SDR Actions and Recommendations

# Recommendation / Action Who? When? Notes and Follow-up
  • 5th Meeting
       
5.1 Organize periodical meetings with other SDR Regional Initiatives (RA I RAIDEG, RA II WIGOS, RA V TT-SU), to discuss common challenges and findings. SDR Group Co-chairs and WMO SEC Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting Suggested on the RA-III-IV-SDR-Group-5 (WMO Sec Updates - Slide 13)
5.2 Contribute towards the development of the Multi-Hazard Risk-Systems and climate services (strengthening of early warnings) SDR Group Members and WMO Regional Office Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting Suggested on the RA-III-IV-SDR-Group-5 (WMO Regional Office Updates - Slide 15) 
5.3 Follow up on the creation of the Latin America Meteorological Satellite, providing the necessary advisory. SDR Group Members and WMO Regional Office Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting Suggested on the RA-III-IV-SDR-Group-5 (WMO Regional Office Updates - Slide 16-19)
5.4 Raise awareness on the SDR Group activities and add participants to the SDR engagement groups. SDR Group Co-chairs Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting According to the Regional Survey 2022 Q4 and Q7 most respondents are not aware of the SDR Group and want to be added to the SDR engagement groups.
5.5 Raise awareness on the available in-person or distance-learning resources provided by WMO-CGMS VLab Centres of Excellence, Satellite Operators and other WMO members in RA III and RA IV. Note: Send a formal notification of available training resources to the PRs. WMO, NOAA, Vlab and SDR Group Members Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting According to the Regional Survey 2022 Q14.C most respondents are unaware of many of the available training resources.
5.6 Organize periodical meetings with presidents and vice-presidents of WG / Committees to discuss possible collaborations. SDR Group Members, WG / Committees Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting There is a need to establish links between the SDR Group and new entities within Regions III and IV. RA-III-IV-SDR-Group-5 (agenda item 9)
5.7 The SDR Group should create a Task Force on Data Processing and Visualization to facilitate the usage of underused satellite products in general Volunteers Immediatelly According the Regional Survey 2022 and previous capacity building events and surveys, there has been a significant progress made with regards to data access and there’s a need for consolidation with regards to data usage and applications.
5.8 The SDR Group should create a Task Force on Product Assessment to facilitate the introduction of novel products into operation  Volunteers Immediatelly According the Regional Survey 2022 and previous capacity building events and surveys, there has been a significant progress made with regards to data access and there’s a need for consolidation with regards to data usage and applications.
5.9

The SDR Members involved with existing capacity building initiatives (e.g.: VLab / SITWG) should raise awareness on the work and solutions developed by the Task Forces and provide the necessary feedback.

SDR Members involved with Training Until the 6th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting According the Regional Survey 2022 and previous capacity building events and surveys, there has been a significant progress made with regards to data access and there’s a need for consolidation with regards to data usage and applications.
  • 4th Meeting
       
4.1 Data Providers to update the SDR Product List. NOAA, EUMETSAT, INPE and other Data Providers in the Region May 2020

Status: July 2021 - DONE

- WMO Secretariat to send present version of SDR Product List to Data Providers (March 2020)

- Data Providers to provide requested updates (March 2020)
4.2 SDR Group to review the updated SDR Product List and rank products according to priority in line with user requirements in the region. SDR Group Members September 2020

Status: March 2022 - CLOSED: The table has been updated but will not be used in the 2022 Regional Survey.

4.3 Create a new website for the SDR Group. The new website will be maintained by the SDR Group Co-Chairs and linked to https://community.wmo.int/activity-areas/wmo-space-programme-wsp/ra-iii-and-ra-iv-sdr-group. Diego Souza (INPE), SDR Group Co-chairs March 2020 Status: June 2020 - DONE
4.4 Create discussion groups on the new website to facilitate the exchange of information and to host dedicated group discussions on SDR Group matters. Diego Souza (INPE), SDR Group Co-chairs and Members March 2020 Status: June 2020 - DONE
4.5 To follow-up with WMO Members in RAIII/RAIV that have not yet nominated an SDR Group member in response to the WMO Letter of 31 May 2019. SDR Group Co-chairs September 2020

Status: March 2022 - IN PROGRESS

Several countries with past representation are no longer participating (Aruba, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Venezuela, Curacao, Bahamas, Panama and Honduras). Other countries have not yet nominated any focal points (e.g.: Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, the Guianas, Guatemala, some Caribbean islands, and others).

4.6 Create and maintain a "country status" webpage at the SDR Group website with relevant key information on means of data dissemination, capacity building to support the work of the SDR Group. Diego Souza (INPE), SDR Group Co-chairs and Members March 2020 Status: June 2020 - DONE
4.7 To exchange information on good practices by NMHSs for the internal dissemination, utilization and storage of large amounts of real time information as well as for product generation, implementation and interpretation. The aim of these action is to compile best practices and to make them available through the SDR Group. SDR Group Co-chairs and Members July 2020 Status: June 2020 - IN PROGRESS
4.8 GEONETCast-Americas (GNC-A): SDR Group members to remind their NMHSs, that GNC-A stations will need to be upgraded from DVB-S to DVB-S2 before March 2020. SDR Group Members 5th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting Status: June 2020 - DONE
4.9 To check the status of JPSS products on GNC-A. NOAA May 2020

Status: July 2021 - DONE

In connection with Action #4.1

4.10 SDR Group Members to bring to the attention of their NMHSs the NOAA Flood Products (see https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/flood-map-demo/ and www.ssec.wisc.edu/flood-map-demo/flood-products/) and to provide feedback to NOAA. SDR Group Members May 2020

Status: June 2020 - DONE

Any questions can be referred to William Straka (wstraka@ssec.wisc.edu), Bill Sjoberg (bill.sjoberg@noaa.gov) and Mitch Goldberg (mitch.goldberg@noaa.gov)
Any technical and scientific issues can be referred to Jay Hoffman (jay.hoffman@ssec.wisc.edu), Sanmei Li (slia@gmu.edu) and Donglian Sun (dsun@gmu.edu)

4.11 One of the VLab Regional Centres in RAIII/RAIV to step up and lead training on flood mapping related issues. VLab Co-chairs/VLab Technical Officer June 2020

Status: July 2021 - DONE

Coordinate with Mitch Goldberg (mitch.goldberg@noaa.gov)

4.12 SDR Group Members to remind their NMHSs to implement national training plans in line with WMO recommendations and to help coordinate within their NMHSs towards that effort. SDR Group Members May 2020

Status: June 2020 - IN PROGRESS

WMO-No.1083 (Manual on the
Implementation of Education and Training Standards in Meteorology and Hydrology), WMO-NO.1219 (An International Agenda for Education and Training in Meteorology and Hydrology ), WMO-No.1205 (Guide to Competency), WMO-NO.1209 (Compendium of WMO Competency Frameworks), ETR-21 (Status of Human Resources in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services), ETR-24 (A Compendium of Topicsto Support Management Development in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services)

4.13 To add an agenda item on training requirements for climate monitoring to the agenda of future Group meetings. WMO Secretariat and SDR Group Co-chairs Future RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meetings

Status: June 2020 - IN PROGRESS

Suggested by CGMS-WMO VLab Co-Chair Mark Higgins. CGMS-WMO VLab would be prepared to follow-up on recommendations resulting from the discussions.

4.14 To organize future SDR Group teleconferences. It is proposed to have two annual teleconferences hosted by the WMO Secretariat, supplement - as needed - by additional teleconferences organized by the SDR Group. WMO Secretariat and SDR Group Co-chairs October 2020 and June 2020

Status: March 2022 - DONE

WMO hosted teleconferences

  • 3rd Meeting 
       
3.1 The Group to assist Members as needed in applying for access to the PDA. - - CLOSED: Access to PDA is frozen.
3.2 On a permanent basis, the Group recommended to add Band 10 to the GEONETCast-Americas. SDR Group Members 5th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting

Status: June 2020 -  DONE

4th Meeting: H. Qi suggested whether users could trade Band 10 with Band 8 or 9 since there was no extra space on the GNC-A beam to simply add Band 10. B. Connell remarked that user demand for Band 10 is a function of the application (NWP, aviation).
Needs to be further discussed.

  • 2nd Meeting 
       
2.1 The Group should use opportunities such as the Hurricane Committee, the Ibero-American meeting of NMHS and AMS to increase awareness of the issues associated with preparing for GOES-R. SDR Group Members 5th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting

Status: June 2020 -  DONE

3rd Meeting: G. de Souza noted that at the recent session of the Hurricane Committee, Colombia announced to use GNC-A to foster satellite meteorology.

2.2 NOAA to inform on their plans to put GOES-R data on the WMO GTS. NOAA 5th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting

Status: June 2020 -  DONE. Radiance is expected to go over GTS once they become operational in BUFR.

3rd Meeting: In 2018, NOAA plans to put GOES-16 AMVs in BUFR format on the GTS.

2.3 Members of RA-3-4-SDR should work with their national regulatory agencies to ensure the protection of the radiofrequency bands that they require for satellite data reception (and other meteorological applications).   5th RA-III-IV-SDR-Group meeting

Status: June 2020 -  DONE

4th Meeting: See "Guide to Participation in Radio-frequency Coordination", WMO-No. WMO-No. 1159 (https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=19056)

2.4 NOAA to clarify in what way sectors can be made available on GNC-A. - - CLOSED: It was determined that GNC-A does not have capacity to disseminate sectorized 0.5 km band.
2.5 To ensure rapid interaction between NOAA as the operator of GNC- A and users, one or more RA-3-4-SDR representatives (to be determined) should be members of the GEONETCast-Americas User Group. - - CLOSED: GNC-A User Group Webinars happens quarterly, with participation of SDR representatives (the webinar is open to anyone).
  • 1st Meeting
       
1.1 Identify the list of current GNC-A content and document this in the SDR requirements list. SDR Co-Chairs May 2015 DONE
1.2 Group to identify priority requirements in the SDR requirements list. SDR Members Nov 2015 DONE
1.3 For participants on the Group to be confirmed by the WMO PR where this is not yet the case. - Sep 2015 DONE
1.4 The Group at its next teleconference to discuss the possibility of a meeting in South America in 2016. SDR Members Jun 2015 DONE
Rec. 1.1 NOAA to clarify whether GNC-A can be used by the Region as an operationally supported data distribution system for a priority set of meteorological data/products(for primary official duty or back-up purposes). - - DONE
Rec. 1.2 NOAA to make available some pre-operational GOES-R data available on GNC-A, to assist the Region in preparing for its use - - DONE
         

 

ACTIONS RESULTING FROM THE COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INITIATIVES

# Recommendation / Action Who? When? Notes and Follow-up
  • ET-SSU - EXPERT TEAM ON SPACE SYSTEMS AND UTILIZATION
A5.4 To prepare a revised version of the outline for the Satellite Data Requirements Paper for Nowcasting based on the WMO definition of nowcasting (limiting it to weather forecasting with lead time up to 6 hours) and send to ET-SSU members as well as regional SDR groups Chairs (via WMO SEC) for their feedback R. Hollmann & N. Donoho (J. Gerth) 15 October 2022 CHECK FOR STATUS
A5.8 To circulate a summary of the discussion on GeoXO communication service plans at the upcoming 31st SDR teleconference (September 20th 2022)
D. Souza & M. Garbanzo: mid of October 2022
D. Souza & M. Garbanzo mid of October 2022 DONE
A5.9 To provide their feedback to SDR-III/IV Co-Chairs and NOAA (A.5.8) ET-SSU Members end of October 2022 PENDING
A5.13 To make a presentation at DBNet-CG-6 (4-6 Oct 2022) on the engagement in the region to raise visibility of DBNet Upon invitation from WMO SEC D. Souza & M. Garbanzo 5 October 2022 DONE
A5.14 To report back at the next ETSSU meeting on progress made towards inter-regional collaboration SDR Groups Chairs Regional SDR Group Chairs Next ET-SSU Meeting PENDING
A5.17 To establish a Task Team supported by WMO SEC to develop an action plan (including the ways how to ingest this information into RRR) based on a more detailed analysis presented by WMO SEC as well as develop better approaches to be taken for future surveys Led by S. Keating: N. Donoho, SDR-III-IV Co-Chairs, EUMETSAT rep., T. Blackmore, R. Eckman Upon receiving the response on A.5.16 CHECK FOR STATUS
         
  • DBNet-CG - DBNET COORDINATION GROUP
A6.21 To make a presentation on DBNet at the upcoming SDR-RA-III-IV-Group teleconference scheduled for 22 November Mikael & Paula 22 November DONE
SDR-32 To consider ways of exploring whether DBNet infrastructure could contribute to improving the usage of LEO Level-2 products in the region SDR Chairs and WMO TBD PENDING
         
  • VLMG - VIRTUAL LABORATORY MANAGEMENT GROUP
VLMG-Western-10.1. ACTION: Create exercises inside future training to access and explore different training and information resources (like OSCAR and PAG) for example during workshops (SITWG), RFGs and other events  CoEs    
VLMG-Western-10.2. ACTION: Create a unified source of links to ready-to-use data products (Galvez, Poleo, other forecasters). Use the SDR, RFG and other training activities to present relevant links to the final users TSO    
VLMG-Western-10.3. ACTION: Work with CGMS and ET-SSU to learn early about new satellites, instruments and products to better prepare training and improve timing in user readiness VLab Co-Chairs    
VLMG-Western-10.4. ACTION: Tool documentation: Document what tools are being used, the advantages and disadvantages, and who’s using it CoEs    
VLMG-Western-10.5. RECOMMENDATION: Ask Argentina CoE to look into expanding and improving the CM4SH joint project, incorporating applications from the new generation of satellites (note -  the tropics want to be included)      
VLMG-Western-10.6. RECOMMENDATION: Organize more “Train the Trainers” sessions. Work on multidisciplinary approaches (e.g. administrative, technical aspects, open source / free software tools) ETR    
VLMG-Western-10.5. RECOMMENDATION: Ask Argentina CoE to look into expanding and improving the CM4SH joint project, incorporating applications from the new generation of satellites (note -  the tropics want to be included)      
VLMG-Western-10.6. RECOMMENDATION: Organize more “Train the Trainers” sessions. Work on multidisciplinary approaches (e.g. administrative, technical aspects, open source / free software tools) ETR    
VLMG-Western-10.7. RECOMMENDATION: Provide trainees with certificates (following discussions with ETR, e.g. attendance vs completion vs participation) including hours of training and competencies as a motivation for training CoEs    
VLMG-Western-10.8. RECOMMENDATION: Align with WMO and VLab strategy to strengthen capacity development and service delivery      
VLMG-Western-10.9. RECOMMENDATION: Evaluate means to improve the inclusion of operational discoveries into peer reviewed documents. Increase collaboration between operations and research. WMO to explore publication about operational products and findings (something similar to Innovations)      
VLMG-Western-10.10. IDEA: Think on effective ways to communicate the message so they can understand the applicability (or need) of new products, different areas of application, etc.      
VLMG-Western-10.11. IDEA: Expand the collaborative work and experience sharing among CoEs and other initiatives (SYMET, CALMet)      
VLMG-Western-10.12. IDEA: Look into how to Introduce satellite training of a new generation of satellites and new products at the earliest time in the career      
VLMG-Western-10.13. IDEA: Envision scenarios where Satellite Operators, Trainers, Researchers, Operational Personnel, Students and Users can interact to better understand each other and allow a better interconnection among them and promote those scenarios      
VLMG-A10.16. Request CGMS members support to organize global training events on common ground subjects in a collaborative effort involving CoEs and SatOps CoEs/SatOps