Weather Radar Networking

This five-year project started on 25th September 1986. Eventually, sixteen countries and the European Commission itself signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
The principal objectives of the Project were to further the establishment of national operational weather radar networks, harmonise operations, data handling and processing to minimise the difficulties of, and maximise the benefits of international weather radar data exchange. To transmit the data efficiently, standardised formats and protocols were essential. These were formulated by a working group whose efforts were rewarded when WMO accepted their proposal for worldwide use.
A multi-national pilot project area was established and streams of data from each of the countries involved were merged and integrated with data from the satellite METEOSAT. The composite image, known as `the COST image' was regularly distributed via the global telecommunication system of WMO, the public telephone switched network and the Olympus satellite.
The utility of the COST image was assessed for, inter alia, short-period forecasting, aviation flight assistance, maritime forecasting and the initialisation of numerical weather prediction models. In all cases, the COST image was found to be beneficial.
A report containing proposed curricula for the training of meteorologists, hydrologists and other major users of weather radar data was sent to WMO for possible adoption as one of their standard training manuals.
As a report of international scientific cooperation, this is a success story. All the principal objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding were achieved both within time and budget. It is a tale of international cooperation at its best.

Inhalt

Introduction; summary and recommendations; organisation of work in the project; study results from the project; radar networking in Europe; current distribution and types of radar; operational radar characteristics; conventional radars; doppler radars; system outputs and usefulness; radar data generation and analyses used in different countries - obtained from the results of a questionnaire; a proposal for a radar meteorology training curriculum; training curriculum; radar site processing; format for COST purposes; results of weather radar measurements; conventional radar products; doppler radar products; clutter cancellation; calibration of radar equipment and adjustment of radar data; software structure; low cost display systems; end user requirements and applications of weather radar data; data transmission; the cooperation olympus data experiment; results of trials and other experiences in radar data transmission; software for coding and decoding radar images in FM 94 BUFR; radar network centres; products; a proposal for weather radars to be located in the north sea; the way ahead; electronically scanning radar antennae; international exchange of radar data; international coordination and funding; development of applications for the benefit of the economy of Europe; recommendations; references; annexes.