The weather radar community is at a crossroads. As we move from file-based workflows to cloud-native datasets, the need for standardized data formats becomes critical. The WMO FM-301 standard (BUFR for radar data) represents an important step toward global radar data interoperability, but its adoption faces both technical and cultural challenges.
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Date: November 15, 2024
The Interoperability Challenge¶
Weather radar networks around the world use different data formats:
United States: NEXRAD Level-II (custom binary format)
Europe: ODIM HDF5 standard
Others: Rainbow5, UF, SIGMET, and many proprietary formats
This fragmentation creates significant barriers to:
Cross-border data sharing and research
Development of universal processing tools
Integration of radar data into global forecast models
Real-time data exchange for severe weather monitoring
FM-301: A Path Forward?¶
The WMO’s FM-301 standard aims to provide a universal format for radar data exchange using BUFR (Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data). While promising in theory, practical adoption faces hurdles:
Advantages:¶
Officially endorsed WMO standard
Designed for real-time data exchange
Compact binary format
Support for various radar data types
Challenges:¶
Complex encoding/decoding requirements
Limited tool support compared to established formats
Performance concerns for large datasets
Adoption requires significant infrastructure changes
A Complementary Approach¶
Rather than replacing existing formats entirely, I advocate for a hybrid strategy:
Preserve legacy formats for archival and regulatory compliance
Convert to cloud-native formats (like Zarr) for analysis and research
Use FM-301 for real-time international data exchange
Develop translation layers that seamlessly convert between formats
This approach leverages the strengths of each format while minimizing disruption to existing workflows.
Read the full article on Earthmover →
Community Engagement¶
The path forward requires collaboration across:
National meteorological services
Research institutions
Software developers
International standards bodies
Only through coordinated effort can we achieve true radar data interoperability while maintaining the flexibility needed for cutting-edge research.