This report covers various items from the meeting noted by the two HMEI Member representatives attending the meeting and is not intended to be definitive.
 
 HMEI particularly thanks Robert Doornbos and Ed Figelman for their attendance, from which they sent the information given in this report. Documents from the meeting are available at: ftp://ftp.wmo.int/Documents/SESSIONS/XV-RA-IV/English/DOCs/pdf/

NOTE: Draft text for inclusion in the Final Report (which is seen in each instance at the beginning of the documents) is DRAFT only. Please refer to the WMO Final Report (when it becomes available) for the text of the actual decisions made by the meeting.

NOTE: For elucidation of any WMO acronyms, for which no expansion has been given, please go to: http://www.wmo.int/pages/themes/acronyms_en.html 

Attendees
Attendes representing HMEI were: Robert Doornbos - Vaisala and Ed Figelman - Proton,  Mike Ueltzen - Enterprise Electronics Corporation, Rick Villavicencio and Ricardo Rivero - Selex-Gematronic. For the full provisional meeting attendees list please see the Provisional Participants List here  Out of 22 RA IV member nations, 16 member nations were in attendance providing a quorum.

REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION Doc. 3 (See document here)

ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF MEMBERS TO PROVIDE BETTER HYDROLOGICAL FORECASTS AND ASSESSMENT - Science and Technology Development and Implementation - Doc 4.3 (see document here)
There was significant time spent discussing the structure/restructure of the Region IV Management Group and new roles of Working Groups. Hydrology was particularly discussed including how to maintain the regions role as a leader in flash flood forecasting and hydrologic early warning systems; and the assessment of performance of flow measurement equipment. Other aspects of this discussion included the process and impact of a new structural focus on various identified programs such as Regional Radar (WIGOS), Regional Climate Centers, Hurricane committee, ICAO Aviation meteorology, and the potential for other task teams to be created in order to address specific programs.

INTEGRATION OF WMO OBSERVING SYSTEMS- Science and Technology Development and Implementation - Doc. 4.4 (see document here)
This document discusses in some depth the Integration of WMO Observing Systems and WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS)

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW WMO INFORMATION SYSTEM (WIS) - Doc. 4.5 (see document here)
Fred Branski of USA NWS, who is now the President of CBS, made a brief statement about the WIS-GTS enhancement.

There was a discussion as to what regional issues can be identified and dealt with in order to help WIS become an operational reality? People still think and speak Global Telecommunications System (GTS). There was a difference between the WMO Secretariat and the USA on this. The USA NWS believes the complexity of WIS is not currently understood.

ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF MEMBERS TO PROVIDE AND USE WEATHER AND CLIMATE, WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES - Doc. 4.7 (see document here)
Curt Barrett commented that floods and flash-floods are the primary drivers of the Mulit-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) definition. The core model, however, is unchanged despite the addition of other hazards to the framework.

NASA's Caribbean Flood Project was briefly mentioned. This brings appropriate satellite products into Emergency Management Offices. It was noted that WMO needs to bring the local NMHS's into this picture for a more comprehensive and integrated solution.

Related to the above, Canada mentioned the need for a targeted training workshop in the Region.

The Madrid Action Plan is to make available a course on the Societal and Economic Benefits of Meteorological Information which can be given anywhere. They clearly have a user-focused strategy and are actively engaging in several pilot projects in order to underpin and improve user relationships. They just recently completed their design of a common system for HYDROMET database management and presented this to the WMO. One goal is to create a virtual center for the Prevention of Severe Weather.

ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF MEMBERS TO PROVIDE AND USE WEATHER AND CLIMATE, WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES - Partnership - Doc. 4.8 (see document here)
This document noted that RA-IV is where real progress and projects are seen in Hydrology. The Region is a global leader for WMO in this area.

It was stressed that available resources need to be put to their best use and that there is a necessity to work with partners such as UNESCO and World bank to maximize the effective use of all available resources.

Comment:
Canada raised Haiti as an issue. The comment was essentially that we have a country in dire need within this Region, what are we doing to help them? How can we collectively develop a more targeted plan for intervention? Canada requested a Situation Report on Haiti. A spontaneous session regarding Haiti was put on the books later that same day. Mr. Doornbos comments that unfortunately he had a previous commitment that precluded him from attending that session. However Mr Doornbos, on a personal note comments that the show of genuine concern raised by Canada was a highlight and an excellent example of what he believes WMO is about.

Project Development within the Caribbean States - (Side meeting)
Disaster Risk Reduction was one focus of this side-meeting. Disaster Risk reduction had also been the subject of a Scientific Lecturers given at this meeting.

Mention was made of Finland's desire to partner and help. Several staff members from the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) spoke about different aspects of their organization, service and outreach. The represented Countries of RA-IV had great appreciation and desire for the technology that was presented. The U.S. thanked Finland and FMI for their interest in the region and the excellent partner they have shown themselves to be. Various countries that have received SmartMet installations requested additional training, due to the advanced nature and complexity of the system. Theses countries know they can do much more with the system, but know that they require more training before being able to do so. They do not simply want to be consumers of an automated product stream. They want to participate in their own future, not just have someone configure it for them.

Several other comments went back to AeM and the need for Quality Management Systems (QMS). The British Caribbean Territories (BCT) mentioned the need for solution homogeneity in the region and their belief that a QMS may assist in this regard. At present, there is a high degree of inequality in the solutions, tools and access deployed in the area. It was urged that all countries involved in development should use the WMO as a coordinating body. In this way, when done, the resultant work would have far greater odds of long-term sustainability.

France discussed briefly their interest in an observation network for their interests - Guadalupe, Martinique and French Guyana. France would like this to be a cooperative network. At present, the final scope of the project is still undefined.

AEMet (the Spanish Met Service) and the IberoAmerican Plan (CLIBER)
There was an introduction of an IberoAmerica Project (CLIBER). The goals of the program are to strengthen met services, extend and update networks, modernize communications systems and building capacity for met services in the region. This project is discussed at some length in ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF NMHSs IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, TO FULFIL THEIR MANDATES - Doc.4.9 (see document here).

WMO is very active  in the CLIBER project. The funds for CLIBER of $5 million per year over 3 yrs, established by Spain,  available through a WMO Trust Fund, for approved activates. Annual action plans are developed and decisions are made on a consensus basis. The current action plan seeks to enhance institutional development, build organizational capacity and provide for consolidated operational management. The core activity intended to be sponsored by this project is training for the purpose of fostering cooperation between met services and for the strengthening of met services. Equipment and infrastructure are not intended to be supported by this fund. 

EUMetCast was discussed. It was mentioned that "every Met Service" has satellite downlink system via the Trust Fund mentioned above. The question remained as to whether the communication costs are covered by EUMETSAT?

Near-term focus is to work more closely with WMO and the Met Services throughout RA-IV. The US complimented Spain for their interest and Dr. Jack Hayes invited much closer cooperation going forward. The British Caribbean Territories (BCT) supported this.

It was noted that Colombia joined CLIBER in 2009.

The next Conference of Directors of the Iberoamerican NMHSs is to be held in the Dominican Republic at the end of this year.

WISDOM
NOAA introduced results of a feasibility study, WISDOM (Weather In-Situ Deployment Optimization Method). WISDOM is a constant (horizontal) level balloon system that tracks at a constant altitude (12kft or 26kft) WISDOM has the aim of improving hurricane track forecasting by providing data that can be of immediate value to hurricane track forecasting (currently going into the MADIS data stream). Further information can be found at the website: http://wisdom.noaa.gov.
 
The WISDOM 2008 Test results were shared. Each sonde carries GPS tags and the current payload is 100g. The goal of its use is to help bring the fast track error down to 100nm or less. Normal balloon flight duration is 2 to 5 days, however as some flights have lasted in excess of 20 days they are engineering an onboard termination device. The balloons are FAA Part 1 exempt, but NOTAMS are filed before release. The GPS tags are the only instrumentation right now, 2009 will bring P, T and RH. Also, the algorithm provides analysis of key data void areas and proactively recommends optimal deployment locations.

WMO Strategic Planning – regional aspects - Doc. 5.2 (see document here)
Document  5.2 addressed the Regional Strategic Plan, the framework for which was to emphasize the "results chain". Global Societal Needs (GSN) drives WMO Strategic Thrusts which ties to WMO Expected Results. The GSN was and remains, improved protection of life and property, alleviation of poverty and sustainable use of resources.

The Strategic Thrusts in the next Strategic Plan include an improvement to quality and delivery of services, push forward scientific research and applications, increase capacity building, develop more partnerships and increase good governance.

There was significant time spent discussing the linkages between Regional Strategic and Operating Plans and WMO Strategic Plans. WMO Strategic Plans were described as high level statements of strategic operations. Discussions cantered around whether the overall planning process should be working from WMO downward to the regional level/stakeholders or upward from the regional level/stakeholders to WMO. WMO requested input/regional strategic plans during 2009 so that a WMO plan could be developed by end of 2009 and that the planning process could continue and documents could be issued by the next Congress in 2011.

Comments:
It was noted that the next set of Key Outcomes (KOs) need to be derived from the Technical Commissions (TCs) and the Regional Areas (RAs) in order to ensure better global coordination of future development. They will strive to have ONE PLAN, which definitely seemed to not be the case this time around. There was a commented that "we" never seem to move beyond the plan and that "we" are basically "a lot of talk".

To address that, Antigua requested that each represented Nation develop their own Strategic Plan based upon the input of their Stakeholders - forget Top-Down, go Bottom-up. There is an aspect of this that is very appealing and appropriate. The likely solution is a melding of the two approaches. Canada supported Antigua's comment. Region President said that she believed Antigua was more focused on the Operating Plan than the Strategic Plan. This exchange was an ironic illustration of why progress is so slow.

It was noted that the good progress in RA-IV's Hydro work ties to WMO Strategic Thrust 5 -Good Governance.

SCIENTIFIC LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS - Doc.8 (see document here)

Qualifications of meteorologists working in aeronautical meteorology, by Mr Carr McLeod (president of CAeM);
Carr McLeod, President of CAeM, provided a report on the WMO's role in AeM. ICAO/Aviation meteorology was identified as an important issue, especially working toward ICAO's mandatory international certificate. The two main points of discussion were a refinement to the accepted qualifications for Aeronautical Meteorologists and the strong need for a Quality Management System (QMS) in the field. The quality management and training necessary to meet this requirement is seen as a Priority.

It was commented that Stakeholders want to interact with Meteorologists who can filter complex information and make it simple to understand. This is the challenge from WMO's perspective and the Public Weather Service's (PWS), as the (PWS) is the face of all that WMO does.

World Climate Conference–3, by Mr Hong Yan, (WMO, Deputy Secretary-General)
WMO urged the region for support to the various Climate programs- especially WCRP and the 3rd World Climate Conference (WCC-3 in Geneva 8/31-9/4/09). The WCC-3 and the importance of Climate issues were also noted in the document on BETTER CLIMATE PREDICTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS - Doc.4.2 (see document here)

Election of Office Bearers - Doc. 10
The New President of RA-IV was elected. It is Mr. Arthur Rolle from the Bahamas.

Close of the conference
The conference closed on Friday, 22 May 2009