Roy Thompson, Electronics Technician,National Meteorological Service of Belize

Email address (rthompson@hydromet.gov.bz)

RA-IV WIGOS Implementation Workshop (English),

1 - 3 December, Willemstad Curaçao

Belize Presentation

Outline of the presentation

1. Mission of the NMHS2. National Observing Issues or Needs 3. Plans for the observing networks4. WIGOS Implementation Status5. Summary

Mission of the NMHS

• Current Mission, Mandate, Responsibilities (e.g., climate services, aviation services, hydrological, marine, environmental, air pollution, etc)

The National Meteorological Service of Belize is the leading governmental authority on weather and climate.

It provides meteorological and climate-based products and services to the Belizean public through systematic and accurate monitoring and data collection, reliable data analyses and timely dissemination of user-friendly information on regular and emergency events and processes.

The National Meteorological Service is responsible for providing aviation weather information and forecasts, and specialized weather forecasts for agriculture, forestry, marine, military, and tourism.

It also provides public weather forecasts for the media, which then distributes via newspapers, radio and television.

Forecasts are also distributed by the Meteorological Office by facsimile, e-mail, the Department’s website and recorded telephone messages.

Major historical meteorological disaster events- Disaster type and distribution

Hurricanes, floods and other forms of severe weather conditions ; areas affected : countrywide

- Life and economic loss

Low loss of life ; more often, economic loss to agricultural and tourism sectors

Staff composition related to observations and data collection/processing and competence

Full time observers at PGIA : fourInstrument technician/observer : one

Observers at non-WMO reporting meteorological stations : twelve

Competence : After 3 - 6 months training at Met Office

WIGOS Implementation Status• Status of the WMO-reported national observing

networks – Summary of the operational status for relevant networks

Main station at PGIA – fully operational, reports via GTS Other stations that gather data manually report to main station for archival and limited synoptic purpose Four active AWS (automatic weather stations)

– Are there any silent stations? None (i.e. De-commissioned AWS)

Is there an existing national or regional database that catalogues your observing networks?

Previously, Clicom database which became non- operational

New national database under development Regional Database:BDCAC-Central American Climate

DB

Are your data and metadata accessible and shared?

Only data from main station ;metadata on GISC/WIS On request by e-mail or other communication

Major needs and gaps in observing capabilities and access

• Please indicate the major needs and gaps, related to observational data and access, when producing weather forecasts and warnings– How can WMO help?– How can RA-IV and Members help?

WRF and GFS & NAM models are used for forecasting (WRF: Weather Research & Forecasting model) Get datasets from central servers in Washington Some data from local AWS and other manual stations

Plans for the National Observing Networks

• Please indicate the current plans and projects for the evolution of the National Observing Networks

Refurbishing and outfitting existing stations with newly calibrated instruments/sensors

Establishing new stations in partnership with private sector stakeholders BSI, BEL – AWS

AWS at municipal airstrips, NESA AWS

WIGOS Implementation Status• Is there an updated National WIGOS Implementation

plan/strategy?– Do you have plans to create and execute such a strategy?

Assigning WMO Ids to AWS that are active and uploading to NESDIS. Update the metadata of existing stations

• What are your training needs?Training for calibration of instruments, observers & DB

managers/administrators

WIGOS Implementation Status

• Do you have any agreements with your partners?– Formal or informal collaborative arrangements amongst

meteorological, hydrological, marine/oceanographic, and academic/research institutions and private sector services within the country for WIGOS implementation

Not in regards to WIGOS.

Can partners discover and access your data? Constraints and barriers that may prevent non-NMHS organization from contributing and/or accessing observations via GTS and/or WIS

Yes. Only data from main Observation station at PGIA. Other data on local database require login credentials

WIGOS Implementation Status• Is there an operational Quality Management System for

the National Observing system Network or specific component observing system?

Yes. Only for Aviation related data

• Are operational and/or maintenance processes for observing systems documented and their implementation monitored?

Yes. Guidelines have been established, used, and reviewed regularly to ensure accuracy.

Summary

NMS Belize has one main WMO reporting station at PGIA Data and metadata from this station available through GTS

Metadata for this station will be updated via WIS/GISC

Data/Metadata from other stations in National Observation networkStored on local database which is still under development

Some data/metadata on regional database – BDCAC National Observation network is being augmented with installationof some automatic weather stations. WMO Ids will be assigned.