Using Amateur Radio Packet Weather Data
to Enhance National Weather Service Operations
National Weather Service
Tallahassee, FL
Abstract
This proposal involves using Amateur Radio (HAM) packet and Internet communication media
to transmit supplemental precipitation, wind, and temperature data from remote weather
stations to the National Weather Service Forecast Office at Tallahassee, Florida (WFO TLH).
These supplemental data will then be transmitted to the Advanced Weather Interactive
Processing System (AWIPS), which is used by the NWS for hydrometeorological diagnosis,
forecasts, and warnings. Having easy access to supplemental weather data will improve NWS
warning and forecast operations, and will also promote a strong relationship between HAM
operators and the NWS.
Project Managers: Richard J Lanier, T. J. Turnage, Ken Gould
Bureau and Immediate Office:
Department of Commerce (DOC)NWS Southern Region, WFO
Tallahassee, FL
E-mail Addresses: Kelly.Godsey@noaa.gov
Internet Address: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/
| Time to complete the project: |
12 Months |
| Amount requested: |
$5000 |
| Salaries: |
None |
| Time: |
About 200 hours |
Funding for Equipment & Software:
Four HAM packet weather stations, which include:
| Ultimeter 2000 Weather Station | $400 |
| Dedicated transceiver radio | $200 |
| Terminal Node Controller (TNC) | $150 |
| Antenna | $75 |
| Subtotal for 4 Weather Stations | $825 x 4 = $3300 |
| NWS PC software and hardware | $40 |
| Spare parts | $1300 |
| Total Cost | $5000 |
Project Description
The first step of this project will be to acquire four packet radio weather stations for
strategically selected sites within the TLH Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). Each packet
radio weather observation contains station identification, station latitude/longitude,
precipitation, wind, and temperature data in comma-delimited text format. Site selections
will be based on both adequate HAM radio coverage, and the local need for supplemental
hydrometeorological data. Volunteer HAM operators will maintain the weather stations and
ensure weather data are regularly transmitted to WFO TLH. Part of the funding will be
used to obtain the necessary software and hardware for delivering this real-time data to
AWIPS , and the remainder of the funding will be used for spare parts.
Many elements necessary to ensure the success of this project already exist. Packet
weather data are already used by many NWS offices to supplement their current surface
weather networks. However, in most cases, these data are confined to a separate PC that
runs Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) software, which collects and plots
incoming weather data. The Central Region of the NWS has already developed methods for
importing APRS data through the Local Data Acquisition and Dissemination System (LDADS) to
AWIPS.
Project Innovation
Although many crucial elements for this project already exist, the novelty of this
proposal is to not only utilize new AWIPS and APRS technology, but to also work
proactively with HAM operators to ensure additional weather data become available to the
NWS for improved meteorological and hydrological forecasts and warnings. The NWS will
determine the placement of weather stations, thus ensuring maximum benefits from this
additional source of data. The NWS and HAM operators already enjoy a healthy relationship
through NWS severe weather operations (e.g., SKYWARNTM), and it is expected that a
successful demonstration of this project will result in increased HAM participation in
weather data collection, which will benefit NWS operations for both severe and routine
weather situations.
Customer Service Improvement
Supplemental weather data will lead to more accurate and timely hydrological and
meteorological forecasts and warnings issued by WFO TLH. Supplemental rainfall
observations can be forwarded to the Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC), resulting in
improved stream flow forecasts and warnings. In addition to improved forecast and warning
services, the supplemental weather data would be accessible to anyone with internet, or a
scanner and APRS. These additional weather stations will also aid the State of Florida
Department of Community Affairs in their evaluation of wind damage in areas where adequate
weather observations are not now available.
Lessons learned / improvements easily transferable
to other Commerce
offices
All NWSOs will officially use AWIPS before this project is complete. Across the United
States, there is already a significant volume of supplemental weather data that is not
currently used by NWSOs. The results from this project will allow other WFOs to acquire
these additional data and encourage them to actively deploy new data sources that best
suit their needs. This proposal has already received favorable support and interest from
WFO Jacksonville, Florida, and from Bill Gery, who is Regional Systems Manager at NWS
Central Region Headquarters. It therefore seems very likely that knowledge obtained from
this project will be transferred to other offices. Quality and productivity improvements
expected to include savings of time, money and/or staff resources: Additional weather data
will improve the accuracy of NWS forecasts and warnings, which will save the public time
and money, and could possibly save lives. Packet weather data made available in AWIPS will
allow NWS staff to take immediate advantage of this additional source of information
instead of having to access a separate computer for the data. Once packet weather data are
ingested into AWIPS, they can be implemented in a Local Analysis and Prediction System
(LAPS), which allows forecasters to assess local small-scale (mesoscale) weather.
Monitoring Plan
Weather stations and radio hardware will be maintained by HAM volunteers, who will notify
WFO TLH of major equipment problems. Feedback will be solicited from WFO TLH and
SERFC staffs on the utility, quality, timeliness, and reliability of the new weather data.
The project managers will monitor forecast and warning products issued by WFO TLH to
determine the extent to which this weather data are used. Collected weather data will be
archived for quality control, evaluation of timeliness, reliability and completeness of
data sets. Post-analyses of at least two significant weather events will also be performed
both with and without available packet weather data to test its importance for accurate
forecasts and warnings. Finally, comments will be solicited from the State of Florida
Department of Community Affairs regarding their use of the new data.
Action Items:
Obtain permission to install antenna and plenium cable (TJ and Paul)
Install antenna and cable (Kent Hutchinson?)
Ensure LINUX is ready at office (Doug Ferrell)
Obtain TNC and radio for office APRS (group decision)
Install directional antenna for Bay voice operations (Steve Floyd)
Determine:
What is the status of LINUX at the NWS?
What limits where WX stations are sited?
Can LTG protection be installed at the NWS to ensure APRS stays operational
during thunderstorms?
Specifications:
Location of airport antenna:
30/23/39.0N
84/20/42.2W
APRS frequency: 144.39 Mhz
Max power: 50 W
Antenna type: Diamond X-510 NA
Antenna height: 17.2 feet
Please send questions or comments about this page to Kelly Godsey.
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