Complexities of Establishing an Automated Monitoring Network in Support of the 2010 Winter Olympic...

Complexities of Establishing an Complexities of Establishing an Automated Monitoring Network Automated Monitoring Network in Support of the 2010 Winter in Support of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games:Olympic and Paralympic Games:

Bill ScottManager, 2010 Winter Games, Atmospheric Monitoring Networks

Meteorological Service of Canada

Pacific and Yukon Region

Siting Requirements & Considerations

• VANOC (Vancouver Olympic Committee) requirements.• Full, primary autostation per venue

• Need for consideration of specific users:• Forecaster, climatologist, computer modeler, sport manager, public/media, site

cooperative agency • Requirement for increased density of 24/7 reporting sites meteorologically

upstream.• Concentration to the west and southwest

• Utilization to upgrade existing MSC and/or cooperative Provincial gov’t agency automated systems.

• Increased degree of cooperative installations = decreased cost/max time savings• Decreased costing = increased network density.• To be installed ASAP to capture maximum number of winters in advance• Environmental impacts at absolute minimum.• Primary site selection considerations:

• Nearness to services (power, comm)• Ease/safety of access for techs• Vandalism potential• Camera view from sponsor TV networks• Avoidance of native lands, parks, etc.• Subjective degree of deviation from standard Meteorological exposure • Away from VANOC construction activities• No conflict with private ski operations

(star indicates Olympic site of significance whether a venue, practice site or people gathering location)

OAN Site Platform Collection……

Whistler Mountain High Level

Whistler Nesters

Port Mellon

Callaghan Valley

Whistler Mtn Low Level

Callaghan Valley Ski Jump Top (VOW)

Portable Tripod

Callaghan Valley Ski Jump Bottom - VOW

Blackcomb Base Sliding Center Bottom - VON

Remote wind systems to supplement full platform systemsWhistler Mountain

High Level (Wind)

(VOH)

(VOG)

EC OANSquamish Airport –LAP-3000 Wind Profiler co-located withFull compound autostation.

Site also had Remote Video System and Automatic Weather Station

Mobile Upper Air Radiosonde

Located alongside existing Whistler manned weather station (WAE) during event periods.

High Resolution Web Cams

Weather Radar

Low level installation optimized for:- Views of Callaghan, Whistler & Squamish- Low cost service delivery (power, comm, roadway)- Ease of installation/technician access- Ease of approval process (co-location at new Whistler Waste Transfer Station.

Typically serviced on 2 - 3 week interval in winter byMSC technicians. (coastal OAN as required – pcpn)

Alpine OAN sites visited after every major snowfall.(via local contracted ski co. staff)

Full sensor inspection - start of winter - end of winter

High maintenance due to heavy, wet snow

Capping

Port Mellon

Whistler Mountain High Level

Heavy, wet snow undercalm conditions. PluvioNow has a “Heated Collar”

Precipitation Sensor Alter (Wind) shields to be removed at sites deemedto be naturally sheltered (little significantwind).

Snow depth sensor arm with 1meterextension to raise it to 5 meters AGL.

Snow depth over 300 cm.

Cypress Bowl North (VOE)

Feb 2008

(… one month later)

“To prepare for the Winter Olympics,No matter how much time you think you have... … It won’t be enough.” (Tom Potter – April 2004)

Tom Potter1929 - 2007