1.  Introduction

 Acronyms used in this RTH document are: 

·   AFTN     Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network;

·   FIR        Flight Information Region

·   GDPS     Global Data Processing System ;

·   GOS      Global Observing System ;

·   GTS       Global Telecommunication System ;

·   ICAO     International Civil  Aviation Organization ;

·   MTN      Main Telecommunication Network (GTS) ;

·   NMC      National Meteorological Centre;

·   NMTN    National Meteorological Telecommunication  Network;

·   PME      Presidency of Meteorology and Environment ;

·   RA         Regional Association

·   RMTN    Regional Meteorological Telecommunication  Network

·   RSMC     Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre ;

·   RTH       Regional Telecommunication Hub ;

·   WMC     World Meteorological Centre ;

·   WMO     World Meteorological Organization ;

·   WWW    World Weather Watch

 2.  Jeddah RTH

Jeddah RTH is one of 15 RTHs designated by the WMO to collect meteorological information or data from their associated NMCs or Jeddah RSMC as the NMC of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before the exchange of such information with WMO Members, as agreed, via the MTN of the WMO GTS or ICAO AFTN

In the paragraphs, hereafter, information is provided on:

·   Jeddah RTH responsibilities  as an RTH on :

v  The GTS Main Telecommunication Network;

v  The  Regional Meteorological Telecommunication

v  Network (RMTN) of Regional Association II (Asia); and

v   The  National Meteorological Telecommunication Network

v   (NMTN)  of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia. 

·   The RTH Collection and Data Exchange Program;

·   The RTH Available Communication and National Circuits;

·   The RTH Telecommunication Services Infrastructure;

·   The  RTH  Specialized Technical Systems;

·   The RTH Support to  National Users;

·   The  RTH Focal Point and E-mail Address; and

·   The RTH Zone of Responsibility.

·   The RTH Future Concerns.

 3.  Responsibility as an RTH as the GTS Main Telecommunication Network 

The GTS Main Telecommunication Network is an integrated network of circuits joining the three WMO World Meteorological Centres:

·   Washington WMC;

·   Moscow WMC; and

·   Melbourne WMC;

And 15 WMO designated RTHs that facilitate the exchange of meteorological data and processed products among Members to meet WWW requirements.

Jeddah was designated an RTH in 1980.

As an RTH on the GTS MTN, Jeddah RTH has the following responsibilities:

·   The collection of  meteorological bulletins from associated NMCs, and  transmitting these  bulletins in appropriate formats via the GTS MTN;

v  The  selective relaying over the MTN circuits, as agreed, the bulletins  received  from other circuits, and RTHs not located on the GTS MTN:

v  Participation in the Annual Monitoring of WWW over the GTS ( 1- 15  Oct. ) and, also in  the special seasonal monitoring at July / October  and  January / April each year; and

v  The maintenance of the catalogue of meteorological bulletins of NMCs that Jeddah RTH has responsibilities for their data collection, exchange and distribution over the GTS MTN.

  Responsibility over Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Network (RMTN) of WMO Regional Association II (Asia)

Jeddah RTH is one of 4 RTHs in Regional Association II (Asia): Beijing, Jeddah, New Delhi and Tokyo that have receiving/transmission capability over GTS MTN.

Jeddah RTH responsibility over RA II RMTN includes the following duties:

v  The collection of observational and processed products  from its zone of responsibility:

v  Exchange of meteorological information on point –to–point circuits with the World Meteorological  

v  Centres, Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres and other RTHs as agreed;

v  The retransmission of the data received  from the World Meteorological Centres, Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres and other RTHs to meet the requirements of National Meteorological Centres that come under Jeddah RTH zone of responsibility; and

v  The maintenance of standard procedures by checking and correcting data, before transmission over the GTS MTN.

4.  Responsibility over the National Meteorological Telecommunication Network (NMTN) of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

Jeddah RTH is responsible for:

·   Collecting  observational data from surface and upper-air-stations of the national network and also  observational

·   data received from aircrafts and ships;

·   Compiling meteorological reports  received, into bulletins and transmitting these bulletins through  GTS  MTN  as required;

·   The  dissemination  of  Jeddah / RSMC  products including  

·   TAFs,  SIGMETs, WARNINGs , over Jeddah Flight Information  

·   Centre to different national aeronautical users as agree by the national provider and users.

5.  The RTH Data Transmission and Exchange Program

Jeddah RTH maintains reception from NMCs in its zone o responsibility, including the following:

·   The main (00 , 06 . 12 , 18  UTCs) and intermediate (03, 09 , 15, 21 UTCs) surface and upper air  synoptic reports from all stations included in the Regional Basic Synoptic Network of Regional Association  II (Asia):

·   Ships and aircraft weather reports as received;

·   The warnings of dangerous weather reports;

·   Monthly CLIMATs (reports of average surface values  of meteorological parameters from land station) and

·   CLIMAT SHIPs (reports of average values of meteorological elements from a sea station) TEMPs (reports of average values of upper air meteorological elements from land stations) CLIMAT TEMPs; PILOTe and PILOT SHIPs > METARs, SPCIs, TAFs, ARFORs. ROFORs SIGMETs BATHYs (reports of bathythermal (water depth Temperature profiles) observations) and TESAC (report of temperature, salinity and current from a sea station) as available.

Jeddah RTH retransmits above data and products via the GTS MTN..;

6.  The RTH Data Communication National Circuits

Jeddah RTH communication national channels consist of a number of lines and hired circuits working on different capacities, outlined as follows:

·   A5 Megabit/Sec., hired Internet circuit, operational at PME Jeddah headquarters;

·   A5 Megabit/Sec. hired land–line circuit operational at PME Jeddah headquarters;

·   A5 Megabit/Sec, hired space based circuit operational at PME Jeddah headquarters:

·   A4 Megabit Sec hired landline circuit operational at PME Jeddah headquarter

·   11 DSL telephone lines, capacity 4 Gigabits/Sec operational at Jeddah;

·   Hired space–based circuit, capacity 2 Megabits functional at Riyadh King Khalid.

·   3 Space–based circuits at King Khalid Inlt. Airport at Riyadh, capacity of each : 1, 1 and 2, Megabits/second;

·   1 hired space based circuit, capacity 2 Megabits/second King Fahd Intl. Airport/Dammam;

·   A hired landline 2 Megabits/Sec for Regional Meteorological and Environmental Centre, Riyadh, Central Region;

·   A hired landline, 2 Megabits/second for Regional Meteorological and Environmental Centre, Dhahran, Eastern Region;

·   A hired landline, 2 Mega bit/second for the Meteorological and Environmental Centre. Khamis Musheit, Southern Region;

·   Space based 11 Internet lines each having a capacity of 1 Megabit for weather radars located at: Riyadh, Wadi Dawassir, Abha, Jizan, Taif, Al-Qassim, Al-Baha, Al-Jouf.

7.  The RTH Telecommunication Services Infrastructure

Jeddah RTH telecommunication services infrastructure includes the following:

·   Electronic Mail Service (E-mail) enabling the easy access of PME staff and providing, as required, easy communication with outside  organizations and services;

·   Anti-Virus software program protecting all main computers established from virus danger;

·   National Meteorological Service  systems  monitoring to identify and remedy system reports omissions and delayed messages;

·   The SMS Gateway Service enabling the transmission of large number of header groups for SMS bulletins.

·   The IVR service providing daily meteorological condition and forecasts for customers who contact by telephone;

·   File Transfer Protocol (FTP) service enabling PME staff to store their files and  transfer among themselves  on a  main common server enabling  file group sharing;

·   Internet Protocol Telephony Service; and

·   Network safety and protection service to prevent unauthorized use available system network.                         

8.  The RTH Specialized Technical Services

Specialized Jeddah RTH meteorological and environmental technical services include:

·   Numerical weather predicalion (NWP), providing forecasts of validity extending from 24 to 72 hours;

·   Meteorological Message Switching System (MMSS) working on WMO standards and recommended practices;

·   Satellite Distribution System for Aeronautical Services (SADIS) for the reception of London World Area Forecast Centre (WAFC) and transmission as required;

·   Eumetstat and NOAA Satellite Visible and Infra-red Imagery reception; and

·   Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (SIDC) database r for national planning programs and researchers

9.  The RTH National and Users

Jeddah RTH national and international users include the following:

i)  PME Internal Services :

PME internal service users include:

·   Central Forecast Office/Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre, Jeddah;

·   Regional Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Centre, Jeddah;

·   General Directorate of Obseration and Basic System;

·   General Directorate of Climate; and

·   Internat Neork Service;

ii)  Armed Services

Meteorological data and products are communicated to 

·    Airforce services ;

·   Marine Forces services ;

·   Civil Defence services; and

·   General Authority of Civil Aviation services

iii)  National Airlines and Companies

Meteorological data and products are issued by the RTH distribution system, as required to 

·   Saudi Arabia Airlines;

·   Saudi ARMCO Company;

·   AirPasco company

·   Jubail Company       

10.  Jeddah RTH zone of Responsibility 

Jeddah RTH zone of responsibility for the collection of meteorological bulletion and for the relaying from WMCs

And RSPMCs products are the following states:

·   Bahrain;

·   Iran (Islamic Republic of);

·   Iraq;

·   Oman;

·   Qatar;

·   Saudi Arabia;

·   Other Arabian Territoies;

·   Selections from Region 1 (Africa);

·   Adjacent seas and oceans.

11.  Jeddah RTH National Focal Point and E-mail Address

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Shareef is the Focal Point of RTH Jeddah.

Mr. Al-Shareef’s E-mail Address is:  al-shareef@pme.gov.sa

Telephone: +966 5 05666079

Fax:            +966 2 6530863

12.  The RTH Future Concerns  

 Two main areas of future Jeddah RTH concerns are:

·   The migration of WMO and National Meteorological and Hydrological  Services (NMHSs) from the traditional alphanumerical code forms: : SYNOP , SYNOP MOBILE, PILOT. PILOT MOBILE t TEMP, TEMP DROP, TEMP MOBIL, CLIMAT and CLIMAT TEMP, to Table Driven Cose forms: BUFER (CREX  if required) which should be completed by all NMHSs by November 2010;

·   Establishment of a quality management system for the exchange of meteorological information for operational purposes including:

o Verification and validation procedures ;

o Resources for monitoring adherence to prescribed transmission schedules for individual messages  and/or bulletins exchanged; and

o The times of individual messages and /or bulletins filings for transmission,

o The quality system monitoring being capable of detecting excessive transit times of messages and bulletions received.