Global Telecommunications System of the World Meteorological Organization (transmission in kilobits per socond)

IMGW Telecommunication and informa-tion technology system and the Client Service System (SOK) are crucial for distribution of data and products generated by the Institute. The multilayer client structure is envisaged, starting from the mass recipients of the base forecasts, distributed through the Internet, through the recipients of specialised forecast of economic importance (construction sector, transport, agriculture sector, forestry and municipal sector) and the forecasts of particular importance for the national safety (flooding, gales, fire, etc.).

Recipients of specialised forecasts and warnings should also have access to the general and basic forecasting. Thus, the system structure will enable information receipt and processing with the standard software applications.

Radiotransmitted data receiving station Central Meteorological Office, Warszawa, 70 Nowy Świat STR, 1932

The current data transmission system operated by the Polish meteorological and hydrological service is based on a star network. This includes the analogue telephone lines leased from TP S.A. (the national telecommunications operator), and the public telex and telephone network. The switched lines between the Main Centre in Warsaw and the Local IMGW Branches in Szczecin, Gdynia, Białystok, Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław and Poznań reach also the nearby Airport Meteorological Offices. These lines, equipped with the telecommuni-cations facilities enable data transfer at the maximum of 64 kBs within Poland and 9.6 kBs on the international traffic routes (Warsaw - Frankfurt and Warsaw - Prague). These flow capacities (i.e. 19.2 and 9.6 kBs) are available for the X.25 and TCP/IP channels (METAPAK - IMGW own network) and the voice channels. The so far insufficient capacity of these channels does not allow for transmission of radar data, satellite pictures, the results of mathematical models and numerous pieces of information collected and disseminated within the Global Telecommunication System of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The IMGW central telecommunication processor (NETSYS 9700) was installed in 1991. This application needs to be transferred to a new platform in order to satisfy require-ments of the data exchange system planned for the WMO World Weather Watch

Telecommunications processor NETSYS 9700 and elements of extental network of IMGW, Warszawa 1998

The client service (that is enabling access to the entire data and product range) is delivered chiefly through the public telex and telephone network (telex and facsimile). In all local branches, telex and facsimile clients are served manually by the operators employed in each branch. Consequently, it is not feasible to apply the latest service developments, both for the public and other information recipients.

Institute of Meteorology and Water Managament data exchange system

The IMGW data transmission system is supposed to provide reliable, secure and continuous data interchange between organisation units of the IMGW hydrological and meteorological function, an important part of the WMO World Weather Watch. The WMO Global Telecommunication System provides all Member countries with access to data necessary for hydrological and meteorological forecasting. High flow capacity telecommunication channels will enable exchange of all data available in the area of hydrology and meteorology (on-the-ground observation data, satellite and radar data and data generated by numerical, hydrological and meteorological models). Many users from the hydrological and meteorological services will have the opportunity of using common and uniform operational database. The IMGW electronic data exchange network is connected to the Internet through one, secure gateway-enabling access to all available services. The Data Transmission System provides also multimedia e-mail service.

Organization of the exchange in the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Braches: Gdynia, Katowice, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław

Upgrade of the Data Transmission System will be delivered in line with the following:

• Launch of high flow capacity telecommunication system with redundancy transmission link used in case of the base system failure;
• Creation of a uniform data- and product base available to all units of the hydrological and meteorological function;
• Launch of the telephone system with uniform dialling;
• Adjustment of the IMGW data transmission system to operate within the WMO Global Telecommunication System, namely through introduction of the WMO compatible protocols and transmission standards;
• Enabling data exchange between the IMGW Data Transmission System, the State administration units and other users. There will be accepted exclusively the standard data formats, transmission methods and protocols and ways of database access; and
• Integration of the hydrological and meteorological automated monitoring system, radar system, thunderstorm detection system and on-the-ground observation system within the data transmission system.

Organization of the exchange in the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management : Białystok, Legionowo, Okęcie, Szczecin, Słupsk

The Client Services System (SOK) will be a universal hardware, system and software platform designed for conveyance of all types of information to, and from the clients. The system may be used by any administrative or organisation unit, having any type of access to telecommunication infrastructure and operating standard communication software. SOK will be broken down into the general access subsystem and the subsystem available to authorised users, granted the data access though a user verification system. The system will support all commonly used and approved standards.

SOK data- and product base may be accessed though any of the following:

• Switched telephone lines;
• Leased telecommunication lines; or
• The Internet.

The verification system enables monitoring of data access. The access verification stops the unauthorised users from accessing the protected data. The verification procedure will also protect the system from accepting false, misleading data.

The part of SOK, which may be accessed by any user, operates outside of the core system. This part includes information for the society on the hydrological and meteorological situation on Poland.

SOK has the form of a server, located outside of the IMGW corporate network. The Intranet used by the hydrological and meteorological function is protected by a firewall. This is an extremely important element, since an unauthorised access may halt the entire system, thus rendering delivery of its tasks impossible.

Client Service System