Aircraft observations are improving weather model forecasts
Using aircraft observations for weather models was suspended in 2022 but has made a return.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Weather model forecasts are improving — thanks to planes.
Weather models rely on observations from sensors across the globe, such as buoys in the ocean, weather stations, and, in this case, aircraft.
For a model to have accuracy, it must have data ingested into it that helps set the initial conditions the model will use to make its forecast.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (European Model - ECMWF) is now using aircraft observations to help make the initial conditions the model uses more accurate. This method for collecting data from aircraft for numerical weather prediction is known as Mode-S.
According to ECMWF, the use of Mode-S data was suspended in November 2022.
Mode-S data is derived from air traffic control data. The raw data the aircraft gathers has to be processed to be usable in weather model runs.
![Mode-S data is ingested into computer weather models.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/gray-wsmv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KBTYOV6WMBGFNH3A7OFFKU4NL4.png?auth=bc76eab254c34a425960ba80728721b9963ab4e5c234a2e1bd79d3a8042e20be&width=980&height=1002&smart=true)
According to ECMWF, upper tropospheric wind forecasts over Europe are up to 8% more accurate since using the Mode-S method at short range. Even 1% better in accuracy helps, but 8% is significant!
The ECMWF says when initially using Mode-S observations — from 2020 to 2022 — they were using too many observations. They’ve now found a way to process the data and use it more beneficially.
Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.