Washington Regional Telecommunication Hub (RTH)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United
Nations (UN) of which 185 States and Territories are Members.
The WMO programs
are supported in part through the World Weather Watch. The exchange of data and
products is accomplished through joint member cooperation and support.
The established comnmunications network for data exhange is the Global
Telecommunication System (GTS) managed by the Commission for Basic Systems (CBS). The CBS expert teams are composed of
members from various UN Member States and the CBS Open Program Area Group (OPAG)
on Information Systems and Services works on matters related to the exchange
of data for all WMO programs. The National Weather Service,
as a supporting member nation, directly supports operational activities in the
exchange of data on a world wide bases. The diagram links to the left detail the
global communication circuits which support the exchange of data and computer generated
products are provided here to better show the interconnectivity of the various RTHs of the
Main Trunk Network (MTN) of the GTS. All of these communication links are operated as either
point-to-point or broadcast. With the ever expanding newer communication
technologies, new functions are being introduced. A large number of International centers are
implementing data exchanges using the Internet as an additional connectivity or as backup.
The World Wide Web (Internet) connections, provide exchange of files and messages over
TCP/IP, the basic Internet communications protocol. This is enhancing the ability to
exchange data and products among the members of the WMO by using standard commercially
available software such as FTP, eMail, and HTTP. The Web presentation software
such as HTML and XML supporting applications to exchange data and provide documented
information, such as these web pages.
RTH Washington Internet Input Services
WMO Bulletin Input Service using a Web Page Entry Form:
RTH Washington has implemented a portal for the delivery of limited amounts of data
directly to the RTH using standard HTTP and a web browser. The primary use is for local
NMCs which may experience short GTS circuit outages. Access to this service
requires prior establishment with the RTH. This portal is available through the
World Wide Web.
FTP Input Service - a Guide on how to
transmit WMO Bulletins Within Files: RTH Washington has implemented a portal for the
delivery of WMO bulletins directly to the RTH using file transfers with standard FTP.
A transfer of files which contain WMO bulletins can be delivered either through dedicated
circuits or the Internet. Access to this service requires the establishment of an account
with the RTH. This portal is available through the World Wide Web.
eMail Data Input Service - A portal using the standard
eMail technology is recently implemented to permit isolated and low volume data providers a
method for sending primarily observational data to RTH Washington. The eMail senders must
register with the RTH for access to this service for controlling use and to permit
affirmation of source. |