The TRMM orbit only allows for sampling from 30 degrees north to 30 degrees south. Advances in technology will lead to arrays of precipitation mapping microsatellites that cover the entire planet by early in the 21 st century. The collaboration of university and government scientists with both the government weather services and the agricultural industry is critical to research needed to discover what weather and climate data really makes a difference to various production systems. These capabilities are implemented through computer-based decision support systems. Execution of this program also required installation of an enhanced automated weather observation network.
Users can access both weather and climate data files from stations of special interest.
Australia is a country subject to significant weather and climate variability. Government laboratories have developed a variety of computer software packages that provide easy access to weather and climate information. Agricultural programs with meteorological staff will soon be obtaining important information from international scientific programs that are at the frontiers of weather and climate science. For example, the Southeast Asia Monsoon Experiment is now in its early phases of development. The best example is El Nino.