# Presentation: 270511

## QuikScat 	Commercial Distribution and Use			

## Commercial Use & Distribution

- Markets
- Barriers to Entry
- Usage Statistics
- Case Studies

## Market Targets

- Sail and Power Cruising
- Ocean Racing
- Commercial and Sport Fishing
- Tug and Barge
- Shipping

## Markets

- Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial Distribution
- Cost-effective data access and transfer
- Intuitive data display and interpretation

## 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)

## 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.

## WeatherNet

## 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.

## 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/

## Markets

- Obstacles to QuikScat Commercial Distribution
- Cost-effective data access and transfer
- Intuitive data display and interpretation

## 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.

## 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

## Data Display

## Data Display

## Data Display

## Usage

- Dramatic Growth in QuikScat Usage

## Usage

- QuikScat represents sizable fraction of all WeatherNet wind downloads (graphical and GRIB)

## 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

## Case Studies

- Global Challenge circumnavigation
- MWXC route forecasting

## 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

## 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

## 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!

## Case Studies

- QuikScat usage in Global Challenge
- Dissect Weather Features

## 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

## Case Studies

- QuikScat usage in Global Challenge
- Use of Rain Contamination Flags

## 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

## 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

## 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