INCA-CE—A Central European Initiative for Severe Weather Warnings and Improved Communication Strategies on a trans-national Level

The INCA-CE project aims at reducing adverse effects of weather-related natural disasters (e.g. wind-storms, flooding, mudflows, icing, drought) by establishing a state-of-the-art, high-resolution, real-time analysis and forecast system on atmospheric, hydrological, and surface conditions. Main goal is the improvement of risk management standards and methodology in order to enable management institutions and authorities to issue more detailed assessments and warnings. INCA-CE is also supposed to allow a more precise estimation of weather-related risks and potential hazards in the private sector.

Within the project a web-based, trans-national weather information system using state-of-the-art nowcasting methods is currently being developed by the partner countries. Three trans-national working groups have been established, covering the application areas ‘Operational Hydrology', ‘Civil Protection', and ‘Road Safety'. INCA-CE aims at a harmonization and exchange of data, standards and methodologies in the field of weather-related crisis management and risk prevention.

The analysis and nowcasting system INCA (Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis) algorithmically combines station observations, NWP model output and remote sensing data (radar, satellite) in order to provide meteorological analysis and nowcasting fields at high temporal (5 min) and spatial (1 km) resolution. Project work on the nowcasting tool includes algorithmic refinements, improvements in data flow, data quality control, and computational efficiency.

The project is implemented through the Central Europe Programme of the European Union, and it is co-financed by the European Regional Development Funds. It is scheduled for 3.5 years duration, with an overall budget of 3.6 million Euros, which supports the research activities of 16 project partners from eight European countries.

The presentation will give an overview of the main characteristics of this major project as well as of ongoing research activities. Particular attention will be paid on the specifics of the Central European research infrastructure and communication strategies.