EUMETNET Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (E-AMDAR) Programme
Copyright Steve Morris
From the 1 January 2003, E-AMDAR became a fully integrated core component of the EUCOS Operational Programme. Programme management responsibilities were transferred from UK Met Office to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) who is responsible member of E-AMDAR since then. The Programme Management is assigned to Stig Carlberg.
The E-AMDAR Network has seen tremendous evolution since late 1999. Daily average observation and reporting aircraft totals have risen from ~5,500 observations from 42 aircraft to the current level (December 2011) of ~45,000 observations from more than 800 aircraft globally. The average number of daily reported airports with 3 hourly profiles has grown from 12 to about 40 during the period 2000-2011.
The aim of the Programme has been the delivery of the EUCOS objectives in the most cost effective and efficient manner – within budgetary and technical constraints. In broad terms, the objectives have been:
- To provide profiles from airports within the EUCOS Area;
- To provide 3 hourly profiles at selected airports in Europe;
- Generate en-route and profile data over data sparse/sensitive areas;
- Produce data in support of the WMO World Weather Watch Programme (WWW);
- Achieve a final data capture of around 12 million observations year 2006 and maintain that level;
- Enable Members to procure additional data for national use beyond the EUCOS requirement.
Copyright Lufthansa
Of particular note is the progress with humidity sensor developments and the new relationship fostered with Airbus. At the end of 2006, the first humidity measurements from an E-AMDAR fleet have been produced within the E-AMDAR Humidity Trial in Cooperation with Lufthansa and DWD. During 2013 the sensors will be replaced by an improved version and six more aircraft will be equipped.
The original programme objectives scheduled for 2006 are proposed to remain broadly unchanged through the transition phase 2007-2008. However, there are significant challenges to ensure that the efficiency objectives are met and that the programme provides a much more uniform distribution of upper air profiles across Europe. The imperative for the transition phase must therefore be to:
- Take measures in order to get a uniform spatial and temporal coverage rather than simply increasing data volumes, including recruitment of new airlines;
- Expand the fleet of aircraft with humidity sensor;
- Continue the work together with Airbus, in order to get humidity sensors and suitable software as optional equipment to aircraft;
- Formulate the operational use of these sensors and thus define appropriate programme objectives for the period 2013-2017;
- Further improve the optimization systems and develop an efficient targeting technique;
- Introduction of true height as well as altitude reporting in the message;
- Regional aircraft measurement system introduction;
- Implementation of BUFR formatted reporting;
- Investigation of new techniques like icing and turbulence;
- Readiness for implementation of NWP resolution requirements.