A Nationwide Network of Networks
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Abstract
A Nationwide Network of Networks (NNoN) is envisioned to be a nationally recognized organizing body that seamlessly facilitates weather and climate data exchange from a diverse community of data providers to the national and international data users. This body is planned to formalize existing standards and/or develop new standards (e.g., for metadata and policy), and ensure adherence to those standards by the member network operators. NNoN is also expected to provide guidance, expertise, and potential funding avenues to the member networks so the networks may be economically viable and be able to add more critically needed observational platforms, as required. NNoN is made possible through community participation within the AMS. Mesoscale representativeness of existing networks is severely limited both in horizontal and vertical directions. Spacing between sensors is not necessarily small enough to capture all the mesoscale processes occurring within a given network. Similarly, profiles of observations, especially within the planetary boundary layer, are rather nonexistent in many operating networks. Adding complexity to this situation, two mesoscale networks with the same horizontal and vertical resolution may not achieve the same level of mesoscale representativeness, because different physical processes prevail within and around different networks. This proposed NNoN is expected to provide guidance to its member networks to increase their data collection capability without imposing increased pressure on their already tight budgets. By using more cutting-edge tools such as mesoscale models and observation system simulation experiments (OSSEs), more representative and increased data collection capability is achievable from any existing network infrastructure. For example, mesoscale models and OSSEs can help determine optimal sensor placement strategies, data type and collection frequency, etc., for more efficient mesoscale data collection, although the use of such tools does not mean that investments in measurement sensors are no longer required. Effective utilization of such tools will critically depend on an ongoing two-way feedback between model results and measurements. In this way, networks will continually improve and be considered perennial research and development (R&D) testbeds. The government, academic, and private sectors operate observing networks with their own goals, objectives, sensor arrays, processing techniques, and distribution requirements. For example, government maintains networks to achieve its missions: 1) to save lives and property from damage and destruction, 2) to monitor climate variation and impacts, and 3) to support national weatherand climate-related economic activity. Numerous academic sector entities own and operate networks to conduct research, develop and test new technologies, protect and serve their state’s citizens, and serve the broader educational community. The private sector builds networks to commercialize both raw weather and climate data and value-added products. Across all of these networks are inconsistent standards for site and sensor selection, installation, and maintenance; data quality assurance and processing; data and product formats; and data-sharing policies. Given the status quo, would it make sense or would it even be practical to form a national body to organize all networks to disseminate weather and climate data, and perhaps other value-added products, by a single organizational entity? What would be the best business model for that entity? How would such an entity resolve potential conflicts among the three sectors (if any), such as with respect to data ownership and protection issues? Undoubtedly, weather and climate information users would benefit immensely from an organization like the NNoN, since the user currently spends more Corresponding author: James stalker, President & Ceo, resPr, inc., Las Cruces, NM 88003 e-mail: jrstalker@respr.com