NMOC Quarterly Summary April-June 2002

Archives

Analyses & Numerical Prediction | About Products | Map/Image/Chart Archives

NMOC archives (on magnetic tape) a large number of data and products. This includes:

• observational data used in the NWP analyses
• grids of manual and NWP analyses and prognoses
• manual and NWP analysis charts

a. Observations Data

Global real-time observational data used in the manual and NWP analyses, as listed in Section 1 a: Data Receipt in this Report, have been archived since 1972.

b. NWP Analysis and Prognosis Grid Data

NWP data has been archived over the years in various Bureau specific and, in recent years, more universal standardised formats. Australian Region numerical analysis archives exist back to 1969, Southern Hemisphere to 1972, Tropical analyses to 1983 and Global analyses to 1989. Sea State numerical archives commence in 1988 and Sea Surface Temperature begin in 1987. Numerical rainfall analyses begin in 1992. In recent times, there has been some attempt to convert the older archives to the more widely accepted international formats. The analyses grids are kept permanently, numerical prognosis grids for 3 years, boundary condition files and first guess prognosis fields for 3 months.

c. Analysis Charts

The analysis charts are archived in a variety of formats. Manual MSLP analysis charts for 1887 to 1956 are stored by National Archives Australia (NAA). From 1956 they are held on microfilm, by NAA and also by the Bureau . Recent analysis charts are also archived in digital form and are available on the WEB as browse metadata to assist with ordering from the main grid archive.

The full listing is at: http://www.bom.gov.au/nmoc/archives/dm_browse.shtml

These charts are in the process of being catalogued by the library

d. Scanning of Historical Microfilm and Paper Chart Archives

A project is currently underway to scan historical paper and microfilm analysis charts so they will also be available through the WEB browse facility. During 2001-02 the Australian Region (AR) and Southern Hemisphere (SH) charts back to 1956 are being scanned and are gradually becoming available. They are archived to the SAM tape archive and can be retrieved through the internal web interface.

The 00Z MSLP charts will be made available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/nmoc/MSL as part of the browse archive to support external ordering from the main archive. Stage 2 for 2002-03 will tackle the period from 1956 to 1887 and stage 3 will cover Darwin RMSC Streamline Analyses and Regional Pre Federation charts.
Figure 1 shows the current progress with the scanning.

Figure 1 Current Status of Scanning of Historical Charts