Quik Scat Commercial Distribution and Use Commercial Use

Quik. Scat Commercial Distribution and Use

Commercial Use & Distribution n Markets n Barriers to Entry n Usage Statistics n Case Studies The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Market Targets n Sail and Power Cruising n Ocean Racing n Commercial and Sport Fishing n Tug and Barge n Shipping The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Markets n Obstacles to Quik. Scat Commercial Distribution n Cost-effective data access and transfer n Intuitive data display and interpretation The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Transfer n All Markets Share Common Data Transfer Traits n Slow speed of data transfers (1200 to 9600 baud) n High cost of minutes for data transfers ($1 to $3 per minute) The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Transfer n OCENS included Quik. Scat into its Weather. Net data distribution system: n World’s largest collection of weather, ocean and aviation content n Organized into a cohesive library of graphical, text and GRIB products allowing for sitespecific selection n Built around an efficient and cost-effective engine for the retrieval of these data over satcomm and other networks. The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Weather. Net The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Transfer n Included in Weather. Net after converting to an interactive GRIB format n GRIB data format reduced size of data transfer; n Interactive data selection allows user to customize product request to their specific area of geographic interest. The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Transfer n Net effect of Weather. Net integration and conversion to GRIB on satcomm download times: n Quik. Scat GRIB covering NE Pacific n n 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 Quik. Scat bmps from http: //manati. orbit. nesdis. noaa. gov/quikscat/ The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Markets n Obstacles to Quik. Scat Commercial Distribution n Cost-effective data access and transfer n Intuitive data display and interpretation The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Display n n n 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. The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Display n OCENS GRIB Explorer n n n Auto-launched by Weather. Net at end of data retrieval Orbital model in GRIB Explorer displays date and time of Quik. Scat scatterometer passes; Age differences are coded to unique colors; Square box is added to base of rain contaminated Quik. Scat wind flags The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Display The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Display The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Data Display The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Usage n Dramatic Growth in Quik. Scat Usage The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Usage n Quik. Scat represents sizable fraction of all Weather. Net wind downloads (graphical and GRIB) The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Usage n Atlantic Ocean is region of highest demand n n Higher resolution data, if available, is popular n n Better than 80% of all Quik. Scat downloads are for downloads covering the Atlantic Ocean basin Better than 60% of all Atlantic Ocean Quik. Scat downloads are selected from 12. 5 km categories Average size of Quik. Scat download increasing through time n Users are benefiting from customizable categories The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n n Global Challenge circumnavigation MWXC route forecasting The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Global Challenge circumnavigation n 30, 000 nm ocean yacht race sailing against the prevailing winds Outfitted with OCENS Weather. Net and GRIB Explorer Quik. Scat data proved indispensable The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in Global Challenge n Used to calibrate model forecast wind GRIBS n n Compare observed location of a weather feature in Quik. Scat with predicted location from the pertinent weather model Determine ‘on-the-fly’ if model was running ahead of or behind reality The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in Global Challenge n Dissect weather features n n n 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! The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in Global Challenge n Dissect Weather Features The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in Global Challenge n Used Rain Contamination flags as ‘canaries’ n n Forewarned of squally conditions that may not appear on other met products Aids in vessel position, sail deployment and crew safety The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in Global Challenge n Use of Rain Contamination Flags The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in MWXC Routing n n n Vessel routing service that supports much of the Caribbean yachting community Uses Quik. Scat to validate suite of model and text forecast products Communicates routing recommendations to client vessels using sideband… n Obtains immediate feedback from clients about prevailing conditions The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Case Studies n Quik. Scat usage in MWXC Routing n n Quik. Scat 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 Quik. Scat n Not well depicted in model data or other analysis/forecast products The Best Weather Comes from OCENS

Looking Ahead n Suggested Improvements from User Community n n 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 The Best Weather Comes from OCENS