Meteorological and Related Data and Products comprise Output 1.1, one of the Bureau's four output groups, and is also one of the Bureau's major outputs. The basic systems that deliver this major output also provide the common foundation on which the other outputs of the Bureau depend.

This major output involves the provision of the basic meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data and the operation of the national meteorological telecommunications and information technology infrastructure. The data are required to maintain the national climate record, to characterise the behaviour of Australian weather and climate, to support the full range of publicly and privately provided meteorological and related services in Australia, to support meteorological research and to meet Australia's obligations for the free and unrestricted international exchange of meteorological and related data.

To ensure the effective output of meteorological and related data, particular attention is given to regular monitoring and review of the Bureau's basic technical systems, the replacement of obsolescent systems and the introduction of new technologies through an ongoing re-equipment program, and regular liaison with users of the data to ensure their continued appropriateness, relevance, timeliness and accuracy.

OUTPUT PERFORMANCE 2004-05 

Comments on output performance

Overall, performance levels for scheduled observations averaged close to those achieved in 2003-04, but with a greater spread, peaking at a performance level of 97 per cent for the space -based systems. However, the impact of measures taken in 2003-04 to maintain the performance of the upper-air networks, such as drawing heavily on reserves of consumables and spares, was exacerbated by additional resource constraints, resulting in a further divergence from the targeted performance level especially in relation to night-time upper-air observations (Figure 11).

Equipment outages at high priority sites, including those critical for monitoring severe weather events and for supporting aviation, were kept to a minimum. The average duration of significant outages of all major items of field equipment was between one and seven days. The accelerated replacement of obsolete radars, through the 2003-04 Budget initiative of $62.2 million over five years for radar replacement and upgrade, has already started to contribute to reduced radar network outage times. The commissioning of two new satellite antennae in Melbourne was delayed as a result of late completion of the roof of the Bureau's new Head Office building.

Figure 11. The number of successful radiosonde flights (defined as those ascending above 200 hPa) per day, per station, by calendar year, illustrating the increases made possible through the additional government funding of the 1996-97 World Class Weather Forecasting initiative.

The number of fully operational surface synoptic stations, including Automatic Weather Stations, continued to increase towards the target of 900 (Figure 12) although less rapidly than in previous years.

The number of automated data collection links measures the size of the Bureau's observations collection telecommunications systems. Changes are therefore related to the addition or deletion of automated weather observation collection systems.

The number of international communications networks identifies the Bureau's links to the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) via dedicated links or through Virtual Private Networks (VPN) via the internet. The changing VPN technology makes this statistic increasingly problematic as a performance measure.

User satisfaction with the functional capacity of mission critical communications and computing systems, assessed from an annual survey of users, exceeded targets. The survey period included the relocation of 750 users from the Bureau's old headquarters building to its new location at 700 Collins Street, indicating that the relocation proceeded successfully and with little disruption.

An intensive study of the Bureau's observing system, and the drivers for change in the nature, coverage and delivery of the observing system over the next five to ten years was initiated during the year. The study involved representatives from all Program areas and adopted an end-to-end approach to observational data, aiming to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current and future requirements for meteorological data, the current ability of the Bureau's observing system to meet those requirements and future strategies for delivering on those requirements as efficiently and effectively as possible. The study will be finalised in 2005-06 but early results from the study contributed to a rebalancing of the Bureau's surface observing system during the year, reflecting the increased capabilities of, and reliance on, automatic weather stations.