COST-722Short range forecasting

methods of fog, visibility and low clouds

Motivation for this Action

• The society needs accurate and timely forecasts of fog, visibility and low clouds.

• The formation and dissipation of fog is still not well represented by common NWP-models.

• Other techniques including statistical methods, empirical rules and conceptual models must also be improved.

D. C. Pearson, 2002

September 3 19998 killed; 45 hospitalized87 cars involved

March 17 2003

KILLER FOG

COST-722…

• … is a joint action of 14 European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.

• Was established November 2001 as a follow-up action of COST-78.

• Phase I (Inventory phase) was completed end 2003.

Current activities

• Research and development phase ongoing

• Three working groups:– Initial data (chair: Jörg Bendix, Univ. of

Marburg)– Models (chair: Andreas Bott, Univ. of Bonn)– Statistical methods (chair: Silas Michaelides,

Cyprus Meteorological Service)

This expert meeting…

• Case Study of Fog – FMI• Fog detection and nowcasting,

state of research – LCRS• Towards operative cloud

classification and future plans-FMI• Fog detection with MODIS – LCRS• Met Office plans for fog/low cloud

detection and nowcasting

…

• Fog detection with MSG-SEVIRI – LCRS• Albedo of snow surface – FMI• Validating the AVHRR Cloud Top

Temperature and Height-FMI• Determination of optical and

microphysical properties for water clouds – LCRS

• In-situ microphysical measurements and their use in satellite retrievals - I. Gultepe