • All five MSC Regions• Aviation and Defense

Services. • Canadian Weather Network• NWS - Alaska Region and

the NW.

• 2 Aspects of training• Classroom • Practicum (Venue

Forecasting experience)

Participants at the Whistler Lab August ‘08

Weather Forecast Services for the Games

Vancouver (PSPC) support unit

Callaghan Valley (2 offices)Nordic & Ski jump

Whistler (2 offices) Whistler Alpine

Whistler Sliding Center

Cypress

+ briefing office at VANOC+ contingency office

Forecast PracticumJan-March 2009 2-3 week rotations on site

at the venuesGames-time PSPC support unit

• Forecast production• Forecast Verification• Area familiarization• Client familiarization• Journal keeping and reporting• Training on Technology as required

(At Vancouver Storm Prediction Centre)

Forecasters at Cypress Mtn

Service Improvement Project

1. Basic 2010 page available on Weatheroffice.gc.ca

2. Webcast for mediavalue-added weather information for EMO’s and the media.

3. Innovation - explore and implement new web-based functionality on 2010 page.

4. Analyze and use client feedback from 2010 page to improve service.

Keeping us busy this winter• Whistler weather radar – install & calibrate• Maintain OAN – a challenge during winter season• Forecasting

• final training of forecasters completed• forecast production infrastructure in place (IFW)• live onsite forecasting for venue test events this winter

• ISO Certification• Test of contingency plans • Service improvements• Support to Research Demonstration Project

Our last FY before the Games

Ensure data up, flowing properly & provide on-site forecasting for outside venue test events

• 2009 • January.

Nordic Combined World Cup Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Ski Jumping World Cup

• February. Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup Freestyle World Cup Snowboard World Cup Luge World Cup

• March Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals Biathlon World Cup

Legacy

• Improve predictive capability through science & technology

• Forecast innovations that feed back into and advance the national prediction program:• Improve the understanding of Alpine weather, local high impact

scenarios, use and interpretation of high and very high resolution models, Nowcasting, data management

• Better understanding of physical processes particularly related to precipitation and wind; better dispersion modeling

• Infrastructure upgrades: • Higher density observing network and other sensors: depends on long

term partners for resources;