Hydrological decision-making systems using high-resolution weather radar observations – a case study from Hungary

According to past observations and long-term forecasts, the Carpathian Basin is distinguished by two precipitation trends. The frequency, length, and severity of periods of precipitation deficit and drought are increasing. Furthermore, as small-scale convective updrafts intensify, heavy thunderstorms become more intense. Both trends pose significant risks from an anthropogenic perspective. The former increases food insecurity due to intensifying droughts, which damages agricultural yields, while the latter mainly increases property damage via heavy hailstorms.

The 2022 drought year demonstrated that effective use of available water is the foundation for sustainable growth, which may be supported by well-designed infrastructure investments and smart water management technologies. A rainfall radar system with a high spatial and temporal resolution that contributes to near real-time machine decision-making is one conceivable component of such a complex system.

The Furuno WR-2100 precipitation radar, which was deployed on the outskirts of Debrecen in 2020 for benchmarking purposes, is the first component of such an intelligent decision-making system in Hungary. The radar's range comprises both urban and rural areas, allowing it to continually gather high-resolution test data for both urban hydrology and agricultural irrigation system developments.

The research presented in the article was carried out within the framework of the Széchenyi Plan Plus program with the support of the RRF 2.3.1 21 2022 00008 project.