Remote sensing in Weather applications

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Remote sensing in Weather applications

• We produce algorithms and prototypes of products
  for FMI forecasters and customers. Our tools
  include
• satellites
• weather radars
• lightning detection systems
• extrapolation, nowcasting and mesoscale analysis

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• Winters in Finland are dark and cold - the sun
  elevation is low also daytime. This is one of the
  challenges to satellite meteorology (SEVIRI,
  AVHRR, MODIS, MERIS...)
• Network of 7 modern radars gives the best
  estimate of precipitation

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• FMI is active in international satellite
  research, development and education programs
• Research and development is oriented in
  providing tools for operational weather service
• Mesoscale meteorology
• For snow ploughing, forest fires, floods

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FMI Satellite Activities

• International activities in EUMETSAT, ESA,
  NOAA, EUMETNET and WMO
• Nordic co-operation NOSC, NOMEK
• Using instruments on both polar and geostationary
  satellites (AVHRR, SEVIRI, MODIS, MERIS...)
• Research focus clouds, fog, low cloud, extreme
  weather (convection)

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Satellite data reception

• In Helsinki
• NOAA series
• Meteosat-7
• Meteosat-8
• In Sodankylä
• EOS/Terra, Aqua
• Future METOP

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7 radars cover most of the country
own maintenance data availability 99.4
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Advanced applications

• Improved quality of accumulation
• adjustment for snow/rain/mix
• correction for vertical reflectivity profile
• Target identification
• hail
• non-meteorological echoes
• Nowcasting of precipitation

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Lightning location
Lightning location

• Ground lightning location system present model
  in operational use since 1998
• Example intense day May 26, 2003
• 5 sensors in Finland, several connected from
  Scandinavia
• Cloud lightning location system in SW (3 sensors)
  in test use