1. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik DESIGN OF THE NEW AUSTRIAN METEOROLOGICAL NETWORK Ernest Rudel Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik Hohe Warte 38, 1190 Wien Tel.: +43 1 36026 2201, Fax: +43 1 36026 72 E-Mail: ernest.rudel@zamg.ac.at

2. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 2 Outline Historical Overview The New AWS Concept Technical specifications Future developments

3. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 3 Short view of meteorological measurements in Austria 1768: Regular measurements and observations in the monastery of Kremsmuenster 1851: Foundation of ZAMG: establishment of a meteorological observation system 1865: First issue of a daily weather chart 1981: First AWS in operation (local storing, transmission via telephone) 1991: Network of all AWS via leased telephone lines 1992: AWS generate automatically hourly Synopmessages 2005: 150 AWS, 100 conventional stations 2005: Start of the project: AWS_new Reason: difficulties in guaranteeing the renewal of the spare parts, an increasingly old technology 2008: 250 AWS in operation

4. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 4 Concept of AWS_new to shut down all manually operated classical climatic stations to substitute all the AWS of the old generation with new ones (AWS_new) to increase the network of AWS up to 250 stations to improve the sensor equipment to implement the new network 2007 and 2008

5. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 5 Why shut down all the conventional stations? Increasing temporary coverage Providing data from data sparse areas where human observations are not practical Providing data continuously at frequent intervals and for any observation time Eliminating the subjectivity in manual observations Reflecting the requirements of all users of near real time synoptic data Supporting the trends to reducing model grid scale and the need for more observations to be available in shorter timescales an alleged potential to reduce costs

6. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 6 Purposes of a National Meteorological Network data for quick and simple international exchange data for weather prediction: Supporting the trends to reducing model grid scale and the need for more observations to be available in shorter timescales severe weather warning is the cornerstone of the ZAMG mission, requiring an appropriate and sustained infrastructure, requiring continuous improvement of the associated forecasts prevention and mitigation of natural disasters through early warning and vulnerability assessment weather-related hazards (e.g. storms, flooding e.g. by rivers, drought, heat waves, persisting hot weather, cold spells) risk impacted by weather (e.g. transport, dispersion and deposition of radioactive or chemical pollutants) weather sensitive segments of the economy (e.g. transport, aviation, energy and other utilities, agriculture, insurance or food industries) requirements to deliver innovative services, especially in relation to civil security, but also regarding climate change and public health (chemical weather forecasting)

7. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 7 Purposes of a National Meteorological Network (cont.) Data for climate analysis and climate monitoring High quality, well-calibrated long-term observations and measurements of a variety of climate elements are critical to the detection and prediction of climate variability and change, including trends due to human activities (urbanization, deforestation, etc) expertise use (courts, assurance companies, regulations, standards,...) reflecting the requirements of all users of near real time synoptic and of offline climate data

8. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 8 Demands on a national Meteorological Network must be assessed to assess the impact of the new system to existing systems to take care of all WMO standards to follow the demands and need of the EUMETNET observation network to maintain the operation of historically-uninterrupted stations and observing systems to facilitate access, use and interpretation of data and derived products adequate national spatial distribution data in more population dense areas (greater demand for data) data from important traffic routes data from areas with pronounced minimum and maximum values areas with distinctive gradients continuity (Long time measurements on the same site) unifying the quality checks and derived values Standardising the entire dataflow and information systems

9. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 9 Additional needs of an improved National Meteorological Network increasing temporary and area coverage transmitting precipitation data (minute data) every 5 minutes instead of 10 minutes in the former system denser network in populated areas providing data from data sparse areas where human observations are not practical or possible data from mountain peaks using web cameras additionally providing data continuously at frequent intervals and for any observation time and ensure a reliable data transmission also in case of public emergency, a.secure transfer protocol with subcarrier transmission on analogue telephone lines b.standard GSM link (hourly data) c.satellite connection (25% of all the stations)

10. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 10 Additional needs of an improved National Meteorological Network (cont.) eliminating the subjectivity in manual observations. With universal interfaces between sensor and bus system the AWS can operate arbitrarily sensor systems with different signal output (digital, analogue or digital telegram) e.g. connection of PW, snow depth, ceilometers, etc. without modification of the system to choose station sites with the possibility to have a local technical support and additionally to have also a meteorological observer

11. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 11 AWS _ old Disadvantage: sometimes the senso-cable are very long

12. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 12 AWS _ new

13. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 13 Sketch of data flow

14. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 14 Network AWS_new

15. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 15

16. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 16 AWS

17. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 17 Conclusions the upgrade and the extension of the automatic weather stations network in Austria ensures a quantitative and a qualitative improvement of the measurement of meteorological parameters. the network of 250 AWS ensures a medium representativeness of approx. 320 km² (18x18km). The increase of the temporal resolution of the measurement data in real time is required by different users of meteorological data (synop, climate, environment, economy, legal aspects) and especially for inputs in local area numerical models (ALADIN, ALARO, etc.) the standardization of the network would make it possible to optimize the operational aspects by decreasing the costs of operation.

18. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 18 Future outlook change old sensor types e.g. hair hygrometer with dew point measurements add sensors e.g. PW, visibility, ceilometers, snow depth, etc additional stations in climate or environmental sensitive areas to upgrade the design of the network always on the knowledge of coordination and development of the meteorological infrastructure to enhance the expertise on weather, climate, water and the related environment and to act as major contributors to: The safety and well being of people Sustainable development; and Environmental protection

19. Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik 29.11.2008 TECO 2008 Folie 19 Thank you for your attention!