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QuikScat Commercial Distribution and Use

This document explores the commercial use and distribution of QuikScat data in various marine markets, including sailing, ocean racing, and commercial fishing. It addresses significant barriers to entry, such as high data transfer costs and slow speeds, while highlighting the innovative OCENS WeatherNet system that provides cost-effective, intuitive access to weather, ocean, and aviation data. Case studies demonstrate the efficacy of QuikScat in real-world applications, especially in routing and safety for ocean racing and yachting communities.

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QuikScat Commercial Distribution and Use

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  1. QuikScatCommercial Distribution and Use

  2. Commercial Use & Distribution • Markets • Barriers to Entry • Usage Statistics • Case Studies

  3. Market Targets • Sail and Power Cruising • Ocean Racing • Commercial and Sport Fishing • Tug and Barge • Shipping

  4. Markets • Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial Distribution • Cost-effective data access and transfer • Intuitive data display and interpretation

  5. 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)

  6. 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.

  7. WeatherNet

  8. 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.

  9. 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/

  10. Markets • Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial Distribution • Cost-effective data access and transfer • Intuitive data display and interpretation

  11. 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.

  12. 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

  13. Data Display

  14. Data Display

  15. Data Display

  16. Usage • Dramatic Growth in QuikScat Usage

  17. Usage • QuikScat represents sizable fraction of all WeatherNet wind downloads (graphical and GRIB)

  18. 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

  19. Case Studies • Global Challenge circumnavigation • MWXC route forecasting

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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!

  23. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Dissect Weather Features

  24. 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

  25. Case Studies • QuikScat usage in Global Challenge • Use of Rain Contamination Flags

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

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