PREVIEW Data Targeting System (DTS)

A pre-operational Data Targeting System (DTS) will be developed to assess the feasibility of operational adaptive control of the observing system and as a facility to aid research projects using data targeting.

The DTS will be developed and hosted at ECMWF. The work is jointly funded by EUCOS and the EC as part of the PREVIEW Integrated Project (work package WP3320) of the EU 6th Framework Programme.

A real-time trial of the DTS will run between February and December 2008.

• Functions of the DTS
• Real-time DTS trial (Start 4 February 2008; end 19 December 2008)
• Using the DTS
• Contacts

Background

The aim of data targeting is to make additional observations when and where they will be most beneficial to subsequent forecasts. The locations, "sensitive areas", will vary from day to day and the supplementary observations will be most valuable if they help reduce uncertainty in cases of potential high-impact weather.

DTS functions

The DTS will provide an interactive web-based facility to request additional observations from the operational observing network. Registered users of the DTS will be able to

• identify potential high-impact weather events, in particular cases with large uncertainty
• request sensitive area calculations for a given case: predictions of regions where additional observations are likely to have most impact in reducing the forecast uncertainty
• identify which additional observations to request
• issue requests for additional targeted observations
• monitor the requested observations

Real-time trial

A full trial of the DTS will take place between February and December 2008. The focus will be on high-impact weather events over Europe, making additional observations aimed at reducing uncertainty of 24-72 hour forecasts for these events. The plan is to involve forecasters from different European countries to contribute to the identification of suitable events for targeting. Participants will use the DTS to suggest cases and will be able to comment on proposals made by other users. Once an event has been selected, requests will be issued for sensitive area calculations to be performed to indicate potential target areas where additional observations could reduce the forecast uncertainty. Extra observations will then be requested from available AMDAR (commercial aircraft), ASAP (ships) and radiosonde stations in the target areas. All additional observations will be available on the GTS and can be used in forecast models.

During the trial, final decisions and requests for observations will be made by the lead user at the Met Office in Exeter.

Using the PREVIEW DTS

Access to the PREVIEW DTS is for registered users only. To log in to your account go to http://www.ecmwf.int/login/ and enter your login and password. You will then be able to view the DTS:

• PREVIEW DTS main page
• forecast charts for case selection
  • Forecast charts from Meteo-France
• DTS observation monitoring page
• DTS news

Depending on your access level you may also be able to submit case proposals and comment on the cases.

Please read the DTS User Guide before using the DTS (V1.2 updated 12/5/08).

The final day of the PREVIEW DTS trial will be 19 December 2008. It will not be possible to submit cases after this date.

Contacts

For further information on the PREVIEW Data Targeting System Project please contact