The International Activities
Office is the liaison between the international community
and the ISCS program. As such, IAO works on program
funding needs and requirements and helps coordinate
NWS support to the program. Mr. Curt Barrett, International
Activities, is the IAO Acting ISCS Program Coordinator.
ISCS is a satellite data distribution system operated
by the United States National Weather Service (NWS),
providing support to (1) the World Area Forecast System
(WAFS), and (2) the Region IV Meteorological Telecommunications
Network (RMTN). MCI WorldCom, under NWS contract, operates
the satellite broadcast communications service for ISCS.
Click here*
for ISCS operations poster.
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Adobe Acrobat Reader)
WAFS is a program developed by the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to improve
the quality and consistency of en route guidance provided
for international aircraft operations. Currently, en
route wind and temperature forecasts and some significant
weather charts are being provided by two WAF Centers
(WAFCs) in the U.S. and United Kingdom. In the final
phase of WAFS, en route significant weather forecasting
responsibilities will also be fully transferred to the
two WAFCs. WAFC-Washington has responsibility for satellite
data broadcasts to the Americas, the Atlantic, the Pacific
and Eastern Asia Backup. WAFC-London has responsibility
for broadcasts to Europe, Africa and western Asia.
WAFS Products include: Wind and Temperature
Forecasts from six to 36 hours in the future - updated
at least twice daily High-level Significant Weather
Charts, updated as per ICAO requirements (Charts are
currently a combination of those produced at the two
WAFCs and others produced at RAFCs.) Wind and Temperature
Charts Additional Data
The
WAFS global satellite broadcasts have been operational
since 1996
NWS is also cooperating with the WMO
to provide satellite communications of meteorological
observations and forecasts from the members of the southern
part of WMO Region IV (the Caribbean and Central America).
This system is called the Region IV Meteorological Telecommunication
Network (RMTN-IV). The purpose of the RMTN-IV broadcast
dissemination and data acquisition system (a two-way
system) was to replace the two WMO Region IV regional
communication networks of the Antilles
Meteorological (ANMET) and Central
America Meteorological (CEMET) circuitry. This communications
system increases the success of data delivery and receipt
within that part of a WMO Region where past ground communications
was difficult to maintain and the system supports WMO
GTS needs for the exchange of all data types among WMO
Member countries.
The NOAA/National Weather Service,
through the International Activities Office, has managed
the contracts for the purchase of the equipment and
services, and has donated the equipment for sites in
the Americas, Pacific, and eastern Asia. The recurring
costs of the broadcast through the satellite are being
paid by the U. S. FAA. International Activities is also
coordinating the upgrade of the ISCS access capability
of some countries in order to extend system life with
a technology refresh program to incorporate technology
advancements for enhanced performance capabilities,
where appropriate.
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For more information on WAFS and
ISCS and the system upgrades, click the graphic
below. It will open a new window. |
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