I have organised the following notes into work package order, and assumed to generate a list of actions with completion times. The aim is that we will be in a good position to review progress at the COMKISS meeting on 27 August, and then be able to go on and complete the packages on time. Please let me know if you are not in a position to carry out these actions, or think I am hoping for too much! We can then try to adjust the programme accordingly.
As Cees pointed out - the purpose of COMKISS is to assess the potential value of satellite derived sea state information to offshore operators. It is not to create and test an operational system. That would be the aim (potentially) of a COMKISS 2.
The aims for the Near Real Time packages in the next five months of COMKISS will be to assess selected routes/trials before the first year meeting on 27/08/99, and, whilst it does not >strictly lie within the remit of COMKISS, we can consider the possibility of setting up some limited trials in the Autumn of this year.
I think we came to an agreement that for all the three work packages involving near real time data we would adopt the same general approach:
1) Precisely define routes to be assessed (locations and times) and sea state parameters required by operators. List measurements from ships that are available from these voyages.
Complete by mid April
2) Create an inventory of satellite, in-situ and forecast data that are available in near real time for selected routes. Identify wave models, interpolation schemes that could be used to propagate satellite information to time and locations on ship routes. Include estimate of staff time and retrieval costs.
Complete by mid May
3) Review data inventory and make decision on which data are to be extracted, interpolation schemes or models that are to be used. (possible requirement for meeting) Mid/End May
4) Extract data and process into required format.
Complete by end June
5) Propagate data to locations/times on ship routes, compare to available forecast information, ship measurements. Assess added value from satellite data.
Complete by mid August
6) Present reviews at COMKISS meeting, assess possibility of carrying out limited trials of near real time data distribution to operators. Define parameters, data formats and means of dissemination for such trials.
27/08/99
7) Trials on selected routes. Modifications to modelling, interpolation schemes
September- December '99
Improved sea state data are required for two purposes.
From the Bureau Veritas HSC trials that took place in the Mediterranean (S of Nice) in June 1998 (not off Lorient, as previously reported), BV have ship stress measurements and wish to see if improved estimates of actual sea state information (directional wave spectra if possible) might effect assessments which consider possible modifications to models and maybe ship design.
BV also wish to investigate use of satellite derived data when they make early assessments of conditions encountered by High Speed Craft on selected routes during normal operation. I understood that BV receive measurements of ship stresses and estimates of sea state from operators (GP to confirm). These measurements may then be used in setting sea state dependent rules for the operation of these craft.
Thus for this work package data in fact are not required strictly in near real time - but rather in short delivery time (? ~ 1 month, GP to advise).
1. GP will confirm date and times of HSC trial. GP will also provide details on other high speed routes of interest to Bureau Veritas, the months during which the routes operate, and of any measurements available from the HSC themselves.
Involves: GP
Completion Date: Mid April
2. Based on BV requirements, prepare inventory of available data, include an estimate of cost (staff time, funding) required to retrieve the data. DC will assess satellite data, RN in-situ data and forecast information, and MP will investigate what high resolution models and/or interpolation techniques may be required to propagate the information to the location of the ships .
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: mid May
3. The usefulness of various data sets, and cost of retrieval will be assessed, and a decision made between the team on what data will be retrieved, what parameters and format are needed.
Involves: DC, RN, MP, GP
Completion Date: Mid May
4. Extract and process satellite, in-situ and forecast data into the required parameters/format.
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: Mid June
5. The extracted data will be input to interpolation schemes or models to generate required parameters at ship location.
Involves: MP
Completion Date: July
6. The data will be compared to forecasts, and to on board measurements. An initial assessment of the possible value of the data will be made. This assessment will be presented at the 1 year COMKISS team meeting. The needs for modified modelling or interpolation schemes, and the possibility of a trial dissemination of information will be discussed.
Involves: MP, GP, DC
Completion Date: 27th August
For this work package data are required in near real time and as forecasts for short term (<2 hours to 24 hours). The requirement for Corsica Ferries >is an assessment of the accuracy of the forecast from Meteo France (Aix en Provence), information about the evolution of the sea state, warning of possible severe conditions and advice on clear weather windows. There are possible problems associated with the Corsica Ferry routes, because of the high temporal and spatial variability in conditions around Corsica and the local enhancement of winds due to topography. High resolution local models may be required.
We propose a test period of data retrieval and assessment covering April-June 1999. The Corsica Ferry routes have already been defined as Nice/Bastia, Nice/Calvi, Savona/Bastia, Civitavecchia/Golfo Aranci. The most critical locations are around Cap Corse, and at the Eastern End of the Straits of Bonifacio.
1. DC to ask Capt. Dumont to keep and send copies of all forecast advice he receives from Meteo France. DC to ask Capt Dumont if his ship's officers can maintain a log of conditions, particularly when severe conditions are encountered, or when forecasts are inaccurate. RN will ask Meteo France for access to the model data used to derive the Corsica Ferry Forecasts, and also propose co-operation to assess value of satellite derived data.
Involves: DC, RN, Corsica Ferries
Completion Date: Mid July
2. Prepare inventory of available data, including an assessment of cost (staff time, funding) required to retrieve the data. SOS will assess satellite data, OPTIMER the in-situ data and forecast information, and IFREMER will investigate what high resolution models and/or interpolation techniques to propagate the information to the time and location of the ship. It would be sensible to ask for local advice from Mediterranean experts (e.g. Luigi Cavaleri, ISDGM - Venice, ?Makis Univ Athens) who may have access to high resolution model hindcast data.
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: mid May
3. The value and cost of data will be assessed, and a decision made on what data will be retrieved, what parameters and format are needed. The > will not be to consider all data from the whole period, but to investigate instances of severe conditions, inaccurate forecasts or simply occasions when good data are available
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: mid May
4. Extract and process satellite, in-situ and forecast data into the required parameters/format. Identify particular events of interest, occasions when satellite coverage is favourable
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: Ongoing - finish mid July
5. The extracted data will be input to interpolation schemes or models to generate required parameters on forecast grid/at ship location
Involves: MP
Completion Date: Ongoing - finish mid August
6. The data will be compared to forecasts, and on board observations. A preliminary assessment of the possible value of the data will be made and presented to the COMKISS team at the annual meeting.
Involves: MP/DC/Corsica Ferries/Meteo France
Completion Date: September
7. If the satellite derived information has value, a trial may be set up in Sept/Oct '99 to pass information to Corsica Ferries. Message format and means of communication to be agreed.
Involves: MP/DC/RN/Corsica Ferries/Meteo France
Completion Date: November
The purpose of this package is to assess whether satellite data can improve the accuracy of forecasts which are fed into the Dockwise on board system. Whilst CL expressed his preference for an improvement to a single source of information sent to ship masters, Michel Olagnon had suggested it would be better to provide the satellite derived information separately to enable a decision to be made after comparing the two sets of information. In fact we do not need to make that decision now. Instead we propose to assess the possible added value of satellite derived information for three selected Dockwise voyages, by comparing forecast information that were provided to the ships, measurements that were taken on board ship, and "satellite improved" sea state data that would have been available at the time of the voyages. Whilst the satellite data may improve the nowcast information, it is also important to investigate how the changes to the nowcast could be fed into changes into the forecast for the next few synoptic periods. The three Dockwise voyages are:
(i) Singapore - Halifax November/December 1998, voyage was delayed significantly by adverse conditions close to Cape of Good Hope. N.B. Requires permission to release data from client.
(ii) "Dock Express 20" cable laying voyage, US West Coast to Guam, April 1999. Also involved in SOS "Sea State Alarm" test.
(iii) Finland - Gulf of Mexico, May 1999. Transhipment of large spar buoy?
1. CL/PB provide route information, and details of ship measurements that are available.
Involves: CL/PB
Completion Date: Mid April
2. Prepare inventory of data/models etc., including an assessment of cost (staff time, funding) required to retrieve the data. SOS will assess satellite data, OPTIMER the in-situ data and forecast information, and IFREMER will investigate what high resolution models and/or interpolation techniques may be required.
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: mid May
3. The value and cost of data will be assessed, and a decision made on what data will be retrieved, what parameters and format are needed.
Involves: DC, RN, MP
Completion Date: mid May
4. Extract and process satellite, in-situ and forecast data into the required parameters/format. Provide ship measurements and forecasts provided to on board system. Where possible extract satellite data when it coincides with location and time of ship track.
Involves: DC, RN, MP, CL/PB
Completion Date: Mid July
5. The extracted data will be input to interpolation schemes or models to generate required parameters on forecast grid/at ship location
Involves: MP
Completion Date: mid August
6. The data will be compared to forecasts, and on board observations. A preliminary assessment of the possible value of the data will be made and presented to the COMKISS team at the annual meeting.
Involves: MP/DC/RN CL/PB
Completion Date: September
7. If the satellite derived information has demonstrable value, a trial may be set up in Sept/Oct '99. Message format and means of communication to be agreed.
Involves: MP/DC/RN/CL/PB
Completion Date: November
Dr. David Cotton Satellite Observing Systems 15, Church Street Godalming Surrey GU7 1EL UK ph +44 (0)1483 421213 fax +44 (0)1483 428691