This report covers various items from the meeting considered of particular interest to the HMEI Membership and is not intended to be definitive. The report lists items and document presentations in the order they were given at the meeting.

Documents considered of particular interest to HMEI Members are linked individually in this report. The revised agenda is available in Annex II of the JCOMM Draft Final Report here. The other meeting documents are available at:
http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?0ption=com_oe&task=viewEventDocs&eventID=320

Attendees
For the full attendees list please see the Participants List in Annex I of: the JCOMM Draft Final Report
HMEI was represented by:
Rémy Pepin - MODEM
Aki Lilja - Vaisala
Bruce Sumner - HMEI Executive Secretary
Christine Charstone - HMEI Administrator

I(a)  Opening at 9.00
On Behalf of the WMO Executive Secretary and the Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), Dr Wenjian Zhang (Director, Observing and Information Systems Department, WMO Secretariat) welcomed the participants to the session gave a welcome address.

Mr Graeme Ball, Chairperson of the Team gave an overview of the work of the JCOMM SOT  and the achievements since the last meeting. See this report here.

II -Scientific and Technical Workshop, New Developments
The workshop consisted of  seven presentations with new initiatives and/or developments in shipboard meteorological or oceanographic instrumentation, observing practices, data management procedures, quality control and ocean products. Some Members of the Team  reported on systems and related technical developments relevant to the SOT, either within their own services and operations or with which they have otherwise been directly involved.

Of particular interest for manufacturers was the presentation from the Task Team on Shipboard AWS (TT-AWS):

• E-SURMAR specifications of AWS (list of recommendations for issuing specifications) (Henry Kleta, DWD, Germany).
  The team was established in Nov 2007. The paper discusses parameters, requirements, recommendations, etc. A minimum set of parameters are identified: – pressure, air temperature, humidity. Possible additional parameters are: – wind (possibly with heading) and SST. Visual observations are considered a definite optional feature, but are not required for an autonomous solution.

Other papers in the Technical Workshop were:

• New developments and updates in VOS Electronic logbook software, including ObsJMA (Naotaka Hiraishi, JMA, Japan);

• New developments and updates in SOOP software, including new AOML visual quality control software, implementation of Iridium transmissions in SEAS XBT transects, and implementation of TSG transmission using Iridium in SEAS TSG operations (Gustavo Goni, NOAA/AOML, USA);

• VOS metadata tools including VOS Form VOSP002, VOSP002 Metadata Viewer, E-SURFMAR output format, and Pub47 XML Generator (Graeme Ball, BOM, Australia);

• Overview and demonstration of the E-SURFMAR VOS database (Pierre Blouch, Météo France, France);

• Scientific analysis of VOSClim data (updated report) (David Berry, NOC, United Kingdom);

• Overview and demonstration of the VOS Quality Control Tools at Météo France (Pierre Blouch).

The summary of these presentations is available in the document, Item II, here.

I(b) - 2 Reports from Secretariat Co-ordinators and Chairperson

Report from the Secretariat, Doc. I(b) - 2.1 see document here
Etienne Charpentier presented this document which gives a details of the work and achievements since the last JCOMM SOT meeting, as well as some future work proposals.

• It was noted that, with the new priorities and structure of WMO, one priority will be an extra emphasis on Climate data within JCOMM.

• In regard to the WMO Integrated Global Observing Systems (WIGOS), a Pilot Project for JCOMM was initiated in 2008 in close cooperation with the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of IOC. One aim of the Pilot Project will be: " to define and agree on common standards for instruments and methods of observation as well as subsequent organization and handling of the data and information to deliver consistent and better quality data to both the broad user and modelling communities. Data records must be traceable to standards. Maintenance and calibration are critical for ensuring stability and sustainability of systems."

• The meeting was informed of the development by the JCOMM Data Management Programme Area of an “Oceanographer’s and Marine Meteorologist’s Cookbook for Submitting Data in Real Time and In Delayed Mode”. The Cookbook provides instructions for many kinds of data.

• It was noted that JCOMM-III will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, 4-11 November 2009.

• Appendix E of the document, also notes that a new JCOMM working structure has been proposed and will be discussed at JCOMM-III.

The Secretariat Report also noted, in Appendix B, eight deliverables that JCOMM is looking to achieve, including:

• Observing Programme support Centre (OPSC)
  - a JCOMM-II recommendation noted that in order to achieve a fully implemented sustained global ocean observing system, the JCOMM in situ Observing Platform Support Centre (JCOMMOPS) needed to meet the growing needs of DBCP, SOT, and AST, by becoming an expanded technical support centre. This would also meet the future international programmes which will be part of the coordinated  global ocean observing system (GOOS). Thus a review of  JCOMMOPS was undertaken and a joint call was subsequently issued by WMO-IOC for the hosting of an Observing Programme Centre (OPSC) to replace JCOMMOPS.  As a result JCOMM-III will be invited to formally establish the OPSC, which will be replacing the existing JCOMMOPS.
• New wave observing technology
   - this looked at new wave measurements from moored and drifting buoys .A JCOMM Technical Workshop on Wave Measurements from Buoys was held in New York City, New York, United States of America, 2 - 3 October 2008. A key outcome of the workshop was the proposal – endorsed by the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) at its twenty-fourth Session, Cape Town, October 2008 - to establish a Pilot Project on Wave Measurements from Drifters (PP WMD) within the DBCP framework to look at feasibility to develop new cost-effective technology (e.g. using GPS). A twin project was also established, the JCOMM Pilot Project on Wave measurement Evaluation and Test from moored buoys (PP-WET).
• Satellite data telecommunication
  -  it was noted that there is a strong demand from the ocean data community for cost-effective, global satellite coverage, real-time high data-rate telecommunication, sufficient system capacity, and two-way telecommunication with the in situ ocean observing platforms. Iridium satellite data telecommunication systems were sited as having a good potential for the collection of meteorological /oceanographic data. The DBCP iridium Pilot Project initial target of 50 units to be deployed in the world oceans has been exceeded, and the data now distributed on GTS from CLS and Météo France. These good results will be reported at JCOMM-III. Although testing is still need to  test the technology in all ocean conditions and regions and to ensure that the data can be distributed on the GTS after appropriate QC procedures are applied and encoded in standard GTS formats, it is expected that JCOMM-III will be encouraging Member States to use Iridium.

Review of Action Items from the 4th Session of SOT Doc. I(b) - 2.4
There were two items noted as outstanding from the previous SOT session that concern HMEI:

• Item 16 - HMEI to help with having SOT requirements to be considered by the manufacturing industry.
  This item is still ongoing.
  It was noted that: Any requirements received from SOT are immediately passed to all the manufacturers who are members of HMEI. Also passed on are reports of SOT and other JCOMM meeting, and reports and requests from members of SOT. For instances, Robert Luke has contacted HMEI on several occasions with requests for assistance. Also, HMEI is cooperating with the WIGOS Pilot Project for JCOMM and solutions being explored in this context.

• Item 52 - HMEI to act as a liaison with the manufacturing industry regarding the use of electronic devices meeting SOT requirements.
  This item is still ongoing.
  It was noted that: No information on electronic devices, in particular devices to replace mercury temperature measurement instruments, has been received from SOT. However when such information is received, HMEI has a very effective dissemination mechanism to ensure such information is passed to all HMEI members in a very timely manner, and that member responses are collected/collated and passed back to SOT very quickly. Also, HMEI is cooperating with the WIGOS Pilot Project for JCOMM and solutions being explored in this context.

Report by the JCOMM OPA Coordinator Doc. I(b) - 2.2
Candyce Clark, the JCOMM Observations Programme Area (OPA) Coordinator,  spoke about the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), a composite of many different ocean observing networks. Implementation of GOOS is now at 61%, with the plan to be 100% implemented by 2010.

I(b) - 3 Reports on Associated Programmes and Requirements for Ship-Based Observations

Report  of the OOPC Ocean Observations Panel for Climate Doc. I(b) - 3.1.1
Albert Fischer presented this paper. OOPC is an expert advisory group, which makes recommendations for a sustained global ocean observing system for climate. OOPC's sponsors are: the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS); the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS); and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). OOPC's recommendations include those relevant for JCOMM. SOT (and other JCOMM groups) coordinate some of the in situ networks of the global module of GOOS, as well as the ocean component of Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).

The report noted, amongst other things, that for climate purposes it is important for ship-borne sensors to have best practice regarding installation, maintenance and use of the sensors.

Rolling Review of Requirements (RRR) Doc I(b) - 3.1.3
The work of this Team, taking into account the updating of the JCOMM OPA Observing System Implementation Goals and the results from the WMO Rolling Review of Requirements, has resulted in the identification, not only for climate purposes but also in for Numerical Weather Prediction, marine services, and synoptic meteorology, of certain deficiencies in the requirements for critical variables. These are:

• Sea level: For ocean applications, In situ observations are used for assimilation in ocean circulation models, and for calibration / validation of the satellite altimeter and models. The sea level observing network needs enhancing so that any tide gauge makes measurements with the following minimal requirements: 1cm accuracy, 6 to 15 min high frequency data with accurate timing (1 min.). Measurements must be made relative to a fixed and permanent local tide gauge benchmark (TGBM).
• Precipitation: Precipitation should be reported in a more systematic way to meet the requirements for global and regional NWP, as well as synoptic meteorology.
• Visibility: Horizontal visibility should be reported in a more systematic way to meet the requirements for Ocean Applications (for maritime safety essentially).
• Waves: making in situ wave measurements in a more systematic way would permit to address the requirements for ocean applications (model and satellite product validation). Wave observations must be regarded as a key variable to be derived from satellite observations using polar altimeters for significant wave height, and SAR.
• Snow: Snow observations are required in support of global NWP mainly.
• Atmospheric profiles: ASAP units are required in support of global NWP and synoptic meteorology. ASAP are providing aerological profiles that complement AMDAR reports over remote ocean areas where only horizontal AMDAR reports (or no such report) are available. More information is needed in order to derive a realistic target for the programme (e.g., E-ASAP is deploying about 5000 radiosondes per year in the North Atlantic Ocean).

The meeting was invited to make recommendations in regard to these findings.

I(b) - 4 Reports and Recommendations by Task Teams
Doc. I(b) - 4 (this document with the appendices referred to below are available here.)
The document I8b) - 4 contains all the summarized reports of the 9 Task Teams within SOT. These Task Teams are:

• Task Team on Satellite Communication Systems
• Task Team on SOT Iridium Pilot Project
• Task Team on ASAP
• Task Team on VOS Recruitment and Programme Promotion
• Task Team on Metadata for WMO No. 4
• Task Team on Coding
• Task Team on Instruments Standards
• Task Team on Call sign masking and encoding
• Task Team on the VOS Climate Project (VOSClim)

HMEI is a member of the Task Team on Instrument Standards and the ASAP Task Team.

Task Team on Satellite Communication Systems Doc. I(b) - 4 - Appendix A
An investigation has been made by the Task Team on Satellite Communications of the different systems that could be used for AWS data communications. The three systems are Inmarsat-C, Meteosat and Iridium. ARGOS was not investigated as it is considered too expensive.

Iridium, on a cost basis, appears to be the best system. It is approx a third the cost of Meteosat and one fifth the cost of Inmarast. It is used by the shipboard AWSs: BAROS, BATOS, MetPod and Vaisala MAWS. Canada is retrofitting all VOS vessels to use Iridium, and France is also converting from Inmarsat to Iririum communications for all irs BAROS AWS equipped vessels. Drifting buoys are also being changed from ARGOS communications to Iridium communications. The results are reduced communication costs and increased timeliness of observations.

Task Team on Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme (ASAP) Doc. I(b) - 4 - Appendix D
This report is by Rudolf Krockauer, Chairperson of the ASAP Task Team. There are two main worldwide programmes of ASAP: 1) European ASAP with19 stations of which 15 are operational and 2) Japanese ASAP with 5 stations which are research vessels. Additionally there are a few others vessels in ASAP, from Norway, South Africa and USA.

Almost all vessels only operate in the north Atlantic Ocean. Total observations transmitted in 2008 were 6307 reports, with over half coming from the E-ASAP network of 15 operational vessels. E-ASAP vessels are all being converted from Inmarsat communications to email based Iridium satellite communications.

• As this programme deals extensively with shipboard radiosondes HMEI will be inviting members to nominate themselves as industry experts for this Task Team.

Task Team on Instruments Standards Doc. I(b) - 4 - Appendix G
This report is by Robert Luke, the Team's Chairperson. HMEI has been working with Mr Luke, in his capacity as Chairman of this Task Team, regarding information on various ship instrumentation issues, which the HMEI membership has helped address.

The report looks at a number of topics including Instrument Standards Guidelines; Electronic Logbook Inter-Comparison Test and Results and Task Team Proposed Changes of ISO 10596.

The proposed changes of ISO 10596 are documented in Annexes G and H of the Report in Appendix G. ISO 10596 addresses Ships and marine technology - Marine wind vane and anemometers. The aim of the proposed changes is to ensure that the ISO standard is compatible with the WMO Publication No. 8, which is the CIMO guide for instrumentation, and observations, including marine instruments.

Recommendations for the changes are: