This document summarizes the work of the Technical Coordinator for JCOMMOPS, Champika Gallage. It outlines their responsibilities which include familiarizing themselves with JCOMMOPS databases and tools, maintaining metadata, producing monthly maps and reports, assisting DBCP members, and attending meetings. It also provides statistics on the number of active platforms reporting variables to the GTS and breakdowns of drifting buoy and moored buoy reporting by country and format. Key issues discussed include improving TAO array data availability and progress towards the SOBP target of 300 drifting buoys south of 40°S.

1. Report by the
Technical Coordinator
Champika Gallage
cgallage@jcommops.org
support@jcommops.org

2. • Familiarizing with JCOMMOPS database and tools
• Familiarizing with DBCP community , platforms,
operators and networks
• Travelling to meet with various DBCP Members, Action
Groups, and Teams
• Review database design, metadata loading and
reporting on new JCOMMOPS website
• Collecting, and preparing metadata to ingest to the
new JCOMMOPS database
• Maintaining metadata in the JCOMMOPS database
• Producing monthly maps and GTS timeliness reports
• Provide user assistance
19-23 October 2015 2DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland

3. • Assisting Panel members with technical and
programmatic issues
• Updating and maintaining DBCP and OceanSITES
websites
• Maintaining mailing lists, contact details and user
groups on DBCP, JCOMMOPS, and OceanSITES websites
• Monitoring the Quality-Control Relay traffic
• Tracking all buoy deployments, and mooring
maintenance/installations
• Preparing for and attending meetings
• Preparing meeting reports and documents
• Other adhoc tasks
19-23 October 2015 3DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland

4. • Office move to a new location in February 2015
• Co-located in IFREMER, Brest, France
• Total of six full time staff in JCOMMOPS Office
• Three technical coordinators, IT Engineer, Coordinator, Science
& Communication, Web developer (contract ending Nov 2015)
DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland19-23 October 2015 4

5. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 5

6. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 6
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
Number of Active Platforms (Sep 2014 - Aug 2015)
Drifting Buoys Moored Buoys Fixed Platforms 1250

7. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 7

8. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 8

9. Variable Any Air P
P
Tend
SST Air T Hum
Wind
Dir
Wind
Speed
Sub/T SSS Sub/Sal Sub/Cur
Drifting
Buoys
1555 850 597 1453 57 6 6 3 19 256 14 0
Moored
Buoys
415 249 215 364 318 161 310 310 114 54 105 16
Fixed
Platforms
102 90 90 9 89 83 92 64 3 0 0 1
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 9
• Amongst the drifting buoys, moored buoys and fixed platforms reporting on
the GTS in BUOY (or BUFR) format, above listed variables were measured in
August 2015.
• Wave measurement information was not available due to a data decoding
error in the data received from Meteo-France. Since this report was submitted,
wave data is available starting form October.

10. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 10

11. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 11
0
500
1000
1500
2000
NumberofBuoys
Number of operational buoys reporting on the GTS (monthly until August 2015)
DRIFTERS BAROMETER DRIFTERS MOORINGS
415
1555
850
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Average number of Drifting Buoys 1168 1340 1504
% of barometer buoys 40% 50% 54%
Average number of Moored buoys 453 406 407
% of barometer buoys - - 59%

12. • Data availability of TAO array has
improved.
• TAO array is now at targeted 80%
data availability.
12
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
%availability
TAO Data Availability by Month
As per information received from NDBC
• TAO array reporting data on the GTS in
BUFR format under headers
• “IOBF08 KWNB” for all TAO
stations with a nominal position
east of 180 and
• “IOBG08 KWNB” for all TAO
stations with a nominal position
on or west of 180.

13. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 13
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
%dataavailability
% data availability Goal 80%
As per information received from NDBC
GTS Header Country Status Plan
SZAU01 AMMC Australia OK – decoded at M-F
SZNZ01 NZKL New Zealand OK – same dataformat than for AMMC Should be decoded soon
SZBM45 RJTD Japan CREX but different structure than AMMC Should probably be decoded
SZ% RJTD Japan Unknown dataformat (not CREX?) Feedback should be sent to JMA
SZ% BABJ China CREX but different structure than AMMC Should probably be decoded
SZ% KWNB USA Unknown dataformat (not CREX?) Feedback should be sent to NOAA
SZ% EUMS EUMETSAT OK – decoded at M-F
SZ% WMKK Malaysia OK – slightly different from AMMC but… Should be decoded soon

14. • SOBP, as part of the DBCP Implementation Strategy, aims to
have 300 operational drifting buoys with barometers
distributed across the Seas south of 40oS.
• During August 2015, there were 244 drifters in the Southern
Ocean and 221 (90%) of these were barometer drifters
• Little progress has been made compared to the August 2014
number which was 216.
• There were a total of 117 drifting buoys deployed in the
Southern Ocean during the last intersessional period
• DBCP members should continue to look for deployment
opportunities in this region.
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 14

15. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 15

16. Country
Buoys
Purches
ed or
deploy
ments
Additiona
l
(Baro)Up
grades Total Comment
Australia
(ABOM)
5 1 6 Deployed 4 more
buoys from USA
Brazil 0 0 0 Deployed 2 buoys
from USA
Chile 0 0 0 Deployed 2 buoys
from USA
France 8 8 Deployed 8 more
buoys from USA
New
Zealand
0 0 0 Deployed 23 buoys
from USA
South
Africa
0 0 0 Deployed 14 buoys
from USA
UK 1 0 1
USA 99 0 99
Unknown 3 0 3
Total 108 9 117
DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 16
Drifting buoy deployment location in South of 400S
during August 2014 -July 2015

17. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 17
Country
Planned # of
deployments
Additional
(Baro)Upgrades Total Comment
USA (AOML) 15 0 15
15 SVPB’s will be deployed east of NZ,
from the R/V Kaharoa
USA (AOML) 30 0 30
30 SVPB’s will be deployed at approx.
55S,155W, from the R/V Araon.
Australia (ABOM) 5 4 9 It is possible that some additional
ABOM baro upgrades (deployed out of
Cape Town by SAWS and La Reunion by
Meteo France) may also be deployed
south of 40S
France 15 00 15 South of Indian Ocean
New Zealand 00 10 10 5 SVPBs will be deployed for AOML
USA (AOML) 05 00 05 Deploy by NZ
USA (AOML) 17 00 17 Deploy by South Africa
Brazil 0 14 14 The drifters will be deployed at each
crossing of navy vessel through Drake
Total 87 28 115

18. 91%
7%
2%
Drifting buoys reporting in BUFR and TAC - August
2015
BUFR & TAC BUFR only TAC only
In August 2015
• 98% reporting in BUFR
• 2% reporting in TAC only
• 91% provide the data in TAC
and BUFR
19-23 October 2015 18DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland

19. CCCC Provider TTAAii
BUFR
Template
Numbe
r of
buoys
Remark
CWAO Joubeh IOBX02 Non validated 53
CWAO Joubeh IOBX05 Non validated 22
KARS CLS America IOBX02 Non validated 1064 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315009
KARS CLS America IOBX07 Non validated 16 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315009
KARS CLS America IOBX12 Non validated 2 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315009
KARS CLS America IOBX13 Non validated 3 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315009
KWBC Pacific Gyre IOBX06 TM315009 11
KWNB NDBC IOBX01 Non validated 44
LFPW Meteo-France IOB[A-L]01 TM315009 253
LFVW CLS Toulouse IOBX02 Non validated 8 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315009
LFVW CLS Toulouse IOBX13 Non validated 2 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315009
RJTD JMA IOBC01 Non validated 5
VHHH HKO IOBC01 TM315009 1
Total 1484
19-23 October 2015 19DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland

20. 19-23 October 2015 20DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland
25%
5%
70%
Moored buoys reporting in BUFR
and TAC - August 2015
BUFR & TAC
BUFR only
TAC only
In August 2015
• 5% reporting in BUFR
• 70% reporting in TAC only
• 25% provide the data in TAC
and BUFR

21. -
CCCC Data Provider TTAAii
BUFR
Template
Number
of
buoys
Remark
CWAO Joubeh IOBX02 Non validated 2
DEMS IMD 0 15 buoys reporting in FM18 only
EDZW BSH/DWD ISSXnn TM308009 9 From a FM13 to BUFR conversion?
EGRR Met Office ISS[A/D]nn TM308009 17 From a FM13 to BUFR conversion?
EIDB Met Eireann IOBA21 TM315008 4 FM18 BUOY in parallel
KARS CLS America IOBX08 Non validated 30 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315008?
KPML NOAA/PMEL IOB[B/C]18 TM315008 2
KWNB NDBC IOB[F/G]08 TM315008 50
KWNB NDBC ISS… TM308009 194 From a FM13 to BUFR conversion?
LEMM AEMET IOBX[01-20] Non validated 13 No TAC reports in parallel
LFPW Meteo-France ISS[D/E]nn TM308009 3 From a FM13 to BUFR conversion
LFPW Meteo-France 0 19 buoys reporting in FM18 only
LFVW CLS Toulouse IOBX01 Non validated 1 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315008?
LFVW CLS Toulouse IOBX03 Non validated 4 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315008?
LFVW CLS Toulouse IOBX11 Non validated 10 Wrong WMO Ids in TM315008?
LGAT HCMR/HNMS IOBD01 Non validated 1 No TAC reports in parallel
LPMG IPMA 0 2 buoys reporting in FM18 only
RKSL KMA 0 11 buoys reporting in FM18 only
Total 340
19-23 October 2015 21DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland

22. • Global Telecommunication System
• WMO METNO MESSAGES
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/ois/Operational_Information/VolumeA/Ex
planationOfMetno.htm
• WWW Operational Newsletter
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/ois/Operational_Information/Newsletters/
current_news_en.html
• JCOMM notifications
http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=318:ta
o-gts-headers&catid=27&Itemid=2
• Apart from the above NOAA has their own notification system
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/notif.htm
2219-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland

23. • JCOMMOPS, OSMC, OOPC, IOC, WMO meeting in April 2014
on indicators/metrics
– JCOMMOPS: Network oriented metrics
• Provide an accurate and homogeneous status of observing
networks and of the integrated system
• Design Key Performance Indicators
– Harmonized semantic
– Specific and clear algorithms
– Clear interpretation scales
• Guide implementation
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 23

24. 19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 24
INDICATOR CATEGORY EXAMPLES
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
activity, intensity, density, sustainability,
multidisciplinary nature
● Number Active PTF / Target, or active lines, etc
● Number of yearly Deployments / Target
● Number boxes occupied / Target
● Number ECV/EOVs observed
DATA DELIVERY
efficiency, volume, quality, timeliness
● Number Obs available GTS/GDACs / Target (RT)
● Number Delayed Mode Obs available / Target (eligible)
● Number Obs meeting the timeliness requirements / Target
● Number black listed units
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ● Number of participating countries, distribution of platform/country
● (Number of new countries per year)
● Degree of coordination for planning
● Number intl meeting/year (working groups, task teams)
● Infrastructure support (e.g. JCOMMOPS office)
● Number pilot projects
● NB donor programs
● JCOMM cooperation (joint depl. opp.)
DATA UPTAKE ● Number of papers / year
● Number of operational centers assimilating
● Data policy (free unrestricted, on authorization)
● Data access (discovery, web interfaces, etc, GTS only)
INSTRUMENTATION
platforms, sensors, telecoms.
● Reliability / Target
● Dep. Failure rate
● Market diversity, competitiveness
OPERATIONS ● Ship time (opportunity, institutional, charters, civil society)
● Number PMOs
SYNERGIES ● links and synergies to other JCOMM OCG components (SOOP ship deploying
units, doing met. obs., GO-SHIP CTDs used for Argo QC, etc)
● Panels sharing a TC

25. • suggested approach is to,
(1) group the networks which DBCP oversees by function
and/or region and
(2) establish Key Performance Indicators(KPI) in the 6 categories
Suggested catogaries are;
– Global Surface Drifting Buoy Network
– Global Tropical Moored Buoy Network
– National/coastal moored buoy Networks
– Arctic Buoy Networks
– Antarctic Buoy Networks
– Global Tsunami buoy Network
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 25

26. 26
Green Amber Red
Network data availability (All networks) ? ? ?
Drifting Buoys
Number of active drifting buoys (outside of near equatorial band and high latitudes,
say10 ºN to 60 ºN and 10 ºS to 60 ºS)
≥ 1,250 < 1,250
Density: % number of 5 x 5 degree boxes outside of near equatorial band and high
latitudes occupied
≥ 90% 75% to 90%, < 75%
Median lifetime of operating drifters outside of near equatorial band and high
latitudes
≥ 300
150 to 300
days
< 150
Global Tropical Moored Buoy Network
% of the target number of moorings that are active ≥ 90% 75% to 90%, < 75%
% of active moorings delivering data in real-time to GTS ≥ 90% 80% to 90% < 80%,
% of active number of (active?) moorings for which their metadata have been
submitted to
≥ 90% 75% to 90%, < 75%
National/coastal Moored Buoy Networks
Number of active moored buoys operating and delivering real-time data to GTS ≥ 300 200 to 300 < 200
% of active moored buoys for which their metadata have been submitted to
JCOMMOPS
≥ 90% 75% to 90%, < 75%
Number of countries operating moored buoys ? ? ?
Arctic Buoy Network (250km X 250km)
Number of active drifting buoys ? ? ?
Density: % number of 250km boxes occupied ≥ 90% 75% to 90%, < 75%
% of active buoys delivering data in real-time to GTS ≥ 90% 80% to 90% < 80%,
Antarctic Buoy Network (500km X 500km)
Number of active drifting buoys ? ? ?
Density: % number of 500km boxes occupied ≥ 90% 75% to 90%, < 75%
% of active buoys delivering data in real-time to GTS ≥ 90% 80% to 90% < 80%,

27. • Follow the guidelines for WMO ID allocation
• 7 digit IDs can only be used with BUFR format and TAC requires
5 digit IDs
• Moving from 5 digit to 7 digits avoids reuse of WMO IDS
• Avoid recycle of IDs where ever possible
• If IDs recycle cannot be avoided, do not reuse them before 3
months of its previous use (as per WMO ID allocation rule)
• JCOMMOPS metadata management plan for WMO IDs in
reuse
e.g. 46532_099
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 27
01 January 2015 A1bwnnn_1nn
e.g. 46532_100
A1bwnnn_0nn

28. WMO IDS for
Drifting Buoys
Current Practice Proposal
TAC only A1bwnnn
5 digit IDs
Reuse as needed (e.g 46529)
Avoid reuse of IDs whenever and
wherever possible
Follow WMO guidelines when
reusing the IDs
TAC & BUFR A1bw((00)nnn
(e.g. 46529 4600529)
5 digit IDs for TAC reporting
add “00” to convert the ID to a 7
digit for BUFR reporting (
Do not reuse the 7 digit IDS ??
BUFR only A1bwnnnnn = A1bw00nnn
Add “00” to convert the
currently allocated ID to a 7 digit
Use only 7 digit numbers with
nnnnn ≥ 1000 for all new
deployments reporting only in
BUFR format
e.g. 4601529
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 28

29. https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/amp/mmop/wmo-number-rules.html
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 29
TAC BUFR
A1bwnnn
41532
A1bwnnnnn
A1bw00nnn
4100532
nn = 01
4101532

30. • Moored buoy metadata ingestion to new JCOMMOPS
database
• Continue working with JCOMMOPS colleagues on new
website
• Continue to work with Iridium VAR’s to obtain drifter,
mooring, and float information.
• Link with IABP to get a metadata feed to JCOMMOPS
(similar to AOML feed)
• Ensure loading procedures (e.g Tsunameter data) are
accurate. Work with OSMC and/or MeteoFrance to
• Continue to update Meteorologists Cookbook
• Other products and services as requested by the
community
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 30

31. Thank you!
www.dbcp.jcommops.org
Champika Gallage
cgallage@jcommops.org
support@jcommops.org
19-23 October 2015 DBCP – 31, Geneva, Switzerland 31