. "7 Organizational Attributes and Options for a Fully Integrated NoN that Meets Multiple National Needs." Observing Weather and Climate from the Ground Up: A Nationwide Network of Networks. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2009.
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Observing Weather and Climate from the Ground Up: A Nationwide Network of Networks
TABLE 7.2 Models distinguished by funding source, purpose, and cost of data access
Model
Government Funded
Privately Funded
Hybrid
Purpose
Publicly owned and operated networks installed to meet specific mission requirements
Privately owned and operated networks intended to generate revenue and/or to facilitate operations
Network of networks intended to assimilate observations from as many sources as possible
Ownership/operating costs
Publicly owned and funded
Privately owned, with private and (often) some public funding
Multiple ownership
Cost of data access
Marginal cost of redistribution
Subscription fees
Provider dependent
Examples
ASOS
AWOS (FAA)
NOAA Profilers
AWS Weatherbug
Weatherflow
NLDN
MADIS (ESRL)
MesoWest (Utah)
Northwest Net
MDCRS (aircraft observations
Clarus (FHWA)
NOTE: NLDN – National Lightning Detection Network
They have been able to bootstrap themselves into existence. Using the energy and enthusiasm of the participants, these networks don’t require a pre-existing hierarchy or organization to start or to grow.
They encourage voluntary participation. Many of the hybrid networks include observations or networks from organizations or individuals who have funded systems themselves and want nothing more than to see the information used more widely. Many of these observations would be expensive to fund otherwise, so this kind of leveraged participation is a big multiplier.
It is important to note that these characteristic strengths share a “grass roots” theme, and, to be successful, existing networks have incorporated many of these characteristics. What could, and probably should, be viewed as a weakness is that many networks are principally composed of surface meteorological observations, often lacking a vertical dimension component.
KEY ATTRIBUTES OF AN IDEALIZED NETWORK OF NETWORKS
A NoN requires an organizational model with qualities and characteristics of the successful networks mentioned above, but goes further to encompass a national, multi-purpose scope. These attributes include:
