Weather radar or meteorological radar is a type of radar that is used to specify the area of precipitation and determine the type of precipitation. Meteorological radars as means of remote sensing measurements are a very important link for collecting observational data and preparing both short-term and longer-term forecasts. They provide a real-time overview of precipitation and winds over a large territory.
Overview
The task of the Estonian Environment Agency is to organise and manage a network of meteorological observations in Estonia, collect meteorological monitoring data and prepare weather forecasts for the territory of Estonia. The meteorological monitoring network consists of both on-site and remote sensing measurements.
Currently, the radar monitoring network of the Estonian Environment Agency consists of two Vaisala dual-polarimetric Doppler C-wave range meteorological radars located in Harku (in operation since 2009) and Sürgavere (in operation since 2008) and there is a 115 km distance between them. These meteorological radars are technically equivalent. Both are registered with the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority and have been issued a corresponding frequency licence.
Internal users
- Weather forecasters at the Estonian Environment Agency who use radar data 24/7 in their work to produce weather forecasts and warnings.
External users
- Users of the website (Estonian Environment Agency | WEATHER).
- Users of the ILM+ mobile app
- Contractual customers of Estonian Environment Agency who receive satellite data output via special solutions developed according to their needs
- Besides operational meteorological work, radar data is used for scientific and research work.
On the website of the Estonian Environment Agency (Radar | Environment Agency | WEATHER), precipitation data measured by meteorological radars in the last two hours in five-minute intervals are available.
The forecast, i.e. the public output of the short-term precipitation forecast (or nowcasting) based on radar data, is also displayed, showing the probable movement of rainy areas and the temporal-spatial development of precipitation in Estonia up to 90 minutes (1.5 h) into the future from the moment of measurement. It shows the likely movement of precipitation areas and the temporal-spatial development of precipitation in Estonia up to 90 minutes (1.5 h) into the future from the moment of measurement.
More information
- References
Open data
According to the provisions of the European Commission's Implementing Regulation on the Publication and Reuse of High-Value Datasets, meteorological radar data are high-value open data. The Estonian Environment Agency publishes this data in Environmental Portal without restrictions on use and access, via application interface (APIs), with metadata, machine-readable and bulk downloadable in Environmental Portal open data file repository (KAIA).
The growing integration of meteorological radar data into model forecasts makes it possible to increase their accuracy, and the increasingly long time series allow radar data to be used in precipitation climatology. To successfully serve all these areas of use, high demands on data quality are required.
International cooperation
The Estonian Environment Agency participates as an official partner in international radar networks BALTRAD, NORDRAD and EUMETNET OPERA.