Vol. 58 (2) - April 2009 BulletinFeature articles | Interviews | News | Book reviews | Calendar www.wmo.int 2009 L Meteorological services 58 (2) - APRI E VOLUM for transportation Meteorology and marine transportation 111 Weather monitoring and etin forecasting services for BULL provincial highways and MO railways in China W 118 World Meteorological Organization 7bis, avenue de la Paix - Case postale 2300 - CH-1211 Geneva 2 - Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 81 11 - Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 81 E-mail: [email protected] - Website: www.wmo.int Weather and climate change ISSN 0042-9767 implications for surface transportation in the USA 84 Meteorological services to aviation 94 Meteorology for travellers 104 Weather affects the operation of the transportation systems that we all rely on ... Climate, on the other hand, affects transportation infrastructure. M. McGuirk et al. Bulletin The journal of the Contents World Meteorological Organization In this issue .......................................................................................... 80 Volume 58 (2) - Avril 2009 World Climate Conference-3 .............................................................. 82 Secretary-General M. Jarraud Weather and climate change implications for surface Deputy Secretary-General Hong Yan transportation in the USA by Marjorie McGuirk, Scott Shuford, Assistant Secretary-General J. Lengoasa Thomas C. Peterson and Paul Pisano ............................................................... 84 The WMO Bulletin is published quarterly (January, April, July, October) in English, French, Meteorological services to aviation by Chi Ming Shun, Ian Lisk, Russian and Spanish editions. Carr McLeod and Kevin L. Johnston ............................................................ 94 Editor Hong Yan Associate Editor Judith C.C. Torres Meteorology for travellers by S.T. Christopher ........................................ 104 Editorial board Hong Yan (Chair) Meteorology and marine transportation by Peter Dexter and J. Torres (Secretary) Phillip Parker ................................................................................................. 111 G. Asrar (climate research) L. Barrie (atmospheric research and environment) Weather monitoring and forecasting services for provincial G. Love (weather and disaster risk reduction) highways and railways in China by Yan Mingliang, Yuan Chengsong and E. Manaenkova (policy, external relations) R. Masters (development, regional activities) Pan Xinmin .............................................................................................. 118 B. Ryan (satellites) D. Schiessl (strategic planning) M. Sivakumar (climate) Obituaries ............................................................................................ 123 A. Tyagi (water) J. Wilson (education and training) Wenjian Zhang (observing and information Fifty years ago ..................................................................................... 126 systems) News from the WMO Secretariat ....................................................... 129 Subscription rates Surface mail Air mail 1 year CHF 60 CHF 85 Reviews ................................................................................................ 133 2 years CHF 110 CHF 150 3 years CHF 145 CHF 195 Calendar ............................................................................................... 135 E-mail: [email protected] The World Meteorological Organization ............................................ 136 Copyright © World Meteorological Organization, 2008 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. 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CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] In this issue In this issue Activities involving transportation industry, for example, that involves modes of transportation, all make are inherently more sensitive to having de-icing equipment on aircraft, good use of the wide variety of real- weather events than activities that weather radar to avoid thunderstorms time weather information available are located in a single place. Consider and instrument landing systems to via the Internet, television, radio and an individual contemplating a ten land in fog and other low visibility newspapers. While it is not always minute walk to his favourite coffee situations. These are all up-front clear, this wealth of meteorological shop: indoors, he is not particularly investments to reduce weather information is only available because weather-sensitive but once outdoors, sensitivity, each one is taken after a of the incredible success of WMO the situation changes substantially. careful weighing of costs and benefits, in promoting, coordinating and Is it so hot that he should wear a hat often informed by years or decades of sustaining the free and open exchange and sunscreen? Is it likely to rain operational experience. The next step of meteorological and related data over and so should he take an umbrella in the process is to consider systems the past 50 years or so and because and wear a coat? Is it so cold that he that will enable real-time decision- of the vital work of NMHSs around needs a wooly bonnet to keep his making to avoid threatening weather the globe in participating in this data ears warm? situations. To do this, the aviation and information exchange. industry uses real-time weather Undoubtedly important questions data collected expressly to meet its Of course, meteorology has two to be answered, but the underlying needs by National Meteorological components—weather and climate— principles are even more significant. and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and, while the foregoing discussion In choosing to be mobile, our man coordinated by WMO. These real- considers the weather-sensitivity of must gather some weather-related time meteorological data underpin transportation, it is also sensitive to information and make decisions which operational decisions on such matters climate and, in particular, climate are aimed at reducing his sensitivity as which routes aircraft should take to change. Supporting all forms of to adverse weather. There is a cost minimize fuel costs, which runways transportation is a significant to him in terms of loss of personal should be open and how many landing investment in infrastructure. The freedom and amenity in taking extra and take-off slots should be available investment in roads, railway lines, port gear which he must trade off against in a given period. facilities and airports is enormous, the greater loss if the weather is with many of the major installations so adverse that he will experience While the aviation industry has billions designed with lifetimes of 50 and more significant discomfort. How those of dollars at stake and uses weather years. An example is the Kansas City involved in transportation deal with information to minimize the risk of downtown airport and port which are sensitivity to weather is the substance disaster and increase operational located on a loop in the Mississippi of all the articles appearing in this efficiency, the individual traveller River. Nearby are railroad facilities issue of the Bulletin. is also a heavy user of weather and an interstate highway. With a data. Our fictional coffee drinker 50+ design life required consideration Decision-makers face a number is one example of a traveller using would be given to the one-in-100 year of issues in ensuring that their weather information but, of course, flood and also the one-in-1 000 year transportation-related activities individuals involved in many forms flood heights, as well as the extreme reduce their weather sensitivity in a of transportation, including rail, road, temperatures, both hot and cold, cost-effective way. For the aviation boat and air, and travellers using these extremes in short-term rainfall and 80 | WMO Bulletin 58 (2) - April 2009 snow fall, likelihood of extreme winds extreme weather climatologies on Peter Dexter and Phillip Parker take us at the port