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Weather4Cast.com Live Weather Data Feeds Weather4Cast.com provides Live Aviation Weather Data Feeds formatted to work with your flight following/planning and routing software. We offer numerous live data streams which are available via several formats including WMS, HTML, REST API, Text Products, Email, FTP and can be customized to work with your system. The following list includes live weather data feeds available via the Qatar Airways TOPS flight watch platform which are provided and supported by Weather4Cast.com. Please note that many of these layers are interactive when viewed via the TOPS Flight Watch Platform and, hence, the user can zoom in and out for additional details as well as add or remove any layer. The following pages include these live weather data feeds available via the Qatar Airways TOPS flight watch platform which are provided and supported by Weather4Cast.com [click any title below to quickly advance to that page]. Tropical Weather Overlay Volcanic Ash Overlay Satellite Weather Overlay Sigmet Overlay Convective Overlay Icing Threat Overlay Freezing Level Overlay Turbulence Overlay FIR BoundaryOverlay Weather Radar Overlay SigWx Prog Overlay Upper Wind Overlay Each weather layer is described in detail below including issue times and an example image(s) for each layer. If a weather layer is required that is not listed, Weather4Cast. com can custom design any layer requested and provide this layer to work with your flight watch system. 2
Tropical Weather Overlay The Tropical Weather Layer consists of current positions and forecasted tracks of tropical storms, hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons across the globe. Tropical systems are represented by standard symbols and have embedded links to tropical weather discussions provided by various government agencies. The Tropical Weather Layer includes the name of the system being tracked, the projected path with estimated time of impact and wind radius displayed graphically. The Tropical Weather Layer is updated 4 times daily at 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z with data compiled from the seven governmental tropical centers located around the world. The refresh time and rate for the Tropical Weather Overlay via TOPS is updated every 15 minutes of every hour i.e. XX:00, XX:15, XX:30 and XX:45. The following is an example screenshot of the Tropical Weather Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Please note that this layer will include a legend as well as interactive links providing further details when viewed via the TOPS platform. Tropical Weather Overlay 3
Volcanic Ash Overlay The Volcanic Ash Layer (ASHTAM) is a compilation of all advisories issued by the official VAACs across the globe with the location of the volcano, volcano name and observation listed within the layer. These advisories are issued by 9 centers: VAAC Anchorage, VAAC Montreal, VAAC London, VAAC Washington, VAAC Wellington, VAAC Buenos Aires, VAAC Toulouse, VAAC Darwin and VAAC Tokyo. Active volcanoes are listed with the standard symbols with a red volcano symbol delineating a volcano with cloud observation while a yellow volcano symbol will represent a volcano without a cloud observation. Every active volcano will have embedded links to volcanic discussions provided by the listed volcanic agencies around the world with ash cloud observations and forecasts color coded and provided for each volcano. The Volcanic Ash Overlay is updated 4 times per hour i.e. every 15 minutes of every day to provide the most up-to-date volcanic ash advisories available. The refresh time and rate for the Volcanic Ash Overlay via TOPS is updated every 15 minutes of every hour i.e. XX:00, XX:15, XX:30 and XX:45. The following is an example screenshot of the Volcanic Ash Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform with the first image a global perspective and second image when the user zooms into the layer for further details. In addition, this layer will include a legend as well as interactive links providing further details when viewed via the TOPS platform. 4
Volcanic Ash Overlay Volcanic Ash Overlay (Zoomed In) 5
Satellite Weather Overlay The Satellite Layer consists of live global satellite feeds from GOES-E, GOES-W, MTSAT and METEOSAT with Infrared and Visible imagery provided across the world. Infrared satellite imagery is provided via Grayscale and Color Enhanced with Visible satellite imagery provided via Grayscale with a global blend provided using the listed satellite sources. Satellite coverage is provided across the world from 70N to 70S latitude with both visible and infrared satellite imagery covering most of the globe. The most up-to-date image for each satellite will be provided with GOES-E and GOES-W updated every 30 minutes and MTSAT and METEOSAT data updated every hour with a global blend of all satellites provided every hour. During daylight hours across that portion of the globe, visible satellite imagery will be available while grayscale and color enhanced infrared satellite imagery will be available at all times. The refresh time and rate for the satellite overlay via TOPS is updated per the following: Grayscale Infrared updated at XX:50 every hour, Color Enhanced Infrared updated at XX:45 every hour and Grayscale Visible updated at XX:20 every hour. The following is an example screenshot of the Satellite Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform with Grayscale Infrared, Color Enhanced Infrared and Grayscale Visible satellite images provided. 6
Satellite Overlay (Grayscale Infrared) Satellite Overlay (Color-Enhanced Infrared) Satellite Overlay (Visible) 7
aromatherapy - professional Sigmet Overlay The Sigmet Layer consists of graphical boxes highlighting areas of adverse weather across the globe with data from various official meteorological agencies that include convective and non-convective Sigmets. The Sigmet layer includes advisories issued for the following: Icing, Thunderstorms, Turbulence, Sand Storms, Dust Storms, Volcanic Ash, Tropical Cyclone and Mountain Wave Turbulence. The Sigmet Layer graphical boxes have embedded links listing further details such as the FIR boundary the advisory is listed in, the hazard with valid time period as well as Latitude and Longitude for the associated weather. The Sigmet Overlay is updated 4 times per hour i.e. every 15 minutes of every day to provide the most up-to-date Sigmets issued around the world. The refresh time and rate for the Sigmet Overlay via TOPS is updated every 15 minutes of every hour per the following: XX:05, XX:20, XX:35 and XX:55. The following is an example screenshot of the Sigmet Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Please note that this layer will include a legend as well as interactive links providing further details when viewed via the TOPS platform, i.e. the user can zoom into any region and click on embedded links listed for each Sigmet for additional details listed above. 8 Sigmet Overlay
Convective Overlay: The Convective Layer will show forecasted areas of convection (thunderstorms) across the globe and is based off forecasted model data out to 36 hours. The Convective Layer is derived via the Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical model convective parameters and QPF output. Forecasted regions of convection are color-coded highlighting areas of light, moderate and heavy thunderstorms with a legend provided when this layer is viewed via the TOPS platform. The Convective Layer provides areas of forecasted thunderstorms 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours and 36 hours in advance across the globe via the GFS. The Convective Overlay is updated 4 times per day via the GFS numerical model 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z data. The Convective Overlay refresh time and rate via the TOPS platform is per the following: 05:05Z, 11:05Z, 17:05Z and 23:05Z every day. The following is an example screenshot of the Convective Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Convective Overlay 9
Icing Threat Overlay The Icing Threat Layer provides forecasted areas of icing across the globe from 6,000 feet to 30,000 feet with icing intensity color coded. The Icing Threat Layer is derived from the Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical model with a legend provided for light, moderate and heavy icing when viewed via the TOPS platform. The Icing Threat Layer shows icing for the following flight levels: FL060, FL100, FL140, FL180, FL240 and FL300 across the globe with icing at all of these levels forecasted 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours and 36 hours in advance. The Icing Threat Overlay is updated 4 times per day via the GFS numerical model 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z data. The refresh time and rate for the Icing Threat Overlay via TOPS is updated per the following: 03:15Z, 09:15Z, 15:15Z and 21:15Z every day. The following is an example screenshot of the Icing Threat Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Icing Threat Overlay 10
Freezing Level Overlay The Freezing Level Layer consists of a single layer that provides freezing level heights across the globe that are color coded. The Freezing Level Layer is derived using the Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical model temperature and RH parameters with a legend provided when view via the TOPS platform. The Freezing Level Layer provides forecasts for freezing level heights 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours and 36 hours in advance. The Freezing Level Overlay is updated 4 times per day via the GFS numerical model 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z data. The refresh time and rate for the Freezing Level Overlay via TOPS is updated per the following: 03:15Z, 09:15Z, 15:15Z and 21:15Z every day. The following is an example screenshot of the Freezing Level Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Freezing Level Overlay 11
Turbulence Overlay The Turbulence Layer provides forecasted areas of turbulence across the globe from 10,000 feet to 39,000 feet with turbulence intensity color coded. The Turbulence Layer is derived from the Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical model with a legend provided for light, moderate and severe turbulence when viewed via the TOPS platform. The Turbulence Layer shows areas of forecasted turbulence across the world for Mid-Levels (In-Cloud) at the following levels: FL100, FL140 and FL180 as well as High-Levels (Clear-Air) at the following levels: FL240, FL300, FL340 and FL390. The Turbulence Layer provides forecasted areas of turbulence for all levels at the following: 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours and 36 hours in advance. The Turbulence Overlay is updated 4 times per day via the GFS numerical model 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z data. The refresh time and rate for the Turbulence Overlay via TOPS is updated per the following: 05:05Z, 11:05Z, 17:05Z and 23:05Z every day. The following is an example screenshot of the Turbulence Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform with both Mid-Level (In-Cloud) and High-Level (Clear- Air) layers provided. 12
Turbulence Overlay (Low Level) Turbulence Overlay (High Level) 13
FIR Boundary Overlay The FIR Boundary Layer provides FIR Names and Boundaries across the world with this layer derived via the official International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) database. The FIR Boundary Layer is constantly updated throughout the year via official data from ICAO to provide the latest FIR Boundary names and boundaries available. The FIR Boundary Layer is a static image listing the most up-to-date FIR boundaries and names across the globe with this layer interactive when viewed via the TOPS platform i.e. the user can zoom in and out across any region for further details. The following is an example screenshot of the FIR Boundary Overlay via the TOPS Flight Watch Platform. FIR Boundary Overlay 14
Weather Radar Overlay The Weather Radar layer provides an estimated global radar image based off infrared satellite imagery using an algorithm which calculates cloud top temperatures with precipitation. While a true global radar is not yet available due to many countries not having the adequate equipment or broadcasting capabilities, the Weather Radar Layer uses the infrared satellite layer to provide a pseudo-global radar image across the world based off these cloud top temps with regions of precipitation color coded from light (green) to moderate (yellow) to heavy (red) with a legend provided when viewed via the TOPS platform. The Weather Radar Layer is useful in depicting areas of light to moderate precipitation associated with adverse weather such as low pressure centers as well as heavy precipitation associated with areas of convection. The Weather Radar Layer is also useful as an analysis of the convective layer providing a realtime estimated depiction of thunderstorms across the world. The Weather Radar Overlay is updated every hour per the latest infrared satellite imagery. The refresh time and rate for the Weather Radar Overlay via TOPS is updated at XX:55 every hour. The following is an example screenshot of the Weather Radar Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Weather Radar Overlay 15
SigWx Prog Overlay The SigWx Prog Layer consists of a static image providing forecasted significant weather features across the globe. The SigWx Prog Layer includes 6 charts covering forecasted significant weather features across the globe at High Levels (FL240-FL630) as well as a Mid-Level chart (FL100-FL450) covering forecasted significant weather features across the North Atlantic. The SigWx Prog Layer provides forecasted significant weather features approx. 12 hours in advance including jet stream locations and levels, moderate or severe turbulence, areas of convection, tropical cyclones, tropopause heights, volcanic eruptions and more. The SigWx Prog layer is derived via the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) High- Level and Mid-Level Significant Weather Charts and are updated 4 times per day. The following is an example screenshot of the SigWx Prog Overlay via the TOPS Flight Watch Platform and is interactive when viewed via TOPS i.e. the user can zoom in and out of the layer for further details. SigWx Prog Overlay 16
Upper Wind Overlay The Upper Wind Layer provides forecasted winds at several levels across the globe highlighting upper troughs, upper ridges and jet stream regions across the world with wind intensity color coded. The Upper Wind Layer also provides standard wind barbs depicting speed and direction within the layer for further verification of the above listed upper level features. The Upper Wind Layer is derived via the Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical model forecasted wind parameters from FL180 to FL450 with a legend provided when viewed via the TOPS platform. The Upper Wind layer provides forecasted upper level winds at FL180 (500mb), FL240 (400mb), FL300 (300mb), FL340 (250mb), FL390 (200mb) and FL450 (150mb) with forecasts provided 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours and 36 hours in advance. The Upper Wind Overlay is updated 4 times per day via the GFS numerical model 00Z, 06Z, 12Z and 18Z data. The refresh time and rate for the Upper Wind Overlay via TOPS is updated per the following: 03:15Z, 09:15Z, 15:15Z and 21:15Z every day. The following is an example screenshot of the Upper Wind Layer via the TOPS Flight Watch platform. Upper Wind Overlay 17