quikscat commercial distribution and use

QuikScatQuikScat Commercial Distribution and Commercial Distribution and

UseUse

The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Commercial Use & DistributionMarkets

Barriers to Entry

Usage Statistics

Case Studies


Market TargetsSail and Power Cruising

Ocean Racing

Commercial and Sport Fishing

Tug and Barge

Shipping


Markets Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial

Distribution

Cost-effective data access and transfer

Intuitive data display and interpretation


Data Transfer All Markets Share Common Data Transfer

Traits Slow speed of data transfers (1200 to

9600 baud) High cost of minutes for data transfers

($1 to $3 per minute)


Data Transfer OCENS included QuikScat into its WeatherNet

data distribution system: World’s largest collection of weather, ocean

and aviation content Organized into a cohesive library of

graphical, text and GRIB products allowing for site-specific selection

Built around an efficient and cost-effective engine for the retrieval of these data over satcomm and other networks.


WeatherNet


Data Transfer Included in WeatherNet after converting to

an interactive GRIB format GRIB data format reduced size of data

transfer; Interactive data selection allows user to

customize product request to their specific area of geographic interest.


Data Transfer Net effect of WeatherNet integration and

conversion to GRIB on satcomm download times:

QuikScat GRIB covering NE Pacific Globalstar: 20 seconds Iridium: Just under 1 minute Inmarsat, MSAT: Just over 1 minute

As opposed to minimum 5 to 10 minute satcomm connect to retrieve QuikScat bmps from http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/quikscat/


Markets Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial

Distribution Cost-effective data access and transfer Intuitive data display and interpretation


Data Display Must address need for auto-display Must offer user insight into coverage and

age of most recent data available for their geographic area BEFORE data is downloaded

Must deal with issue of rain flagging and differences in age of data retrieved and displayed.


Data Display

OCENS GRIB Explorer Auto-launched by WeatherNet at end of data

retrieval Orbital model in GRIB Explorer displays date

and time of QuikScat scatterometer passes; Age differences are coded to unique colors;

Square box is added to base of rain contaminated QuikScat wind flags


Data Display


Usage Dramatic Growth in QuikScat Usage

Monthly Kilobytes of QuikScat Data Transferred through WeatherNet

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Usage QuikScat represents sizable fraction of all

WeatherNet wind downloads (graphical and GRIB) % of All Wind Downloads which are QuikScat

0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%

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Usage Atlantic Ocean is region of highest demand

Better than 80% of all QuikScat downloads are for downloads covering the Atlantic Ocean basin

Higher resolution data, if available, is popular Better than 60% of all Atlantic Ocean QuikScat

downloads are selected from 12.5 km categories Average size of QuikScat download

increasing through time Users are benefiting from customizable categories


Case Studies

Global Challenge circumnavigation MWXC route forecasting


Case Studies

Global Challenge circumnavigation 30,000 nm ocean yacht race sailing against the prevailing winds Outfitted with OCENS WeatherNet and GRIB Explorer QuikScat data proved indispensable


Case Studies

QuikScat usage in Global Challenge Used to calibrate model forecast wind GRIBS

Compare observed location of a weather feature in QuikScat with predicted location from the pertinent weather model

Determine ‘on-the-fly’ if model was running ahead of or behind reality


Case Studies QuikScat usage in Global Challenge

Dissect weather features Estimate wind speed and direction over anticipated course Using repeated images, estimated speed and dynamics of approaching frontal activity Permits advance prep of sail and yacht maneuvers AHEAD of the wind shifts and

maintain optimum course DURING the frontal passage!



Dissect Weather Features


Case Studies

QuikScat usage in Global Challenge Used Rain Contamination flags as ‘canaries’

Forewarned of squally conditions that may not appear on other met products

Aids in vessel position, sail deployment and crew safety



Use of Rain Contamination Flags


Case Studies

QuikScat usage in MWXC Routing Vessel routing service that supports much of the Caribbean yachting community Uses QuikScat to validate suite of model and text forecast products Communicates routing recommendations to client vessels using sideband…

Obtains immediate feedback from clients about prevailing conditions


Case Studies

QuikScat usage in MWXC Routing QuikScat data ‘amazingly precise’ when validated against in situ observations by

client vessels Squall activity which is very important to the at-sea sail cruiser is readily

identified in QuikScat Not well depicted in model data or other analysis/forecast products


Looking Ahead Suggested Improvements from User Community

Higher resolution data for wider geographic area Ability to depict time series of historical along with current data for a target area Make data available for inshore areas Rain contamination info is valuable product in and of itself

quikscat commercial distribution and use

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