JCOMM Ship Observations Team, third Session
(Brest, France, 7-12 March 2005)

 Report on the Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme
ASAP Panel, fifteenth session
by
Rémy Pepin

1.- Report by the Chairperson of the ASAP panel (Jean Louis GAUMET – Météo France)

            1.1.- General comments

•     The main concentration of ASAP units is in the Northern Atlantic with the important contribution of the European ASAP program.

•     Japan is also a significant ASAP operator in the Pacific area.

•     The southern hemisphere continues to be a sparse area for ASAP and the Chairperson deplored that major countries such as USA, Russian Federation, etc., are not running any ASAP activities.

1.2.- Evolution of ASAP

•     Integration of national ASAP units into E-ASAP is in progress.

•     Recruitment of new ships with radiosounding operations is becoming a difficult task. Moreover, according to commercial purposes. Shipping companies often change routes, port of call, crew members, etc., introducing additional difficulties in the management of the ASAP units.

•     LORAN C sondes should be progressively replaced by GPS 3D digital sondes providing better results. On the other hand, the continuous decreasing cost of GPS sondes makes these sondes more attractive.

2.- Report on EUMETNET ASAP project (Rudolf KROCKAUER- DWD)

Due to an airline strike, Dr Rudolf Krockauer could not participate to the meeting so the report was presented by Pierre BOULCH –Meteo France.

2.1.- Introduction

•     Overall target for 2006 is to receive 6300 sounding per year from 18 ships. Actually the number of soundings per ship is not sufficient to fulfill the target. In most of cases there are technical reasons but there are also other contributing reasons such as bad weather conditions and work overload of the crew.

2.2.- Performance 2004

•    Detailed performance of each ASAP units was presented. Total number of received soundings was 3928. The individual target of 350 sounding per year was not reached.

2.3.-  Integration of ASAP units

•   In 2004, 3 DWD and UK met Office ships were integrated to E-ASAP.

•   3 new ships were equipped in 2004 (E-ASAP procurement).

•    With the 2 exiting, 4 integrated and 3 procured units, the number of units under E-ASAP management is currently 9.

•    The 3 Meteo France units and 2 DMI units are not integrated yet.

 2.4.- Presentation of Vaisala’s container

          Comments from the floor:

Vaisala representative:

• Container is a cost effective solution for ASAP ship (ready to use without any additional installation)

UK Met Office:

•  Installation of a container requires a large space available on the deck.

•   Proximity of antennas on the container roof often produces interference.

•   Stick antennas would be more convenient.

3.- HMEI representative presentation (Rémy PEPIN – Modem)

3.1.- HMEI representative introduced the association to the audience.

History, organization, goals.

3.2.- Presentation of the latest developments on MODEM sounding systems and radiosondes.

            French ASAP units have been using Modem’s systems since 2000.

4.- Closure of the session

Before closing the session, the Chairperson of the ASAP panel, Jean Louis GAUMET, informed members that in respect to his new functions at Meteo France, he won’t be in position to assume the chair of the ASAP panel.