Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss

VOLTAIRE

The objective of VOLTAIRE, a project of the European Commission Fifth Framework Programme, is the validation of multi-sensor precipitation fields in Mediterranean mountainous regions.

 

logo of VOLTAIRE

The logo of the project VOLTAIRE.

Overall goal

The analysis of observations from satellite radar TRMM over Europe (Cyprus)

The comparison of rainfall measurements by ground radar and raingauges

The comparison of rainfall forecasts by numerical weather prediction models

The preparation for the European participation in GPM mission (Global Precipitation Measurement from satellite)

 

the partners

Partners of the VOLTAIRE project are national weather services, universities, a private company, governmental authorities, and research institutes.

Tasks

to compare data quality insurance schemes for ground and space radar

to use precipitation fields from ground radar and gauge network as ground validation for satellite radar TRMM (over Cyprus)

to gain experience for and prepare the European participation in GPM

to improve the accuracy of precipitation fields from ground radar in Mediterranean test sites using gauge measurements and adjustment techniques adapted to mountainous regions

to compare precipitation fields from numerical weather prediction models with observations from ground and satellite radar

to improve accuracy of preciptation fields from ground radar taking into account the intrinsic high variability of precipitation and the error sources in a mountainous region (clutter elimination, correction for visibility, correction for vertical profile of reflectivity, adjustment by gauge measurements)

 

Work packages

WPTaskLead
WP1Database building, standardization and managementPolitecnico di Torino
WP2Data quality control of time variable dataeinfalt&hydrotec GbR, Lübeck
WP3Radar adjusted rain fields in Cyprus and comparison with TRMM dataMeteorological Service Cyprus, Larnaca
WP4Improved radar-gauge adjusted rain fields based on TRMM validation programUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County/JCET NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
WP5Structural characterization of precipitation fieldsMeteoSwiss, Locarno-Monti
WP6Optimised/adjusted rain fields in complex-orography regionsPolitecnico di Torino
WP7Numerically modeled rain fields and comparison with observationsDipartimento dei Servizi Tecnici Nazionali, Rome
WP8Preparation of a validation supersite for GPM mission in western MediterraneanUniversitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona
WP9DisseminationUniversity of Ljubljana
WP10Project managementPolitecnico di Torino

Contact

MeteoSwiss, Radar and Satellites, CH-6605 Locarno-Monti, Switzerland.

 

VOLTAIRE homepage

Contact

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