Strapline Sustainable observing systems The new building for the NOAA Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory has been officially certified as LEED silver compact, energy-efficient weather monitoring station that can be easily deployed in environmentally sensitive areas”. She continues, “These ‘potential boxes’ leverage renewable energy sources and incorporate sustainable materials to minimize their environmental impact while providing reliable weather and climate data.” Openly sharing data can help reduce duplication and fill gaps, Kaya says. “Perhaps this will enable us to reduce how many new stations we build. This may be a controversial view, but for a long time our culture has been ‘more data is better’, but I think we should probably shift our thinking to the impact of that data. “Will a new station or the launch of more radiosondes make a difference to the accuracy of our forecast or models? If that increase is 0.002%, let’s consider whether that makes sense from an environmental perspective.” L BIOFUEL TO POWER STORM-TRACKING WEATHER RADAR ast year a team of scientists led by the UK National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) used biofuel-powered weather radars to observe stormy conditions in a more environmentally sustainable way. These were used as part of the WOEST campaign, which focused on tracking turbulent processes in the atmosphere, with a view to improving forecasts of severe storms. The team used a range of technology, including weather radars, weather balloons, unmanned aerial systems, cloud cameras and an extensive network of ground-based sensors to monitor the onset of thunderstorms in the south of England. The project pioneered a novel approach using two steerable weather radar set up to specifically track and observe convective clouds while the FAAM Airborne Laboratory’s research aircraft flew overhead. Researchers combined observations from every angle to help them describe turbulence in the atmosphere. Ultimately they will use the observations to improve how weather is predicted on a day-to-day basis. The pair of steerable weather radars were powered by GreenD+ HVO biofuel generators rather than diesel fuel sourced from crude oil, which reduced greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%. How will it be disposed or recycled at end-of-life? “My focus now is working with vendors to understand what their needs are, and what we can do from a WMO perspective to put together policies and regulations that they can meet and will create a market for them.” Incentivizing vendors As WMO focal point for environmental sustainability, Kaya has spent the past two years starting the conversation. She believes the next step is working more closely with the vendor community, because “they’re ultimately going to provide the solutions we need”. The challenge is that often environmental sustainability doesn’t always coincide with vendor business models, so the WMO must be innovative in creating a market for manufacturers that incentivizes them to choose this pathway. “If we introduce a regulation for biodegradable radiosondes, vendors then have a market and will respond by developing these. Policies need to be put in place to create a market for the vendor community to do the R&D that’s required to develop solutions,” Kaya comments. “And we need to consider regulations that touch the whole lifecycle. How does it impact the ecosystem when installed? What materials is it made of? How is it Shannon Kaya, Meteorological Service of Canada packaged and delivered on-site? We need to consider regulations that touch the whole lifecycle” The WMO has been placing more importance on environmental sustainability in all its discussions. Outcomes so far have included a resolution adopted into the WMO Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 to ensure the environmentally sustainable design of observing programs. “That’s a big, powerful statement for the WMO to make and a very positive step,” Kaya says. “We’ve also seen an annex added to the GBON resolution that states that members shall ‘strive to design, install, manage and operate stations within their networks in an environmentally sustainable fashion’. They may just be words but they’re important ones that are changing the direction of the WMO.” Given the increasing global focus on sustainability, it’s possible that related discussions and initiatives within the industry will continue to evolve, and it’s expected that more met agencies will engage in this dialog. MSC, for example, is planning its own ‘opportunity scan’ (a more positive spin on an audit) to identify areas for improving standards, practices and methods related to environmental sustainability. Kaya plans to share the output of these efforts with the WMO for consideration as a best practice. She’s also aware of the importance of public engagement and communication to drive positive change, and the potential for innovation that exists within academia. “The academic community, students and the younger generation have a real desire to do something, rather than just talk about it. I’m energized by this and excited to be a part of ensuring the WMO facilitates dialog, shares best practice and promotes collaboration to address environmental challenges effectively,” Kaya enthuses. Words matter 24 • www.meteorologicaltechnologyinternational.com • April 2024