AMOSSG/3-SN No. 5

3/1/02

AERODROME METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVING SYSTEMS STUDY GROUP (AMOSSG)

THIRD MEETING

Miami, 22 to 25 January 2002

Agenda Item	8:	Future work programme of the group

(Presented by the Secretary)

SUMMARY
The future work to be undertaken by the group is addressed in this study note.

1.	INTRODUCTION

1.1	Under this agenda item, the group is expected to review its future work programme and address the need for the AMOSSG/4 Meeting.

2.	DISCUSSION

2.1	List of tasks for future work

2.1.1	The group will recall that the future work programme was considered by the group at its second meeting in De Bilt (2001). An updated version of the future work programme taking into account the relevant developments between the two meetings is attached to this study note at the Appendix. The changes are indicated using the red-line/strike-out markings. It may be noted that, as a result of this meeting, the review of Chapter 4 of Annex 3 — Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation can be considered to be completed for the time being. The main future task would be the development of guidance material. The development of such guidance material would be considered by the upcoming MET Divisional Meeting (2002) and therefore, the task would be only undertaken by the group if endorsed by that meeting. Other future tasks include the continuing assessment of emerging weather observing systems to meet the Annex 3 requirements in respect of cloud amount and type, present weather and recent weather.

2.1.2	When reviewing the work programme, the group will be aware that Amendment 73 to Annex 3 (applicability in 2004) will be considered by the upcoming MET Divisional Meeting (2002) and that the working papers for that meeting have to be completed during the next few weeks. Therefore, no additional material can be included in the draft amendment after the AMOSSG/3 Meeting.

2.2	The AMOSSG/4 Meeting

2.2.1	The group, like any study group, is expected to progress the work by correspondence. In view of the rapid changes in the technology, it can, however, be assumed that all the issues cannot be completed by correspondence and that another meeting will be required. For planning purposes, the group may wish to agree that this meeting should be convened in Montreal during the second half of the year 2003.

3.	ACTION BY THE GROUP

3.1	The group is invited to:

a)	review the list of tasks for future work at the Appendix; and

b)	agree that, for planning purposes, the AMOSSG/3 Meeting be convened in Montreal during the second half of the year 2003.

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AMOSSG/3-SN No. 5

Appendix

APPENDIX

LIST OF TASKS FOR FUTURE WORK OF THE AERODROME METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVING SYSTEMS STUDY GROUP (AMOSSG)

The AMOSSG is envisaged to assist the Secretariat in pursuing the specific tasks as follows:

task No.	task (Annex 3 provisions which may need to be amended indicated in Brackets)	reference	estimated date for completion	responsibility

(lead in bold)	note on progress
1.	Review of operational requirements in Chapter 4 to Annex 3

(Annex 3, Chapter 4)	AMOSSG/1– SoD, Section 4	end 2001	AMOSSG	initial reviews undertaken at the AMOSSG/1 and AMOSSG/2; completed at the AMOSSG/3
2.	Revision of the provision for the manual insertion of elements in case of a system failure

(Annex 3, 4.1.8 & 4.1.9)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

4.4.1 b)	end 2001	Jean-Paul, Will	completed at the AMOSSG/3
3.	Introduction of "prevailing visibility" (including the revision of the reporting of visibility in local reports and reports in the METAR/SPECI code forms)

(Annex 3, 4.6.2-4.6.5)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

4.4.1 c)	end 2001	Kevin, Marc, Pete, Will	initial proposal presented to AMOSSG/2; completed at the AMOSSG/3
4.	Reassessment of the light intensity to be used to assess RVR in reports in the METAR/SPECI code forms

(Annex 3, 4.7.11)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

4.4.1 d)	end 2001	Marc, Michel	addressed at the AMOSSG/3
5.	Currency of the reference to the "middle marker site"

(Annex 3, 4.9.3)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

4.4.1 d)	AMOSSG/2 Meeting	Secretary	completed at the AMOSSG/2 Meeting
6.	Use of modern observing techniques (e.g. remote sensing)

(Annex 3, definitions (if necessary), 3.5.2 a) & a new section under Chapter 4)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

4.4.1 a);

4.4.3	end 2001	Michel	a proposal, as necessary, expected for AMOSSG/4
7.	Revision of the weather phenomena to be reported under "present weather" and "recent weather"

(Annex 3, 4.8.4 - 4.8.6 & 4.12.3)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

5.3.1 c)	end 2001	Earle, Jean-Paul, Kevin, Pete, Will	initial proposal presented at the AMOSSG/2; completed at AMOSSG/3

8.	Monitoring of results from research on the automatic detection of cloud types

(Annex 3, 4.9.5)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

5.3.1 e)	continuing	AMOSSG
9.	Reassessment of the requirement for reporting TCU

(Annex 3, 4.9.5)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

5.3.1 c)	end 2001	Secretary	completed at the AMOSSG/2 Meeting
10.	Finalization of the assessment of the capability of AWS to meet the expected future requirements

(Annex 3, 4.1.10, 4.6.2, 4.8.2, 4.9.2 & 4.12.2)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

6.2.2 b)	end 2001	AMOSSG	assessments carried out at the AMOSSG/1, AMOSSG/2 and

AMOSSG/3
11.	Specific tasks concerning the use of "NSC" and "VC"

(Annex 3, 4.9.5 & 4.8.6)	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

5.3.1 d)	end 2001	VC: to be dealt with under Task 7;

NSC: AMOSSG	initial proposals presented at the AMOSSG/2; completed at the AMOSSG/3
12.	Preparation of guidance material: initial proposal	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

5.3.1 e)	AMOSSG/2 Meeting	Secretary	draft outline presented at the AMOSSG/2; to be addressed at AMOSSG/4
13.	Intensity thresholds for weather phenomena established by WMO	AMOSSG/1 – SoD,

5.3.1 c)	AMOSSG/2

Meeting	Saad

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