List of Application Areas

[echarpent]

Initial request

I refer to the Application Areas Codes list in the WMDR. INFCOM-2 recommended changes to WIGOS Manual in relation to the evolved Rolling Review of Requirements process per WMO's Earth System Approach. In doing so, it introduced the concept of Earth System Application Category (ESAC), which is effectively a grouping of Application Areas into 1. Space Weather, 2. Atmospheric, 3. Oceanic, 4. Hydrological & Terrestrial, 5. Cryospheric, and 6. Integrated Earth System Applications. It also expanded the list of Application Areas, which are now grouped into ESACs. See related INFCOM-2 INF 6.1(3) and its Annex 1. Some further changes were then also proposed by SERCOM and its ET-MOR with regard to the Oceanic Applications ESAC. These will have to be considered (I will provide the table in a next message).

Amendment details

_updated 21 June 2024

1.1	Sun, Heliosphere and Solar Wind Forecasting and Monitoring	Forecasting and monitoring of sun, heliosphere and solar wind.	new
1.2	Energetic Particle and Magnetosphere Forecasting and Monitoring	Forecasting and monitoring of energetic particles and magnetosphere.	new
1.3	Ionosphere, Thermosphere and Geomagnetic Field Forecasting and Monitoring	Forecasting and monitoring of ionosphere, thermosphere and geomagnetic fields.	new
2.1	Global Numerical Weather Prediction and Real-time Monitoring	Global Numerical Weather Prediction	supersedes	globalNumericalWeatherPrediction
2.2	High-Resolution Numerical Weather Prediction	High-resolution (HR) Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) focuses on observing systems required by high-resolution NWP models producing forecasts of meteorological events with a 1-5 km horizontal resolution, 6 hours to a few days ahead. Such forecasts are more detailed than those available from global models, due to more realistic descriptions of atmospheric phenomena such as clouds and precipitation. The added detail is made possible by a finer computational grid on a specific area, more detailed specification of terrain, more sophisticated prescription of physical processes mainly based on explicit rather than parameterised formulations, and, importantly, denser and more frequent observations (with respect to global NWP) to specify appropriately detailed initial conditions.	supersedes	highResolutionNumericalWeatherPrediction
2.3	Nowcasting / Very Short-Range Forecasting	Nowcasting, as outlined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), involves detailed forecasting of local weather, utilizing any method to predict conditions from the present to six hours ahead. It provides a comprehensive portrayal of the current weather, leveraging real-time observational data such as surface observations, satellite imagery, lightning, radar data, etc. Nowcasting by extrapolation excels in delivering high-resolution forecasts of weather phenomena for the immediate (2 hour) future. Advancements in data assimilation systems enable Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) to outperform nowcast extrapolation thereafter. The use of NWP with data assimilation forms the basis of Very Short Range Forecasting (VSRF) up to 12 hours. To ensure a seamless VSRF, crucial in high-impact weather situations, advanced centers blend both NWP and nowcasting. This integration plays a vital role in issuing timely warnings and aiding decision-makers across various sectors.	supersedes	nowcasting
2.4	Sub-Seasonal to Longer Predictions	Sub-seasonal to longer predictions (SSLP) covers predictions in sub-seasonal to decadal time-ranges (roughly two weeks to 10 years), using numerical prediction models based on current and past observations and analyses.	supersedes	seasonalForecasting
2.5	Atmospheric Climate Monitoring	This AA covers the set of atmospheric observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	supersedes	climateApplications
2.5	Atmospheric Climate Monitoring	This AA covers the set of atmospheric observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	supersedes	climateMonitoring
2.6	Atmospheric Composition Forecasting and Monitoring	Applications related to evaluating and analysing temporal and spatial changes in atmospheric composition, at regional and global scale. They aim to support treaty monitoring, climatologies, and re-analyses, assessing trends in composition and emissions/fluxes, and to better understand processes, principally in the troposphere and stratosphere. The applications rely on the use of data of controlled quality with less stringent time requirements compared to the near-real-time requirements. These data are also used to derive products that are published in the WMO ozone and greenhouse gas bulletins and the state of the atmosphere reports (for example, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion reports).	supersedes	atmosphericCompositionForecasting
2.6	Atmospheric Composition Forecasting and Monitoring	Applications related to evaluating and analysing temporal and spatial changes in atmospheric composition, at regional and global scale. They aim to support treaty monitoring, climatologies, and re-analyses, assessing trends in composition and emissions/fluxes, and to better understand processes, principally in the troposphere and stratosphere. The applications rely on the use of data of controlled quality with less stringent time requirements compared to the near-real-time requirements. These data are also used to derive products that are published in the WMO ozone and greenhouse gas bulletins and the state of the atmosphere reports (for example, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion reports).	supersedes	atmosphericCompositionMonitoring
2.7	Atmospheric Composition Information Services in Urban and Populated Areas	Applications that target limited areas (with horizontal resolution of a few km or smaller and stringent timeliness requirements to support services related to weather/climate/pollution, such as air quality forecasting.	supersedes	integratedUrbanServices
2.8	Aeronautical Meteorology	Application of meteorological information to aviation taking into account relevant developments in science and technology and the study of aeronautical meteorological requirements in support of the safety, regularity, efficiency and environmental sustainability of aviation with users ranging from pilots, air traffic control and management to airline dispatch offices as well as airport authorities.	supersedes	aeronauticalMeteorology
2.9	Agricultural Meteorology	Applications of meteorology to agriculture (agrometeorology).	supersedes	agriculturalMeteorology
3.1	Ocean Forecasting and Real-Time Monitoring	Ocean forecasting and real-time monitoring.	new
3.2	Coastal Forecasting	Coastal forecasting.	new
3.3	Oceanic Climate Monitoring and Services	This application area covers the set of oceanic observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	new
3.4	Tsunami Monitoring and Detection	Tsunami monitoring and detection.	new
3.5	Marine Environmental Emergency Response	Marine environmental emergency response.	new
3.6	Maritime Safety (ports to open ocean)	Maritime safety (ports to open ocean).	new
3.7	Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles	Ocean biogeochemical cycles.	new
4.1	Hydrological Forecasting and Real-time Monitoring	Application covering the forecasting and the real-time monitoring in the field of terrestrial hydrology.	new
4.2	Hydrological and Terrestrial Climate Monitoring	This AA covers the set of hydrological and other terrestrial observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	new
5.1	Terrestrial Cryosphere Forecasting and Monitoring	Terrestrial cryosphere forecasting and monitoring.	new
5.2	Sea-Ice Forecasting and Monitoring	Sea-ice forecasting and monitoring.	new
5.3	Cryospheric Climate Monitoring	Cryospheric climate monitoring.	new
6.1	Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring	Earth system forecasting and monitoring.	new
6.2	Understanding Earth System Processes	Understanding Earth system processes.	supersedes	climateScience
	retire	cryosphere
	retire	energy
	retire	health
	retire	hydrology
	retire	oceanApplications
	retire	spaceWeather
	retire	terrestrialEcology
	retire	transport

Comments

Requestor(s)

Etienne Charpentier (WMO)

Stakeholder(s)

• WIGOS Program (?)

Publication(s)

Manual on Codes (WMO-No. 306), Volume I.3 and WMO Codes Registry

• 2-01.csv
• Application areas

Expected impact of change

HIGH, the OSCAR/Surface editor will need to be updated and there is not a direct mapping between old and new

Collaborators

References

Validation

[echarpent]

As discussed in my previous message, the current list of ESACs and AAs is available here: Evolved RRR Process 2022 - Lit of ESACs and AAs - post INFCOM-2-v1.0.docx

[fstuerzl]

@amilan17, I think, this should be moved to the wmds repository, right?

[amilan17]

@amilan17, I think, this should be moved to the wmds repository, right?

done! Thanks.

[JREyre]

@amilan17 @echarpent As requested, here are a few comments on this proposal (wearing my TT-WIGOSMD hat!)

• General. Application Areas should be homogenous (as defined at the head of the table - which is fine) and therefore preferably non-overlapping. With this in mind:
• Climate monitoring. There are now 5 AAs covering this: 2.5, 3.3, 4.2, 5.1, 5.3. (There used to be one.) So how will overlap and gaps be avoided? Will the review mechanism be within GCOS or with JET-EOSDE. I am particularly concerned about 5.1 and .2, where overlap appears to be built into the AA names.
• 1.1, Space weather. This is also the name of the parent ESAC. Could the AA name be adjusted. Also 1.2 appears to be a sub-component of 1.1.
• 6.1, Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring. On the face of it, this appears to overlap several other AAs. Has the scope of 6.1 been defined to ensure that it does not?
• I think it is the intention that this list should replace the current list, i.e. all entries not on the new list would removed (or deprecated?). Are there are problems, from a WIGOS MD perspective, in removing existing entries?

[amilan17]

@echarpent Do you have a mapping of the old to new application areas?

[amilan17]

initial mapping exercise: applicationAreaMapping.xlsx

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023.02.16-TT-WIGOSMD notes:

discussion: Superseding current codes by mapping is difficult, because there one to many, many to one, many to many mappings. It may be more efficient to replace the entire list with a new one. Kruno will collaborate with us on this.

[joergklausen]

@amilan17 : Please set up meeting with Etienne, Kruno, Tom Kralidis (because of WIS topic hierarchy) and myself to discuss this and agree a way forward. Suggestions: 28 March or 30 March. Thanks.

[amilan17]

The list of approved application areas is now online: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/applicationareas

[JREyre]

@amilan17 @joergklausen I've checked the revised list against my comments above (12 Dec 2022). The revision has responded to all my comments, except 6.1. This appears to overlap substantially (completely?) with several of the other AAs, and so it would need a very careful definition/description to explain how it does not overlap. What is the AA 6.1 such that it has different observation requirements from those that it appears to overlap with, and which group is responsible for 6.1?
Anna: When you say "approved", by whom? (Not yet by TT-WIGOSMD?) How can they be approved when many do not yet have descriptions?

[kpremec]

The list of ESACs and AAs is a part of the Manual on WIGOS, recently approved by EC. INFCOM-MG is supposed to approve ESAC/AAs owners, together with the proposed PoCs, at their meeting in 2 weeks. Then the owners/PoCs should work on the population of AAs (description, variables, requirements, etc). Manual on WIGOS says: "Application area 6.1 deals with the integrated Earth System, including all domain interfaces between components of the integrated Earth System."
But also: "The list of Application Areas is intended to include all WMO uses of observations, it needs to be checked periodically for completeness and updated accordingly",

[JREyre]

@kpremec @joergklausen @amilan17 Kruno, Thanks for the explanation of the approval status. I will discuss with you off-line my continuing concerns about 6.1.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023-03-17-TT-WIGOSMD notes: Anna and John will come up with a proposal and Anna will set up a meeting as proposed by Joerg above.

[amilan17]

Please set up meeting with Etienne, Kruno, Tom Kralidis (because of WIS topic hierarchy) and myself to discuss this and agree a way forward. Suggestions: 28 March or 30 March. Thanks.

@joergklausen I will look at setting up a meeting next week, because this week is very busy.

[amilan17]

Application Area Notation (current)	New Application Category	New Application Area
spaceWeather	1. Space Weather Applications	1.1 Sun, Heliosphere and Solar Wind Forecasting and Monitoring
spaceWeather	1. Space Weather Applications	1.2 Energetic Particle and Magnetosphere Forecasting and Monitoring
spaceWeather	1. Space Weather Applications	1.3 Ionosphere, Thermosphere and Geomagnetic Field Forecasting and Monitoring
globalNumericalWeatherPrediction	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.1 Global Numerical Weather Prediction and Real-time Monitoring
n/a?	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.10 Atmospheric Disaster Risk Reduction
highResolutionNumericalWeatherPrediction	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.2 High-Resolution Numerical Weather Prediction
nowcasting	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.3 Nowcasting / Very Short Range Forecasting
seasonalForecasting	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.4 Sub-Seasonal to Longer Predictions
climateMonitoring	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.5 Atmospheric Climate Forecasting and Monitoring
atmosphericCompositionForecasting	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.6 Atmospheric Composition Forecasting and Monitoring
atmosphericCompositionMonitoring	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.6 Atmospheric Composition Forecasting and Monitoring
integratedUrbanServices	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.7 Atmospheric Composition Information Services in Urban and Populated Areas
aeronauticalMeteorology	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.8 Aeronautical Meteorology
agriculturalMeteorology	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.9 Agricultural Meteorology
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.1 Ocean Mesoscale Forecasting & Real-Time Monitoring (incl. marine heatwaves)
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.1 Ocean Mesoscale Forecasting and Real-Time Monitoring
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.2 Coastal Forecasting
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.3 Oceanic Climate Monitoring and Services
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.4 Tsunami Monitoring and Detection
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.5 Marine Environmental Emergency Response
oceanApplications	3. Oceanic Applications	3.6 Maritime Safety (ports to open ocean)
hydrology	4. Hydrological and Terrestrial Applications	4.1 Hydrology Forecasting and Real-time Monitoring
hydrology	4. Hydrological and Terrestrial Applications	4.2 Hydrological and Terrestrial Climate Monitoring
terrestrialEcology	4. Hydrological and Terrestrial Applications	4.2 Hydrological and Terrestrial Climate Monitoring
hydrology	4. Hydrological and Terrestrial Applications	4.3 Hydrological and Terrestrial Disaster Risk Reduction
terrestrialEcology	4. Hydrological and Terrestrial Applications	4.3 Hydrological and Terrestrial Disaster Risk Reduction
cryosphere	5. Cryospheric Applications	5.1 Terrestrial Cryosphere Forecasting and Monitoring
cryosphere	5. Cryospheric Applications	5.2 Sea-Ice Forecasting and Monitoring
cryosphere	5. Cryospheric Applications	5.3 Cryospheric Climate Monitoring
cryosphere	5. Cryospheric Applications	5.4 Cryospheric Disaster Risk Reduction
climateApplications?	6. Integrated Earth System Applications	6.1 Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring
climateScience	6. Integrated Earth System Applications	6.2 Understanding Earth System Processes
energy	n/a	n/a
health	n/a	n/a
transport	n/a	n/a

[joergklausen]

@amilan17 Thanks for sharing this table. I understand our role here to make sure that we have an unambigous notation for each of the 'New Application Areas' (column 3). The (now) existing ambiguities therefore need to be removed and a few new notations are needed to supersede some of the existing ones (example; cryosphere). It seems, some of our existing notations also need to be combined.

I have the following comments wrt the mapping between columns 2 and 3:

globalNumericalWeatherPrediction	2. Atmospheric Applications	2.1 Global Numerical Weather Prediction and Real-time Monitoring

My personal perception is Global NWP goes beyond Atmospheric Applicaions, hence, I would propose to list this under "6. Integrated Earth System Applications"

cryosphere	5. Cryospheric Applications	5.2 Sea-Ice Forecasting and Monitoring

I would propose to list this under "3. Oceanic Applications"

Please confirm the status of columns 2 and 3 in this table (approved?, under discussion?) We can then begin to work on the notations.

[JREyre]

@joergklausen @amilan17 . Global NWP is an atmospheric application because the focus is on APPLICATION - the principle aim of global NWP is to forecast the weather. In order to do so, it needs to model and use observations from several areas of the Earth System (="Domains" in our language). But this is true of most Application Areas. So my criticism is the opposite - I have questioned the need for an Application Area called Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring, because I do not recognise this as an application - it is a method, and an increasingly common method, for many Application Areas. Other Application Areas should be understood from the same perspective - what is the APPLICATION? - it is only through understanding the APPLICATION that you can understand the requirements for observations - some Application Areas that use common Earth System models have different requirements for observations because their applications are different.

[joergklausen]

@joergklausen @amilan17 . Global NWP is an atmospheric application because the focus is on APPLICATION - the principle aim of global NWP is to forecast the weather. In order to do so, it needs to model and use observations from several areas of the Earth System (="Domains" in our language). But this is true of most Application Areas. So my criticism is the opposite - I have questioned the need for an Application Area called Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring, because I do not recognise this as an application - it is a method, and an increasingly common method, for many Application Areas. Other Application Areas should be understood from the same perspective - what is the APPLICATION? - it is only through understanding the APPLICATION that you can understand the requirements for observations - some Application Areas that use common Earth System models have different requirements for observations because their applications are different.

Hi @JREyre Indeed, I can share this perspective on things. With that in mind, I step back from my earlier suggestion for GNWP. However, I can also see Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring as an application, an integration of the other more domain-focused applications, and where the focus is more on the interface, i.e., the energy and material fluxes.

[amilan17]

These code values are not used in OSCAR/Surface interface for filtering and searching and there isn't an input field for this code in the metadata forms. @fstuerzl Do you know if there are XML records with applicationarea element populated?

[JREyre]

@amilan17 I would not expect observing system owners to understand all the Application Areas in which their observations were used or might be used. Ideally they should, if they have gone through the WIGOS-recommended network design process, but in practice they won't. In fact you could argue that one of the main purposes of WIGOS is to make observations from all observing systems potentially available for all WMO applications. I don't see any value in the observation data themselves varying this information.

[rodicanitu]

@joergklausen -regarding the proposal to list Sea Ice Forecasting and Monitoring under Ocean, since the structure was approved by INFCOM2, it may be useful to not make changes outside a similar process. of course, other groupings are possible. The specific application as a "primary" use of observations, is focused on generating information for navigation in polar/subpolar waters.

[amilan17]

Perhaps we can generalize the definitions by referring to OSCAR/Requirements instead. For example, the description for "Sun, Heliosphere and Solar Wind Forecasting and Monitoring" can be: "Defined in WMO OSCAR at https://space.oscar.wmo.int/applicationareas/view/1_1_sun_heliosphere_and_solar_wind_forecasting_and_monitoring".

[JREyre]

@amilan17 . Yes, in principle, it could be done this way. At present the definitions in OSCAR/Reqirements are missing for some AAs, very brief for others (no more than a repetition of the name) and much longer for others. You have to go to the Statements of Guidance (= Gap Analyses) to find a full description - ~half of page of text describing the AA and its scope.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023.04.06-TT-WIGOSMD notes: update branch with proposal; include the descriptions once they are ready; include in FT2023-1 document to inform the stakeholders of the change.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023.04.21-TT-WIGOSMD note: (John) just adopt the new list of application areas as was approved by INFCOM and not consider the categories, they are more of "chapter headers" (Joerg) we can put the application areas in the tags (John) they are different from domains

• ignore the numerical values associated with the area names
• determine alphanumeric notations for new codes

[amilan17]

@kpremec and I were talking and decided that the application areas should become a part of the path.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023.05.04-TT-WIGOSMD notes: John explained the RRR process for updating definitions. The OSCAR/Surface metadata editor will need to be updated and the mapping between old new is not always straightforward.

[fstuerzl]

As discussed in today's meeting, I've analyzed the usage of the application areas that will become invalid with the new version of the table. We will for sure need some guidance on the migration process for these entries.

Application area to be deprecated	Number of deployments linked to this application area	Number of countries with deployments linked to this application area
spaceWeather	130	2
health	10	3
terrestrialEcology	100	3
hydrology	270	7
oceanApplications	3	1
cryosphere	199	21
transport	23	5
energy	555	6

[JREyre]

@fstuerzl @amilan17 @joergklausen Thanks for this analysis, which is very interesting. I assume the "usage" to which you refer is in OSCAR/Surface. If so, I think it illustrates my view that this usage is unhelpful and will lead to problems in the future, unless everyone who inputs data to OSCAR/Surface has a good understanding of how the RRR process and OSCAR/Requirements works. For the record, here are some comments on the "deprecated AAs" listed above:

• "health", "transport" and "energy" have never been accepted by the RRR process as AAs for which observations requirements would be sought - they are not "application areas" in the sense defined by RRR - no-one does an activity with this title as part of their day-job, and so it is not possible (and would never have been possible) to compile a set of homogenous user requirements for them. They are, at best, the names of areas within which AAs (with different names) might be developed in the future. They are also good examples of what is NOT an application area. For example, just because someone working in transport uses weather forecasts does not mean that they are users of observations in the RRR sense - they are indirect users, not direct users.
• Similarly, although debated for several years, "cryosphere" was never accepted as an RRR AA - it is the name of an earth system domain, not a human activity which uses observations. Real AAs with a predominant interest in cryosphere are now being developed.
• "terrestrial ecology" could arguably be an AA, but no observation requirements have been developed for it.
• "space weather" is a very active area within RRR, with many well-considered user requirements. However, it has now been agreed to split this one AA into three, in order to create AAs for which the URs are more homogeneous.
• "ocean applications" is a longstanding AA, but it was always badly named. The "Statement of Guidance" for this AA explains that it only considers ocean forecasting for the open ocean and that the authors were relying on other AAs (exist or to be developed) to express the URs for other areas of activity pertaining to the ocean. This work is now underway.

So, I suggest that the managers of OSCAR/Surface should be made aware of these issues so that they can decide to what extent and how they recommend the use of these of AA names in the future.

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023.06.01-TT-WIGOSMD notes:

• Anna updated the branch with initial mappings, status changes and new notations.
• @amilan17 and @JohnEyre will review together;
• Noting that if the definitions do not exist in the ESAC they will not be in this table. Essentially, this is a mere copy of RRR work, but there will be some mapping work.
• Noting that there is an impact on OSCAR/Surface due to deprecated codes;

[JREyre]

@amilan17 and @JREyre discussed status and plans for this Issue on 6 June 2023. Agreed:

• JE to prepare summary of problems for WMDR with the new list of Applications Areas (AAs).
• To present this summary to RRR guardians ahead of JET-EOSDE meeting, 19-20 June 2023.
• Summary to include mention of the consequences for WMDR, and hence for OSCAR/Surface, of changes in AA names, and hence the desirability of keeping these to a minimum.

[amilan17]

@kpremec suggests waiting until FT2024-1, because JET-EOSDE is still working on definitions and other details (potentially).

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2023.06.15-TT-WIGOSMD notes:

Team agrees to delay this to FT2024-1.

[joergklausen]

TT-WIGOSMD took note of the fact that there is no progress, and that progress is pending on WMO. Conclusion: If element is not considered relevant, then a CR should be formulated to drop it from the standard; otherwise, a code list is needed. Action: @amilan17 to follow up with @kpremec .

[amilan17]

sent Kruno an email

[amilan17]

New proposal: Deprecate old version of table and add new version using the application categories.

Notation	Name	Description
spaceWeather	Space Weather Applications	Application areas pertaining to: sun, heliosphere and solar wind forecasting and monitoring; energetic particle and magnetosphere forecasting and monitoring; and ionosphere, thermosphere and geomagnetic field forecasting and monitoring.
atmospheric	Atmospheric Applications	Application areas pertaining to: global numerical weather prediction and real-time monitoring; high-resolution numerical weather prediction;  nowcasting / very short-range forecasting; aeronautical meteorology; agricultural meteorology; atmospheric composition forecasting and monitoring; atmospheric composition information services in urban and populated areas; sub-seasonal to longer predictions; and atmospheric climate monitoring.
oceanic	Oceanic Applications	Application areas pertaining to: ocean forecasting and real-time monitoring; coastal forecasting; oceanic climate monitoring and services; tsunami monitoring and detection; marine environmental emergency response; maritime safety (ports to open ocean); and ocean biogeochemical cycles.
hydrologicalTerrestrial	Hydrological and Terrestrial Applications	Application areas pertaining to: hydrological forecasting and real-time monitoring; and hydrological and terrestrial climate monitoring.
cryospheric	Cryospheric Applications	Application areas pertaining to: terrestrial cryosphere forecasting and monitoring; sea-ice forecasting and monitoring; and cryospheric climate monitoring.
integrated	Integrated Earth System Applications	Application areas pertaining to: Earth system forecasting and monitoring; and understanding earth system processes.

[amilan17]

Proposal for mapping in codes registry or just for OSCAR/Surface

legacy application areas	Proposal/action	Notation
spaceWeather	update description	spaceWeather
globalNumericalWeatherPrediction	supersede by	atmospheric
highResolutionNumericalWeatherPrediction	supersede by	atmospheric
nowcasting	supersede by	atmospheric
seasonalForecasting	supersede by	atmospheric
atmosphericCompositionForecasting	supersede by	atmospheric
atmosphericCompositionMonitoring	supersede by	atmospheric
integratedUrbanServices	supersede by	atmospheric
aeronauticalMeteorology	supersede by	atmospheric
agriculturalMeteorology	supersede by	atmospheric
oceanApplications	superse by	oceanic
hydrology terrestrialEcology	supersede by	hydrologicalTerrestrial
cryosphere	supersede by	cryospheric
climateApplications	supersede by	integrated
climateScience	supersede by	integrated
climateMonitoring	supersede by	integrated
energy	deprecate or supersede by integrated
health	deprecate or supersede by integrated
transport	deprecate or supersede by integrated

[amilan17]

https://github.com/wmo-im/tt-wigosmd/wiki/2024.06.20%E2%80%90TT%E2%80%90WIGOSMD notes: Anna introduced the new proposal (see comments above); Joerg brought up the question regarding the value of including the application areas in the WIGOS standard; Alternatively, we could remove element from the standard; Franziska noted that the observedVariables provide information that is more granular than the application categories; she also noted that the OSCAR requirements are valuable information in the station metadata;

DECISION: Publish each application area (not the category); OSCAR Surface should mark the legacy application areas as deprecated/legacy or invalid and make the new application areas available for new registrations. Where the mappings are clear cut, these can be superseded by new values; Where descriptions are missing reuse the name. Also create a code list for categories.

[amilan17]

notation	name	description	status	old notation
1.1	Sun, Heliosphere and Solar Wind Forecasting and Monitoring	Forecasting and monitoring of sun, heliosphere and solar wind.	new
1.2	Energetic Particle and Magnetosphere Forecasting and Monitoring	Forecasting and monitoring of energetic particles and magnetosphere.	new
1.3	Ionosphere, Thermosphere and Geomagnetic Field Forecasting and Monitoring	Forecasting and monitoring of ionosphere, thermosphere and geomagnetic fields.	new
2.1	Global Numerical Weather Prediction and Real-time Monitoring	Global Numerical Weather Prediction	supersedes	globalNumericalWeatherPrediction
2.2	High-Resolution Numerical Weather Prediction	High-resolution (HR) Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) focuses on observing systems required by high-resolution NWP models producing forecasts of meteorological events with a 1-5 km horizontal resolution, 6 hours to a few days ahead. Such forecasts are more detailed than those available from global models, due to more realistic descriptions of atmospheric phenomena such as clouds and precipitation. The added detail is made possible by a finer computational grid on a specific area, more detailed specification of terrain, more sophisticated prescription of physical processes mainly based on explicit rather than parameterised formulations, and, importantly, denser and more frequent observations (with respect to global NWP) to specify appropriately detailed initial conditions.	supersedes	highResolutionNumericalWeatherPrediction
2.3	Nowcasting / Very Short-Range Forecasting	Nowcasting, as outlined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), involves detailed forecasting of local weather, utilizing any method to predict conditions from the present to six hours ahead. It provides a comprehensive portrayal of the current weather, leveraging real-time observational data such as surface observations, satellite imagery, lightning, radar data, etc. Nowcasting by extrapolation excels in delivering high-resolution forecasts of weather phenomena for the immediate (2 hour) future. Advancements in data assimilation systems enable Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) to outperform nowcast extrapolation thereafter. The use of NWP with data assimilation forms the basis of Very Short Range Forecasting (VSRF) up to 12 hours. To ensure a seamless VSRF, crucial in high-impact weather situations, advanced centers blend both NWP and nowcasting. This integration plays a vital role in issuing timely warnings and aiding decision-makers across various sectors.	supersedes	nowcasting
2.4	Sub-Seasonal to Longer Predictions	Sub-seasonal to longer predictions (SSLP) covers predictions in sub-seasonal to decadal time-ranges (roughly two weeks to 10 years), using numerical prediction models based on current and past observations and analyses.	supersedes	seasonalForecasting
2.5	Atmospheric Climate Monitoring	This AA covers the set of atmospheric observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	supersedes	climateApplications
2.5	Atmospheric Climate Monitoring	This AA covers the set of atmospheric observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	supersedes	climateMonitoring
2.6	Atmospheric Composition Forecasting and Monitoring	Applications related to evaluating and analysing temporal and spatial changes in atmospheric composition, at regional and global scale. They aim to support treaty monitoring, climatologies, and re-analyses, assessing trends in composition and emissions/fluxes, and to better understand processes, principally in the troposphere and stratosphere. The applications rely on the use of data of controlled quality with less stringent time requirements compared to the near-real-time requirements. These data are also used to derive products that are published in the WMO ozone and greenhouse gas bulletins and the state of the atmosphere reports (for example, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion reports).	supersedes	atmosphericCompositionForecasting
2.6	Atmospheric Composition Forecasting and Monitoring	Applications related to evaluating and analysing temporal and spatial changes in atmospheric composition, at regional and global scale. They aim to support treaty monitoring, climatologies, and re-analyses, assessing trends in composition and emissions/fluxes, and to better understand processes, principally in the troposphere and stratosphere. The applications rely on the use of data of controlled quality with less stringent time requirements compared to the near-real-time requirements. These data are also used to derive products that are published in the WMO ozone and greenhouse gas bulletins and the state of the atmosphere reports (for example, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion reports).	supersedes	atmosphericCompositionMonitoring
2.7	Atmospheric Composition Information Services in Urban and Populated Areas	Applications that target limited areas (with horizontal resolution of a few km or smaller and stringent timeliness requirements to support services related to weather/climate/pollution, such as air quality forecasting.	supersedes	integratedUrbanServices
2.8	Aeronautical Meteorology	Application of meteorological information to aviation taking into account relevant developments in science and technology and the study of aeronautical meteorological requirements in support of the safety, regularity, efficiency and environmental sustainability of aviation with users ranging from pilots, air traffic control and management to airline dispatch offices as well as airport authorities.	supersedes	aeronauticalMeteorology
2.9	Agricultural Meteorology	Applications of meteorology to agriculture (agrometeorology).	supersedes	agriculturalMeteorology
3.1	Ocean Forecasting and Real-Time Monitoring	Ocean forecasting and real-time monitoring.	new
3.2	Coastal Forecasting	Coastal forecasting.	new
3.3	Oceanic Climate Monitoring and Services	This application area covers the set of oceanic observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	new
3.4	Tsunami Monitoring and Detection	Tsunami monitoring and detection.	new
3.5	Marine Environmental Emergency Response	Marine environmental emergency response.	new
3.6	Maritime Safety (ports to open ocean)	Maritime safety (ports to open ocean).	new
3.7	Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles	Ocean biogeochemical cycles.	new
4.1	Hydrological Forecasting and Real-time Monitoring	Application covering the forecasting and the real-time monitoring in the field of terrestrial hydrology.	new
4.2	Hydrological and Terrestrial Climate Monitoring	This AA covers the set of hydrological and other terrestrial observations defined by Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) as essential to detect, model and assess climate change and its impact; support adaptation to climate change; monitor the effectiveness of policies for mitigating climate change; and develop climate information services.	new
5.1	Terrestrial Cryosphere Forecasting and Monitoring	Terrestrial cryosphere forecasting and monitoring.	new
5.2	Sea-Ice Forecasting and Monitoring	Sea-ice forecasting and monitoring.	new
5.3	Cryospheric Climate Monitoring	Cryospheric climate monitoring.	new
6.1	Earth System Forecasting and Monitoring	Earth system forecasting and monitoring.	new
6.2	Understanding Earth System Processes	Understanding Earth system processes.	supersedes	climateScience
	retire	cryosphere
	retire	energy
	retire	health
	retire	hydrology
	retire	oceanApplications
	retire	spaceWeather
	retire	terrestrialEcology
	retire	transport

[amilan17]

We were asked to defer this proposal until the relevant teams in SC-ON can review and consider the options for WIGOS implementation tools.