NOAA’s National Weather ServiceNOAA’s National Weather Service

National Digital Forecast Database: National Digital Forecast Database: Status UpdateStatus Update

LeRoy SpaydLeRoy Spayd

Chief, Meteorological Services DivisionChief, Meteorological Services Division

Unidata Policy Committee February 5-6, 2004Unidata Policy Committee February 5-6, 2004

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

National Digital Forecast Database National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) Accomplishments Since 9/11/03 (NDFD) Accomplishments Since 9/11/03

Establishment of Digital Services Program in Office of Climate, Establishment of Digital Services Program in Office of Climate, Water, and Weather ServicesWater, and Weather Services

NWS Instruction 10-506, Digital Data Products/Services NWS Instruction 10-506, Digital Data Products/Services SpecificationSpecification

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/010.htmhttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/010/010.htm

Effective on January 2, 2004Effective on January 2, 2004

Update to Instruction 10-102 in draft form, New or Enhanced Update to Instruction 10-102 in draft form, New or Enhanced Products and Services Products and Services

Includes proposed criteria for implementation of new official NDFD Includes proposed criteria for implementation of new official NDFD productsproducts

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NWSI 10-506 Highlights NWSI 10-506 Highlights

Provides a framework for products and services Provides a framework for products and services generated from the digital forecast database prepared generated from the digital forecast database prepared by the NWSby the NWS

Specifies definitions, collaboration thresholds, and Specifies definitions, collaboration thresholds, and minimum grid production times for digital forecast minimum grid production times for digital forecast elementselements

Establishes collaboration responsibilities to achieve Establishes collaboration responsibilities to achieve forecast consistencyforecast consistency

Defines and describes the National Digital Forecast Defines and describes the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) Database (NDFD)

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

Draft NWSI 10-102 HighlightsDraft NWSI 10-102 Highlights

Proposed criteria for transition of products from Proposed criteria for transition of products from internal to experimental and then to officialinternal to experimental and then to official

Objective Quality AssessmentObjective Quality AssessmentSpatial consistencySpatial consistency Inter element consistencyInter element consistencyObjective verificationObjective verification

Operational ReadinessOperational ReadinessAvailabilityAvailabilityTimelinessTimelinessCompletenessCompletenessService product retentionService product retentionContinuity of operationsContinuity of operations

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NDFD Plans for Product ImplementationNDFD Plans for Product Implementation

Period of public comment on these elements ended Period of public comment on these elements ended December 2003:December 2003:Maximum TemperatureMaximum TemperatureMinimum TemperatureMinimum TemperatureProbability of Precipitation (12 hr forecast)Probability of Precipitation (12 hr forecast)WeatherWeatherWind speed and directionWind speed and directionSignificant wave heightSignificant wave height

Public comments on NDFD graphics 95% positivePublic comments on NDFD graphics 95% positiveDecision on implementation of these elements will be Decision on implementation of these elements will be made by March 31, 2004made by March 31, 2004

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NDFD Plans for Product NDFD Plans for Product Implementation (continued)Implementation (continued)

Public comment period on these elements continues Public comment period on these elements continues until March 2004until March 2004TemperatureTemperatureDewpointDewpointQuantitative precipitation (QPF)Quantitative precipitation (QPF)Snow AmountSnow Amount

Decision on implementation of these elements will be Decision on implementation of these elements will be made by June 30, 2004made by June 30, 2004Will continue this 3-6 month process with additional Will continue this 3-6 month process with additional experimental NDFD elementsexperimental NDFD elements

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NDFD Verification ActivitiesNDFD Verification Activities

Prototyping NDFD verification capabilitiesPrototyping NDFD verification capabilities

Comparison to point observations Comparison to point observations MetarMetar

Comparison to point based guidanceComparison to point based guidance Global Forecast System MOSGlobal Forecast System MOS

Comparison to gridded analysesComparison to gridded analyses Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) Rapid Update Cycle (RUC)

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

National Digital Forecast Database National Digital Forecast Database Point Based VerificationPoint Based Verification

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

National Digital Forecast Database National Digital Forecast Database Point Based VerificationPoint Based Verification

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

National Digital Forecast National Digital Forecast Database Gridded VerificationDatabase Gridded Verification

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NDFD Verification Trend by NDFD Verification Trend by Forecast PeriodForecast Period

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NDFD Weather Elements Over NDFD Weather Elements Over Marine ZonesMarine Zones

Some parameters such as Some parameters such as maximum temperature maximum temperature may not be required by may not be required by marinersmariners

Complexity of preparation Complexity of preparation of products over marine of products over marine zones -limited zones -limited observational sites for observational sites for validation of skillvalidation of skill

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NDFD Issues of Concern to NWS NDFD Issues of Concern to NWS Customers and PartnersCustomers and Partners

Limited feedback from customers on use of Limited feedback from customers on use of gridded datagridded data

Need for customer and partner feedback on Need for customer and partner feedback on requirements for criteria to make NDFD grids requirements for criteria to make NDFD grids elements operationalelements operational

Gridded Elements over Marine Zones may Gridded Elements over Marine Zones may have separate implementation time frameshave separate implementation time frames

Unidata Policy CommitteeUnidata Policy Committee

NWS Partner Comments for NDFDNWS Partner Comments for NDFDJanuary 2004January 2004 Majority of respondents prefer:Majority of respondents prefer:

1.1. Data formats in addition to GRIB 2:Data formats in addition to GRIB 2: XMLXML netCDFnetCDF

2.2. Additional dissemination systemAdditional dissemination system NOAA’s Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS)NOAA’s Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS)

3.3. Additional protocolsAdditional protocols Non-ftp accessNon-ftp access Open Source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol (OPeNDAP)Open Source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol (OPeNDAP)

Unanimous request for NDFD Verification Statistics Unanimous request for NDFD Verification Statistics to be made available on public web siteto be made available on public web site