Product Availability Monitoring System (PAMS) Use During the AWIPS Commissioning Process

With the introduction of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), and its numerous associated data streams, a test and evaluation tool to verify data availability and timeliness for AWIPS users was developed. In response to this need, the Office of Systems Operations of the National Weather Service Headquarters utilized this tool to quantify the effectiveness of the AWIPS communications networks in delivering weather-related products from data sources to field sites, and from field sites to field sites. This tool was very effective in determining several network problems impacting several sites in meeting the AWIPS commissioning criteria for product availability and timeliness. Several case studies will be discussed illustrating how PAMS data were able to detect these problems.