H2020 SINOPTICA (Satellite-borne and IN-situ Observations to Predict The Initiation of Convection for ATM) project: initial results

The H2020 SINOPTICA Project (2020-2022) aims at exploiting the untapped potential of assimilating remote sensing (EO-derived and ground-based radar) as well as GNSS-derived datasets (including radio occultation data) and in-situ weather stations data. Those data will be used for very high-resolution, very short-range numerical weather forecasts to improve the prediction of extreme weather events to the benefit of Air Traffic Management (ATM) operations. This will be done by setting up a continuously updated database of remote sensing-derived, GNSS-derived and in-situ weather stations variables, in combination with an automated assimilation system to feed an NWP model. SINOPTICA weather forecast results will be integrated into ATM decision-support tools, visualizing weather information on the controller's display, and generating new 4D trajectories to avoid severe weather areas. This contribution presents the initial results of the assimilation of aforementioned observations into the WRF model, operated at cloud-resolving grid spacing, for two case studies: a hailstorm event occured on 11 May 2019 nearby Malpensa airport and a severe convection episode occurred near Punta Raisi airport (Palermo) on 15 July 2020.