Why do we need ship-based radiosonde observations ?
E-ASAP (EUMETNET Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme) manages weather balloon observations (so-called radiosoundings) to provide vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind across the North Atlantic. Together with observations from ascending and descending aircraft, there are sufficient radiosonde stations across Europe. However, the North Atlantic also plays an essential role in the weather in Europe, and radiosoundings from this data-sparse ocean region help to improve our forecasts. Radiosoundings are also required to calibrate satellite observations over the sea. Therefore, the purpose of E-ASAP is to fill the data gap between Europe and North America by performing radiosoundings from the ships in the North Atlantic.
How does it work ?
The E-ASAP stations on board the ships are managed by the EUMETNET Members DWD (Germany), Météo France (France), DMI (Denmark), and AEMET (Spain). The coordinating National Meteorological Service is in charge of providing supplies (radiosondes, balloons, helium, etc.) and technical maintenance. Most of the participating 16 ships are merchant container vessels in transatlantic service whose crews volunteer to regularly launch weather balloons. After preparing the radiosonde on the bridge and inflating the balloon on deck, they attach the sonde to the balloon and release both into the air. Transmission of the data from the flying sonde to the receiver on board and further transmission by satellite from ship to shore is fully automated. The Meteorological Service that receives the data then forwards it to the GTS (Global Telecommunication System), and through this, it becomes available to all National Meteorological Services worldwide.
Who’s in charge ?
The National Meteorological Service of Germany (DWD) is the Coordinating Member for E-ASAP. The Programme Manager is Mr Rudolf Krockauer (rudolf.krockauer[at]dwd-de).
Our work in pictures
OPERA Data production
During the previous OPERA phase (2019-2023), the data centre (ODYSSEY) was gradually replaced with three new production lines (CUMULUS/STRATUS CIRRUS, and NIMBUS).
New production lines
• CUMULUS/STRATUS, a real-time data hub providing the incoming data back to members in approximately real-time for their own processing (e.g. regional composites or NWP assimilation) and to the other two production lines (CIRRUS and NIMBUS). The production line has been operational since Q2/2021.
• CIRRUS producing 5-minute instantaneous maximum reflectivity composite (dBZ) for current weather, severe weather alerts and aviation needs. It is replacing the ODYSSEY maximum reflectivity composite with improved spatial (now with 1 km gridding) and temporal resolution (from 15 – minutes to 5- minutes). The production has been operational since Q1/2024. Documentation regarding the CIRRUS maximum reflectivity product and its differences compared to the ODYSSEY maximum reflectivity product can be found here.
OPERA_Max Reflectivity_Product Sheet_Ed-2.0.pdf
OPERA5_Report_Cirrus-vs-Odyssey_Ed-2.0.pdf
• NIMBUS produces centrally the quality-controlled products; instantaneous rain rate (mm/h) and 1 – hour accumulation (mm) composites, and wind profiles (TBD Q4/2024), and additionally the quality-controlled volume data for NWP assimilation. It replaces the ODYSSEY production for the above-mentioned products. The NIMBUS production has been operational since Q2/2024. Documentation regarding the NIMBUS composites and their differences compared to the corresponding ODYSSEY can be found here:
NIMBUS_datasheet_composites_1.0_13062024.pdf
NIMBUS_composite_vs_ODYSSEY_1.0_19062024.pdf
OPERA support can be reached through email to support.opera[at]eumetnet.eu. Responses from the service desk are provided on a best-effort basis.
Access to data
The members of OPERA and EUMETNET may use the composites for their official duties without a separate license. The Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) modelers obtain the quality-controlled volume data directly from the NIMBUS production line.
The OPERA products are also available under license to 3rd parties:
For national weather services not participating in OPERA which want to use the products to support their public weather service, contact info[at]eumetnet.eu
For a research and education licence, contact info[at]eumetnet.eu.
For a license to exploit the products commercially, contact one of the EUMETNET members contact points (https://www.ecomet.eu/contact/members) or send an email to eumetdaps_secretariat[at]eumetnet.eu.
EUMETNET AMDAR coverage
The coverage for the EUMETNET AMDAR network for a typical day is shown on the map below. Yellow plots indicate observations taken enroute with red and green plots representing aircraft ascent and descent profiles.
During the previous OPERA phase (2019-2023), the data centre (ODYSSEY) was gradually replaced with three new production lines (CUMULUS/STRATUS CIRRUS, and NIMBUS).
Figure: The schematic structure of the new OPERA data production.
The three new production lines are:
• CUMULUS/STRATUS, a real-time data hub providing the incoming data back to members in approximately real-time for their own processing (e.g. regional composites or NWP assimilation) and to the other two production lines (CIRRUS and NIMBUS). The production line has been operational since Q2/2021.
• CIRRUS producing 5-minute instantaneous maximum reflectivity composite (dBZ) for current weather, severe weather alerts and aviation needs. It is replacing the ODYSSEY maximum reflectivity composite with improved spatial (now with 1 km gridding) and temporal resolution (from 15 – minutes to 5- minutes). The production has been operational in Q1/2024. Documentation regarding the CIRRUS maximum reflectivity product and its differences compared to the ODYSSEY maximum reflectivity product can be found here.
– OPERA_Max Reflectivity_Product Sheet_Ed-2.0.pdf
– OPERA5_Report_Cirrus-vs-Odyssey_Ed-2.0.pdf
• NIMBUS producing centrally the quality-controlled products; instantaneous rain rate (mm/h) and 1 – hour accumulation (mm) composites, and wind profiles (TBD Q4/2024), and additionally the quality-controlled volume data for NWP assimilation. It is replacing the ODYSSEY production for the above-mentioned products. The NIMBUS production has been operational in Q2/2024. Documentation regarding the NIMBUS composites and their differences compared to the corresponding ODYSSEY can be found here:
– NIMBUS_datasheet_composites_1.0_13062024.pdf
– NIMBUS_composite_vs_ODYSSEY_1.0_19062024.pdf
OPERA support can be reached through email to support.opera@emetnet.com. Responses from the service desk are provided on a best-effort basis.
Access to data
The members of OPERA and EUMETNET may use the composites for their official duties without a separate license. The Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) modelers obtain the quality-controlled volume data directly from NIMBUS production line.
The OPERA products are also available under license to 3rd parties:
· For national weather services not participating in OPERA which want to use the products to support their public weather service, contact info@emetnet.com
· For a research and education licence, contact info@emetnet.com.
· For a license to exploit the products commercially, contact one of the EUMETNET members contact points(https://www.ecomet.eu/contact/members) or send a mail eumetdaps_secretariat@emetnet.com.