OPERA 4 - The new phase of Operational Weather Radar Network in Europe

The operational weather radar network in Europe covers more than 30 countries, and contains close to 200 weather radars. The radar network is heterogeneous both in hardware and signal processing, thus making it fundamentally different to the NEXRAD network, also because the density of weather radars is roughly two times higher. Within EUMETNET, the grouping of European Meteorological Services, the operational programme for weather radar networking (OPERA) has been working since the 1990's to improve the harmonization of radars and their measurements. In addition OPERA has facilitated and stimulated the exchange of radar data between its members, amongst others by the development of a radar data information model and jointly agreed formats.

An essential part of the OPERA work is the documentation of the members' best practices in radar operation and data production, and the making of joint recommendations, e.g. on the interferences caused by other microwave sources and the disturbances caused by wind turbines. Hence the expertise of the most experienced members is made available to all members supporting the development of the network as a whole. All these reports and recommendations are publicly available on the network's website, for use by the wider meteorological community including the industry. Recent work has produced reports on best practices for production of radar data, on quality indicators, and on experiences with the use of polarimetric radars. In 2013, we collect experience of how the members apply INSPIRE directive and metadata essential for data assimilation in NWP. Web-based tools for visualization of radar locations from OPERA Radar Database as well as radar data itself were developed within OPERA. These tools utilize Google Maps API and are helpful in checking of metadata information of individual radars and also for identification of possible sources of decreased quality of radar data (e.g. remaining ground clutter caused by wind farms).

OPERA 4 will run 2013-2017, and it will focus in data quality and users of radar data.

The prototype data hub has become an operational service in 2012, and Opera 4 will continue the development of the Hub. Assessing and improving the data quality is a key issue, as well as the timely distribution of products to the many different kinds of users. The composites will become available via ECOMET catalog for various users in meteorology, hydrology and traffic, and volume data will be used for assimilation of numerical weather prediction models. An active dialog is kept with these users, to follow their experiences and emerging needs.