Nowcasting Project

The project for the realization of an Experimental Center for Nowcasting over Apulia region requires the realization of a network consisting of ground, aircraft, satellite, radar measurements and of a numerical model able to generate 18 hours weather forecasts.
The ground based network will consist of 3 meteorological radars and 40 meteorological stations (see figure). Their distribution will allow a real-time monitoring of the meteorological conditions and will control the evolution of eventual hazardous situations.
The integration of satellite data with synoptic ground-based data is fundamental for an efficient Nowcasting activity. The satellite data are, in fact, used as a primary informative source both for the inizialization of the numerical model and for the tuning of the model with respect to specific local environmental conditions.
The numerical model used in the project is RAMS (Regional Atmospheric Modelling System), developed by the group of Prof. Pielke in the Colorado State University. The model is applied to the Apulia region and surrounding areas. The input data will be given to RAMS by another numerical model, LAPS (Local Analysis and Prediction System), whose input matrices have a spatial resolution depending on the forecast model (RAMS) resolution.
Two satellites images will be available: images from MSG satellite (Meteosat Second Generation) will be received every 15 minutes in 12 bands (3 in the visible band and 9 in the infrared) with a resolution up to 1km (1km in the visible and 3km in the infrared), and images from MODIS satellite (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectro radiometer) in 36 bands (20 in the visible and 16 in the infrared) with a spatial resolution up to 0.25Km (0.25, 0.5 and 1 km in the visible and 1km in the infrared).