Annual Report 2015 Deutscher Wetterdienst

Deutscher Wetterdienst Annual Report 2015 Table of contents

The reference for meteorology is the Deutscher Wetterdienst

Virtually everyone is interested in In its role as a National Meteoro- the weather and virtually every area logical Service, the DWD is also a of our lives is affected by weather provider of scientific and technical and climate. As the reference for me- services and a competent and reliable teorology in the Federal Republic of partner for public and private partners Germany the Deutscher Wetterdienst in the field of meteorology. The in- (DWD) is the competent contact point creasing demands of its customers not for all these issues. The range of tasks only oblige the DWD to supply high- is many and varied. It records, ana- quality products and services, but also Federation, the Länder, and the lyses and monitors the physical and are a continuous incentive to improve institutions administering justice, as chemical processes in our atmosphere. product quality, customer orientation, well as the fulfilment of international The DWD holds information on all and profitability. The DWD, which was founded commitments entered into by the meteorological occurrences, offers a in 1952, is, as the National Meteoro- Federal Republic of Germany. The diverse range of services, both for logical Service of the Federal Republic DWD thus co-ordinates the meteoro- the general public and for special user of Germany, responsible for provid- logical interests of Germany on a groups and operates the national ing services for the protection of life national level in close agreement with climate archive. and property in the form of weather the Federal Government and repre- and climate information. This is its sents the Government in intergovern- core task. Acting as a federal author- mental and international organisations ity under the department of the as, for example the World Meteoro- Federal Ministry of Transport and logical Organization (WMO). These Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), the DWD tasks are embodied in the Law assures the meteorological safeguard- on the Deutscher Wetterdienst from ing of aviation and marine shipping 10 September 1998. and issues warnings of meteorological events that could endanger public safety and order. The DWD, however, also has other important tasks, such as the provision of services to the

2 Ivan Simecki checks Cover Table of contents on a visibility sensor at Runway Northwest. The President’s Opening Remarks 4

Weather & Climate 2015 5

The pictures at the beginning of each chapter were taken at Frankfurt Airport. The special topic: AutoWARN 15

Developments & Events 20

Measuring & Observing Networks 36 ......

Global Co-operation & International Projects 39

Facts & Figures 46

Executive Board & Organisation 51

A Look Back & A Look Forward 57

Contact & Imprint 63

The new runway observation station inaugurated in December 2014 on the side of Runway 18 West at Frankfurt Airport in the faint evening light

3 The President’s Opening Remarks Table of contents

Dear reader,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the online annual report 2015 of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). Regarding weather and climate, we have seen another remarkable year with a new temperature record for Germany: Twice, a temperature of 40.3 °C was recorded at the weather station in Kitzingen, Lower Franconia. Our records show that 2015 was the second warmest year ever in Germany, as it was the case already for 2000 and 2007. Globally, it even was the warmest year ever. The annual report contains a comprehensive review of the weather and climate ...... in the past year, with detailed information on spring storm NIKLAS, the pro- Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian, nounced periods of heat and drought and on the El Niño episode of 2015/16, President of the The Integrated Carbon Observation System ICOS, an element which was one of the strongest in recent decades. Deutscher Wetterdienst of the European research infrastructure, demonstrates that In principle, national and international research into climate agree with regard to weather and climate expertise, the DWD is well that these developments should be seen as a clear indication of continuing connected internationally. The Meteorological Observatory at Hohenpeißenberg climate change. This is the reason why the DWD has significantly extended its is charged with establishing ICOS’ network for atmospheric measurements in activities relating to its statutory tasks in the areas of climate research and Germany, which will among others measure the carbon cycle in order to improve climate consultancy. 2015 saw the launch of the Deutscher Klimadienst as the understanding of climate change. well as of the DWD’s Stadtklimaportal INKAS, which enables cities to analyse The subject of the well-established historical feature of this year’s report the thermic effects of urban construction projects, so that already during the is radioactivity. Since 1955, the DWD has been legally responsible for measuring planning stage, action can be taken to reduce the formation of urban heat radioactivity in the air and in precipitation. In this context, we present an islands. interview with Dr. Matthias Auer, Project Manager of the Division Radionuclide In addition, the DWD introduced significant new features for weather International Monitoring System at the Comprehensive Nuclear Ban Test Treaty forecasting and warning management, which constitute its core tasks. The Organization (CTBTO). support system AutoWARN helps meteorologists to issue warnings of dangerous In particular, I would like to thank all employees of the DWD, who, serving weather events by combining numerous pieces of information and providing the interests of the public at large, have made possible these advances with their suggestions for warnings. By introducing the so-called ICON EU nest, the DWD creativity and flexibility. is improving its numerical weather forecasts even further. Important advances could also be achieved regarding the forecasting of turbulences which forms Dear reader, it is my pleasure now to invite you to a virtual tour of the part of the meteorological advice given to aviation. And in order to speed up the Deutscher Wetterdienst. I am sure you will learn about many new aspects of your delivery of weather forecasts and severe weather warnings to civil protection national meteorological service. With my best wishes for a pleasant visit, agencies and the general public, the DWD modernised its internet website and launched the app WarnWetter. This app has received a lot of praise from its users: At the moment of publication of this annual report, the number of Yours sincerely, users reached the threshold of three million. Gerhard Adrian

4 Table of contents

Weather & Climate 5 2015

Ivan Simecki (right) checks the visibility sensor at Runway North- west while Helmut Geu (left) monitors the data flow in real-time. Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

2015 the second warmest year in Germany, At 40.3 C new record for daily maximum temperature together with 2000 and 2007 At an average temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius (°C), the year 2015 was 1.7 degrees warmer than the mean value for the international reference period The average temperature for Germany in 2015 was around 9.9 degrees 1961 to 1990. Looking at the comparative period 1981 to 2010, the difference Celsius (°C). This makes it the second warmest year since nationwide measure- was + 1.0 degrees. The mercury climbed to 40.3 °C in Kitzingen, Lower Fran- ments started in 1881, together with 2000 and 2007. At 10.3 °C, the record conia, on both 5th of July and 7th of August, making it the highest temperature is still held by the year 2014 by a clear margin. The previous 12 months were ever recorded in Germany. At – 20.4 °C, the coldest night was recorded in Merk- also very sunny and too dry. lingen on the Swabian Alb on the 4th of February.

In 2015, 10 out of 12 months were too warm in Germany. Only September and October remained below the long-term average. August was Much too dry in many areas the second warmest, the months of November and December the warmest In 2015, the precipitation was around 688 litres per square metre (l/m²), since 1881. which is 13 per cent below the long-term average of 789 l/m². From February onwards, central Germany, in particular, suffered from a drought, which in the summer also encompassed the south and, with brief interruptions, lasted until the end of the year. In places, the DWD recorded less than 400 l/m², which is ...... just over half of the average precipitation. In contrast to this, only the extreme north of the country saw adequate amounts of snow and rainfall. At approximately 1,700 l/m², Baiersbronn-Ruhestein in the Black Forest recorded the highest annual figure, the highest daily total of 119.9 l/m² was registered in Demker to the north of Magdeburg in the Altmark. In 2015, Germany did not see much snow. Snowfall occurred at the end of January and the start of February, in mid-October and during the last ten days of November. In lowland areas, however, the snow generally melted away very quickly. Reit im Winkl in the Chiem- gau nevertheless reported a snow depth of 90 cm on 3 February.

Sunshine duration in 2015 was 13 per cent higher than normal With around 1,723 hours, sunshine was 113 per cent of the long-term average of 1,528 hours. According to the DWD’s observations, Rügen, the Breisgau and Lusatia saw the most sunshine with more than 2,000 hours. The area with the least sunshine in 2015 was the Sauerland with barely 1,500 hours.

...... Automatic weather station of the DWD at Kitzingen in Lower Franconia, where, in July and August 2015, the new record temperature of 40.3°C was registered. Source Annual satellite film for 2015

6 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

Extraordinarily violent spring storm NIKLAS Satellite image ...... At the end of March 2015, a series of strong storms swept through northern Europe, culminating in storm depression NIKLAS on Tuesday, 31 March. One of the countries in its storm field was Germany. Peak gusts of 140 km/h were reported over the North Sea; on the Zugspitze, the gusts of wind peaked at 192 km/h. NIKLAS led to heavy disruption and many cancelled rail, marine and air services. Numerous trees were blown down. Apart from damage to property, the storm unfortunately also caused the loss of several lives.

Weather situation On Tuesday, Germany was affected by a very strong north-westerly upper-air flow (frontal zone at 500 hPa; approx. 5 km altitude). Embedded therein, a short-wave trough moved from the British Isles across the North Sea into Poland during the course of the day. Ahead of it, warm air advection caused pronounced updraughts, which led to heavy rainfalls. To the rear of the depression, the Satellite image of 31 March 2015, 12 UTC, with the core of storm depression forecast area was increasingly affected by the northern, cold side of the frontal NIKLAS residing over Denmark zone, so that the upper-level flow of cold air into the stratified atmosphere led to numerous showers. Track In parallel to the short-wave trough, surface depression NIKLAS, which ...... was situated ahead of the trough in an ideal position to strengthen and develop into a storm depression, moved on across Scotland towards the North Sea, where the storm development reached its peak. From there, NIKLAS, which was beginning to weaken slightly, continued on its path, crossing Denmark towards the Polish Baltic Sea coast.

At the south side of the low, which had a core pressure below 975 hPa, the already considerable pressure differences compared to the Azores High (more than 1035 hPA) began to increase even more as early as during the night of Monday and Tuesday, at first over the north-western parts of Germany, later during the afternoon of that day also in the north-east. The lowest core pressure recorded for NIKLAS was 971.4 hPa, registered on early Tuesday morning (31 March 2015, 04 UTC) at Ekofisk Oil Platform in the central North Sea area. The northern half of Germany was hit by widespread strong gusts which Track of storm depression NIKLAS

7 WetterWeather & &Klima Climate 2015 2015 Table of contents

reached violent storm force in places far into the inland country; along the Warning maps coast and on mountain tops, gusts up to hurricane force were measured......

NIKLAS also brought along a typical frontal system with an occlusion, a warm front and a cold front. With its rainfalls far ahead, the warm front arrived in the western parts of Germany during the night already, whereas the cold front crossed the German territory rapidly from the north-east in a south- easterly direction, causing waves of showers and wind gusts of up to Bft 11 down to the surface. The Alps were reached towards the evening.

In consequence, violent storm gusts also affected the lower-lying areas of the Alpine Foreland, where in the warm sector, due to the channelling effect of east-west Alpine mountain chain, the winds had been further intensifying already from the early morning hours.

How was the warning situation managed? Already during the weekend before, the weather forecasting models hinted at a possible severe storm situation on 31 March. Most models simulated a strong low pressure system developing over northern central Europe, though Warning map from the evening of Monday, Warning map from the afternoon of Tuesday, initially yet with rather large discrepancies regarding the 30 March 31 March, for wind/storm/hurricane-force Severe weather storm’s track. Later on, during Sunday (29 March) and mainly windstorm on Monday (30 March), the models more and more agreed situation for with one another, all predicting a severe weather situation due to storm for many German regions. many German The first alerting information was given in the DWD’s weekly Climatological assessment regions weather hazard forecast. During Monday morning, the DWD Nearly all wind speeds recorded during storm depression NIKLAS range then published a severe weather watch for hurricane-force amongst the highest, both in terms of maximum gust speed and maximum wind gusts. As is was expected that the mountains of southern Germany would 10-minute averages, compared to the March wind speeds in the 1981 – 2010 be hit first, followed by the Alpine Foreland, warnings were issued as early as reference period. This qualifies NIKLAS as one of the most violent March Monday evening for violent storm gusts in large parts of southern Germany and storms, which is particularly remarkable as the storm occurred at the end extreme hurricane-force gusts near the Alps. During the course of Tuesday, the of March, i. e. after the beginning of spring. Windstorm EMMA, which occurred severe weather warnings were extended to almost the whole of Germany. already on 01 March 2008, is another very strong March storm. With wind speeds of up to 220 km/h on Wendelstein Mountain and precipitation up to 60 mm (or l/qm), it caused heavy damage, in particular in Bavaria.

8 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

Station Max. gust in km/h Max. 10-minute average in km/h

NIKLAS CHRISTIAN KYRILL NIKLAS CHRISTIAN KYRILL

Helgoland 111 147 120 85 103 90

Hallig Hooge 115 162 120 93 133 90

Sankt Peter-Ording 121 172 125 87 118 93

Schleswig 90 128 108 56 75 66

Norderney 121 136 113 91 85 73

Bremerhaven 122 129 110 93 89 76

Cuxhaven 105 117 99 68 69 66

Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel 107 120 90 68 68 56

Rostock-Warnemünde 116 87 121 96 46 94

Bremen 105 101 98 76 68 71

Lingen 93 103 117 48 47 59

Hannover 111 89 112 76 46 77

Berlin-Tegel 104 84 119 66 57 69

Lindenberg 104 83 119 60 48 75

Düsseldorf 89 89 144 58 63 86

Göttingen 117 87 105 70 50 73

Brocken 162 162 198 115 121 142

Leipzig/Halle 116 85 112 71 59 77

Wasserkuppe 118 119 172 86 85 103

Meiningen 91 68 107 52 36 69

Fichtelberg 156 107 184 111 82 136

Frankfurt/Main 101 87 95 74 55 68

Bad Kissingen 91 73 114 58 45 63

Weinbiet 148 127 163 106 86 110

Nürnberg 95 66 100 68 43 68

Regensburg 111 38 115 64 24 62

Freudenstadt 100 78 114 58 37 62

München-Stadt 120 43 104 64 25 60

Feldberg (Black Forest) 150 127 165 112 83 107 ...... Zugspitze 192 109 183 104 85 123 .One of the six visibil- . ity sensors at Runway Wind speeds of storms NIKLAS (31 March 2015), CHRISTIAN (28 October 2013) and KYRILL Northwest (18/19 January 2007)

9 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

Periods of intense heat and Comparison 2003/2015 persistent drought ......

Hamburg Berlin Behind 2003 and 1947, the summer 2015 was the third hottest summer in Germany since 1881. It will be remembered by many for its intense heat waves in July and August, which were interrupted by periods of significantly cooler weather. On 5th July and 7th August, Kitzingen in Franconia set a new tempera- Tage Anzahl Tage Anzahl ture record with 40.3 °C, surpassing the former record of 40.2 °C recorded in Karlsruhe and Freiburg in 2003. For the whole of Germany, the number of hot Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte days (Tmax ≥ 30°C) and tropical nights (Tmin ≥ 20°C) remained below the 2003 2015 2003 2015 records set in 2003. Köln Dresden Anzahl Tage Anzahl Tage Anzahl

Summer 2015 Summer 2003 ...... Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte 2003 2015 2003 2015

Frankfurt/Main Nürnberg Anzahl Tage Anzahl Tage Anzahl

Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte 2003 2015 2003 2015

Mannheim München Anzahl Tage Anzahl Tage Anzahl

Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte Heiße Tage Tropennächte 2003 2015 2003 2015

Air temperature anomalies for the summer months of 2015 and 2003 compared to the reference period 1961 – 1990 Number of hot days (HD) and tropical nights (TN) in 2003 and 2015 for eight German cities

10 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

After a far-too-dry spring mainly in the centre of Germany and mere The other parts of Germany received average or slightly-above-average average winter precipitation, many parts of Germany lacked precipitation in precipitation due to a few events of strong rainfall, mainly in July and August. the summer. All of southern Germany up to Hesse saw lower-than-average In June, however, the whole of Germany was drier than the long-term average, precipitation, and the north-east including the coast of the Baltic Sea was also despite a few heavy precipitation events mainly in southern Germany. too dry. All in all, there were more than 20 days in the summer 2015 without any significant precipitation in the whole of Germany. Most precipitation events occurred in regional clusters in the north and the south of the country. In the period from March till May, the central parts of Germany only saw 30 per cent of Precipitation totals the expected precipitation, locally even less. This low level of precipitation over ...... a very long period of time, together with the very high temperatures during the summer months which additionally caused strong evaporation, had a major impact on agriculture and inland navigation. In mid-June, the persistent drought was classified as ‘moderate to extreme’.

Soil moisture ......

1 2 3 4 5 Index 1 2 3 4 5 Index 1 2 3 4 5 Index

Relative precipitation totals in % for summer 2015 compared to mean summer precipitation Classification of soil moisture under grass cover and sandy clay in June, July and August averaged over the reference period 1961 – 1990 2015 (from left to right) compared to the series since 1981

11 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

2015 – the warmest year globally with one of the Smoke plumes strongest El Niño events of the last decades ......

In 2015, new monthly temperature records were reported many times. The independent analyses of several institutions (HadCRU, NASA, NOAA, JMA) concluded that it was globally the warmest year since measurements began in the 19th century. This was partly due to a very strong El Niño, one of the top meteorological topics in 2015. El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a circulation pattern of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific with wide-ranging impacts on the spatial distribution of precipitation and temperature.

Higher-than-average water temperatures During an El Niño phase, the water temperature in the central and eastern Pacific are higher than average, with the highest anomalies occurring in the upper water layers (< 150 m). From May 2015, the monthly mean sea-surface temperature in the central and eastern Pacific near the In November, equator was for the first time about 1 K above the long-term average. In the following months, this part of the ocean in some parts warmed up even more. In November, the whole equatorial Smoke plumes from forest and peat fires in Indonesia on 24 September 2015. On the left, ocean area between the date line and South America was you can see Sumatra Island, in the right half Borneo and top left the Malacca Peninsula with even more than more than 2 K, in some parts even more than 3 K warmer Malaysia and Singapore. Source than normal, with weaker trade winds over the tropical Pacific. 3 K warmer At times, the direction of the winds even turned from east to west. than normal Together with the changes in circulation, precipitation over Effects also felt in other regions the tropical central and eastern Pacific increased and Indonesia was affected The effects of El Niño are not limited to the Pacific region, but can be felt in by a summer drought. Due to lack of rainfall, fires which had been started in various regions worldwide. It was, for example, much too dry in the north- order to clear the jungle got out of control at times and caused the population eastern part of South America, as well as in southern and north-eastern Africa, to suffer from respiratory difficulties. which resulted in significant crop failure in some parts. The US state of Cali- fornia was affected by a prolonged drought till September, followed by above- average precipitation in October.

12 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

From mid-October, abundant precipitation events led to extensive Comparison of precipitation flooding in southern Brazil, and also in Paraguay in December. In Australia, ...... October 2015 was not only the warmest October month since records Frühjahr (Mar, Apr, Mai) began, but also the warmest month ever in the 106-year long observation series. In December, South Africa experienced heat waves with new records of more than 40 °C.

Strengthening tropical cyclones

The circulation anomaly and the fact that, due to the concurrent warm Sommer (Jun, Jul, Aug) phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), not only the equatorial ocean areas but also large parts of the north-eastern Pacific were warmer than average favoured the formation of tropical cyclones, especially over the central and north-eastern Pacific. In this area, a total number of 27 tropical cyclones developed, of which 17 reached hurricane strength. These figures are much higher, in the case of hurricanes even about twice as high as the averages for the period from 1981 to 2010 (just under 17 tropical storms with nine turning Herbst (Sep, Okt, Nov) into hurricanes). There hasn’t been such a high number of hurricanes (1992 and 2014: 16) since 1966, when reliable observations for these ocean areas began to become available. With 27 tropical storms, of which 18 turned into typhoons, the figures for the North-West Pacific are around the average compared to slightly below-average figures (eleven tropical cyclones, of which only four reached hurricane strength) for the North Atlantic, which is a characteristic of Winter (Dez, Jan, Feb) an El Niño.

Already in the summer, model simulations indicated the possibility that 2015/16 would see one of the strongest El Niño events of the last decades, comparable to those in 1997/98 and 1982/83. In the meantime, this has been confirmed to be true. The El Niño-event reached its climax in November. Initially still strong, it began to continuously diminish in strength from the start of the year 2016 and, according to model calculations, will have entered a neutral Left: reference values for seasonal mean precipitation totals (in mm/month). phase by the end of spring or beginning of summer. Middle: correlation at a significance larger than 90% between SOI and precipitation, based on low-pass filtered time series data; positive correlation: higher precipitation In 2015, the DWD published several reports describing the El Niño phe- than normal; negative correlation: less precipitation than normal during El Niño. nomenon on its website . The DWD Weather Glossary provides definitions Right: deviation of observed precipitation from the reference values (in mm/month; explaining the various types of tropical cyclones (in German only). Sources spring 2015, summer 2015, autumn 2015 and winter 2015/2016). Sources

13 Weather & Climate 2015 Table of contents

Average tem- Highest temperature in °C Lowest temperature in °C Precipitation Sunshine dur- Memorable facts perature in °C in l/m2 ation in hours (Links lead to the comprehensive press release.)

January 2.2 (– 0.5) 20.5 – 19.9 85.4 (60.8) 35.3 (43.6) Very mild, stormy and wet in the first half of the month with record on the 10th in Piding (Berchtesgadener Land) on the 25th on the Zugspitze temperature in Piding

February 0.7 (0.4) 14.7 – 21.5 22.3 (49.4) 88 (71.5) Extremely dry in the eastern half; much sunshine in Saxony and the on the 20th in Ohlsbach (rural district of Ortenau) on the 9th on the Zugspitze surrounding federal states; milder to the north of the River Main; south of it colder than normal

Mach 5.2 (3.5) 21.3 – 17.9 55.5 (56.5) 139.1 (111.2) Mild spring month with much sunshine; very dry in the south-west; on the 25th in Bad Mergentheim-Neunkirchen on the 5th on the Zugspitze stormy end of the month

April 8.4 (7.4) 27.6 – 18.7 41.4 (58.2) 224.5 (153.7) Very sunny, in places fairly dry month, with typical April weather only on the 15th in Ohlsbach (rural district of Ortenau) on the 7th on the Zugspitze at the beginning and end of the month

May 12.3 (12.1) 31.3 – 9.1 51.7 (71.1) 187 (201.6) Heavy tornadoes on the 5th in Bützow and 13th in Affingen, with many on the 12th in Ohlsbach (rural district of Ortenau) on the 20th on the Zugspitze people injured and considerable damage to property

June 15.8 (15.4) 35.0 – 6.6 57.5 (84.6) 205.4 (203.3) Third successive month which, in many regions, was much too dry with on the 5th in Bad Kreuznach on the 17th on the Zugspitze detrimental effects on soil moisture and water levels in the rivers

July 19.4 (16.9) 40.3 – 4.9 72.2 (77.6) 245.1 (210.7) Heatwave at the beginning of the month produced highest-ever on the 5th in Kitzingen (Lower Franconia) on the 26th on the Zugspitze temperature in Germany

August 19.9 (16.5) 40.3 – 2.0 74.8 (77.2) 246.3 (199.5) Same heat record as in previous month on the 7th in Kitzingen (Lower Franconia) on the 20th on the Zugspitze

September 13 (13.3) 34.4 – 9.2 56.3 (61.1) 139.9 (149.6) After 12 months with higher-than-normal monthly mean temperatures, on the 1st in Aldersbach-Kriestorf (Passau) on the 7th on the Zugspitze the monthly mean is for the first time below the long-term mean.

October 8.4 (9) 23.6 – 11.3 46.6 (55.8) 99.4 (108.5) First spell of winter weather in Germany’s low mountain ranges in the on the 3rd in Piding (Berchtesgadener Land) on the 20th on the Zugspitze middle of the month

November 7.5 (4) 23.8 – 18.8 101 (66.3) 67.5 (52.8) Warmest November since measurements began in 1881; very much on the 7th in Emmendingen-Mundingen on the 22nd on the Zugspitze precipitation

Dezember 6.5 (0.8) 18.0 – 13.7 36.5 (70.2) 65.2 (38) Warmest December since measurements began in 1881: + 1.7 K on the 17th in Emmendingen-Mundingen on the 9th on the Zugspitze warmer than previous warmest December months (1934/1974)

Winter 1.9 (0.2) 20.5 – 21.5 183.2 (180.7) 145.6 (152.9) Signs of winter not until mid-January; much precipitation in the north 2014/15 on the 10th of January in Piding on the 9th of February on the Zugspitze (Berchtesgadener Land)

Spring 8.6 (7.7) 31.3 – 18.7 148.6 (185.9) 550.6 (466.6) More sunshine, milder and drier than normal on the 12th in Ohlsbach (rural district of Ortenau) on the 7th of April on the Zugspitze

Summer 18.4 (16.3) 40.3 – 6.6 204.5 (239.4) 696.9 (613.5) Third warmest summer since measurements began; new heat record on the 5th of July and 7th of August on the 17th of June on the Zugspitze in Kitzingen (Lower Franconia)

Autumn 9.6 (8.8) 34.4 – 18.8 203.9 (183.3) 306.7 (310.9) Slightly colder at the beginning, then very mild; precipitation on the 1st of September in Aldersbach-Kriestorf on the 22nd of November on the distributed very unevenly over the individual months (Passau) Zugspitze

Year 9.9 (8.2) 40.3 – 21.5 701.3 (788.9) 1 742.6 (1 544) Another very mild year (second warmest, together with 2000 and 2007) on the 5th of July and 7th of August in Kitzingen on the 9th of February on the Zugspitze only shortly after the latest temperature record of 10.3 °C for 2014 (Lower Franconia)

14 The figures in parenthesis indicate the long-term mean values according to the internationally agreed 1961 to 1990 reference period. Table of contents

The special topic 15 AutoWARN

The DWD’s technical team on their way to service the laser ceilometer at Runway 18 West (the device with the red ribbon in the middle of the picture) The special topic: AutoWARN Table of contents

...... Precise warnings down to local level

The weather is responsible for 80 per cent of all damages caused by natural disasters in Germany. This makes it all the more important to provide people with reliable and official weather and severe warnings in order to prevent damage.

The provision of official warnings of severe or hazardous weather is one of the key statutory duties of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). For carrying out this duty, it is vitally important that the warnings are coordinated centrally and originate from one source. This is the only way to avoid confusion among the population and to ensure an efficient disaster response. In order to comply with this statutory duty, the DWD has established a comprehensive warning management system, which is continuously improved and adapted to changing requirements. Thunderstorm during the night of 6 July 2015. Source

Three stages of lead time At the DWD’s headquarters in Offenbach, the meteorologists check the weather forecasts for the next five to ten days. They receive these from the event, the DWD issues a severe weather watch (Vorabinformation). The German Meteorological Computing Centre at the DWD in Offenbach and from third stage is the severe weather warning (Unwetterwarnung). the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts First alerts on (ECMWF), an intergovernmental institution with 22 European Precise warnings for each district in Germany can be issued from about Member States (one of which is Germany) based in Reading, 12 hours before an event’s arrival. In the case of short-range weather events, KYRILL four England. As soon as there is any sign that a dangerous severe the lead-time stages are sometimes much shorter. The lead time for rapidly weather event may hit Germany, the DWD issues the first early developing thunderstorms, for example, can be as short as one to two hours, days ahead of warnings. Looking back to windstorm KYRILL in January 2007, the lead time for persistent rain nowadays is one to two days. for example, the DWD had then been able to include the first the storm alerts in its weekly weather hazard forecast as early as four The measuring networks (those in Germany as well as those of the days ahead of the storm. neighbouring countries) increasingly provide real-time weather observations in order to support and complement the model forecasts. During the last two The information from the weather forecasting models becomes more hours before a weather event, the data from the DWD’s 17 weather radars detailed as a weather event gets closer in time. For this reason, the DWD warn- are of particular importance as they provide a seamless picture of the current ings go through three lead-time stages, beginning with the early warnings precipitation situation in Germany, i.e. where rain, snowfall, showers, hail (in German: Frühwarninformationen) published about five to seven days ahead and thunderstorm are threatening to occur and create dangerous situations of the event’s forecast arrival over Germany. From about two days before the that require warning.

16 The special topic: AutoWARN Table of contents

The three stages of lead time Localised thunderstorms, for example, can cause heavy damage, but ...... often affect smaller areas and can only be forecast at a very short range. The thunderstorm cells are displayed in FeWIS based on radar data and using a Vorhersage- 0 – 2 h 2 – 12 h 12 – 48 h 48 – 120 h colour code. FeWIS also shows their expected tracks. This helps the emergency zeitraum responders to plan the deployment of their local forces as precisely as possible. Typ der (Un)wetterwarnung Warnung Vorwarnung Frühwarnung The DWD also cooperates closely with the flood forecasting centres of the federal states. It provides them with detailed precipitation data from its Produkt Landkreisbezogene Warnlageberichte Wochenvorhersage weather forecasting models and alerts them about forecast uncertainties and aktuelle Warnungen Vorwarnungen Wettergefahren any large discrepancies between the model outputs. This allows better pre- Gebiet Landkreise Deutschland, Deutschland dictions of water levels and floods. Bundesländer

Basis Beobachtungen, Numerische Ensemblevorhersagen During supra-regional disasters, the Federal Office of Civil Protection Verfahren, Numerische Wettervorhersage Deterministische Wettervorhersage Vorhersagen and Disaster Assistance (BBK) must also be in the position to coordinate emergency response activities with great precision. Given that weather information often plays a key role in this, the BBK and DWD cooperate closely with one another.

During the course of a year, the DWD issues 365 weekly weather hazard Schematic representation of the DWD’s three-level warning system forecasts, more than 10,000 warning summaries and, on average, 1,500 to 2,000 severe weather warnings.

Four-colour code Channels of distribution The weather can cause a wide range of different dangers, varying from icy There are a number of channels through which the warnings are distri- conditions to hurricane-force windstorms. For this reason, the DWD has four buted to the public. In addition to being published on the DWD’s websites warning levels which are symbolised by different colours: yellow for a basic (www.dwd.de and www.wettergefahren.de ), the warnings are also distri- weather warning, ochre for a warning of significant weather, red for severe buted on social media, such as Twitter or Facebook . In the event of very weather warnings and purple-red for a warning of extreme weather. dangerous weather situations, severe weather clips produced by the DWD are uploaded onto YouTube . It is also possible to subscribe to a free news- If there is a risk of severe weather, the police, fire brigades and disaster letter to receive the warnings by e-mail. Since June 2015, it has been possible response units must be optimally informed of the developments. For the to receive up-to-date warnings via the DWD’s free weather warning app specific needs of these organisations, the DWD has developed a specialised (www.dwd.de/app ). Internet-based information system called FeWIS, which gives a clear, concise and easy-to-understand overview of all the relevant weather and warning Weather warnings are issued for gusts of wind up to hurricane force and information for each region. for thunderstorms and accompanying phenomena of various strength, such

17 The special topic: AutoWARN Table of contents

as hail, heavy rain and wind gusts, continuous rain, snowfall and snow drifts, warning app or in the warning management systems FeWIS (fire brigades) icy conditions, thaw, fog and frost, etc. For each of these meteorological events, and SWIS (road weather). This means that the customers have access to the there exist specific threshold values above which warnings are issued: in the ultra-high resolution ‘premium warning product’. Given the fact that the warn- case of fog, for example, warnings are issued if the visibility is below 150 metres, ing situation is continuously monitored by the meteorologists, the detailed in the case of heavy rain if more than 25 l/m² per hour are expected and in warning status may change frequently as the situation changes. Accordingly, the case of gusts of violent-storm force above 105 km. this warning product is always up-to-date.

In addition to this, there is a ‘standard warning product’ for dissemination Warning support system AutoWARN via fax, text messages and e-mail (newsletter). This product includes fewer The DWD’s warning management system is based on meteorological events details about the expected event. These warnings are updated or cancelled only and their intensity and duration. The products will in future no longer be linked after a significant change in the weather situation. This is the reason why warn- to the rural district level alone, but will also take account of geographical ings published on www.dwd.de may vary slightly from those distributed by structures, such as river basins or power line sections. This will make it possible fax. The authoritative versions of the warnings are those which are continuously to issue warnings down to a local scale and not only at the rural-district level – updated and published as part of the ‘premium warning product’. as, after all, severe weather events do not stop at district borders.

For this purpose, the DWD has developed the warning support system AutoWARN. It is a support system aimed at helping the meteorologist in charge Warning messages of warnings. However, the meteorologist remains responsible for the over- ...... all monitoring as well as for any decisions to be taken regarding the issuing of warnings.

The key innovation in AutoWARN is that it provides the meteorologist with graphically-supported warning suggestions resulting from model calculations and nowcasting (0 to 2 hours). Using these data as the basis, the meteorologist processes the meteorological event by forming ‘polygones’, which set the limits for the geographical area of the weather event for which it may become necessary to issue a warning. In addition, the meteorologist can derive information about the likely beginning and end of the event and the intensity of the warning event/severe weather. After that, the text of the warning is automatically generated and sent to the various customer groups.

This is where the second major improvement comes in: the system provides different types of ‘warning products’ depending on the customers’ requirements. At any time, the current warning status is displayed on the DWD’s websites (www.dwd.de and www.wettergefahren.de ), in the weather Examples of official warnings

18 DasThe specialbesondere topic: Thema AutoWARN Table of contents

October 2015: Introduction of new support system Figure 1 The warning system which the DWD introduced in October 2015 focusses on ...... combining the vast amount of models and data available to the meteorologist Beobachtungen OPG in charge of warnings. The aim is to obtain a statistically optimised summary Synop, MREP, etc. Automatische and highest-quality forecasts of weather events that might create a warning Überwachung Warnereignisse situation (Figure 1). The forecasting of warning situations expected to occur within the next one to two hours (nowcasting) in summer and winter is based on Modellvorhersagen ASG the NowCastMIX method. This method developed at the DWD combines incom- ModelMIX AutoWARN Status Generator ing (3D) radar products with various tracking methods for detecting thunder- Statistisches Post-Processing Automatische storm cells, etc., as well as with lightning data, actual observations and model Warnvorschläge forecasts. Using all this information, the system then provides the warning NowCasting ASE PVW Warnprodukte meteorologist with a suggestion for an optimised warning (Figure 2). NowCastMIX AutoWARN Automatische Produktion z. B. WarnWetter App Radarprodukte, Status Editor Warnprodukte Beobachtungen, Blitze, Manuell modifizierter Kundenspezifische Visualisierung, Modellvorhersagen All other suspect weather events within a forecast period between now- Warnstatus Warnprodukte Verteilung casting and up to three days ahead are subject to the DWD’s ModelMIX method. In a statistically optimised way, ModelMIX combines the incoming deterministic Overview of numerous data which are included in the new AutoWARN support system and ensemble model forecasts of the ECMWF with those from both the DWD’s convection-resolving COSMO-DE-EPS model and its nonhydrostatic global model system ICON. This is followed by the AutoWARN Status Generator (ASG), a tool which combines the outputs spatially and temporally in such a way that Figure 2 warnings are derived and suggested to the warning meteorologist......

The next component is the AutoWARN Status Editor (ASE), which offers So-called polygones demarcate the meteorologist the complete range of suggested warnings with the possi- the geographical extent of a bility to edit them manually. This is where the final decision is taken about weather event for which the issu- issuing an updated warning status. Only once it has been checked and released ance of a warning may become by the meteorologist, will this warning status be used for the fully automated necessary. production, distribution and publication of the full range of warning products for the various customer groups. Up-to-date warning products are available at the rural-district, soon local scale; they can be used, for example, for visualisation in the DWD’s weather warning app and on the Internet.

The new, future-oriented approach adopted during the development of the AutoWARN support system for warnings is fit-for-purpose for today’s and future requirements. The national meteorological services from a number of other countries have already shown great interest in the new support system.

19 Table of contents

Developments & 20 Events

Ivan Simecki (left) and Helmut Geu (right) servicing the laser ceilometer at Runway 18 West Developments & Events Table of contents

Measurement technology in focus: snow depth, snow Each instrument and type of instrument and each piece of additional water equivalent and amount of cloud cover equipment requires an individual field test environment, a requirement which is easily met thanks to the large variety of measurement sites in the DWD’s net- The operation of measurement and observation systems is an important task work of surface stations. The DWD operates a number of test measuring fields: which is laid down in the Law on the Deutscher Wetterdienst. Before any new technology for recording meteorological parameters is introduced into operational service at the DWD, instruments and systems available on the market are tested by us for their efficiency and performance. Only if they pass the required tests can they be integrated into routine operations. This ensures that only Station WMO* Special feature those instruments are used which meet the standards and specifications that station identifier: are essential for the provision of reliable, official data. Hamburg-Sasel Test Interaction between latest state-of-the-art measurement field data transmission and data processing; calibration 10140 laboratory and wind channel Test measurement fields Quickborn 10146 Wet site with frequent fog, reference instruments for visibility

While the laboratory tests are carried out to check the sensors’ properties Pelzerhaken 10152 Large insect populations (summer and winter) under indoor conditions, the open-air trials indicate whether the instruments Westermarkelsdorf 10055 Reference instrument for precipitation (rain, snow) are suited for field-use. according to the international standards of WMO Berlin-Tempelhof 10384 Large population of aggressive birds (not in winter)

Sankt Peter-Ording 10028 Offshore climate (salt, algae, fine sand in the wind, intense UV radiation)

Brocken 10453 High wind speeds, site for extreme frozen fog deposit ...... Wasserkuppe 10544 Site "in the clouds", prolonged snow cover, frequent high humidity situations

Flughafen Hamburg (airport) 10147 Ideal site for comparative testing of aeronautical Test measurement field Wasser- meteorological particularities Meteorological obser- Test fields Basic research, intensive accompanying research, kuppe: in the foreground, two vatories: Lindenberg und WMO RA VI radiation centre installations with measurement Hohenpeißenberg Oberschleißheim Test field Verification of systems for operational suitability; equipment to be tested; behind calibration laboratory and wind channel these, seven new measurement Potsdam Test field Interaction with operationally used systems units finished in 2015 Research ships (not DWD) Call sign Operation tests (long and short journeys) METEOR and ALKOR METEOR, DBBH, ALKOR, DBND

* World Meteorological Organization

21 Developments & Events Table of contents

...... The practical tests carried out here provide reliable statements both about acquisition of data according to the international guidelines of the World For the purpose of comparison, the Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organ- test measurement field of Pelzerhaken ization (ICAO) as well as about the requirements to be met for operational use, was equipped with a SHM50 multipoint such as quality consistency of the measurements, technological availability and laser device (mounted to the upper ease of service and maintenance. part of the mast) and a SHM30 one-beam laser (bottom part of the mast), both from Lufft. Surface measurements as set out in the DWD Strategy In the warning process, up-to-date and accurate surface measurements are absolutely indispensable, especially in the case of the sudden development or occurrence of extreme weather – and even more so if this occurs at a small scale. The measurements are also important for model calculations and for assessing long-term climate changes. They continue to be the basis for modelling the current meteorological situation in a certain place as close to reality as possible as well as for enabling the meteorologists to assess and correctly classify the vast amount of remote sensing data.

Within the framework of the DWD Strategy, the measurement/determination of the meteorological parameters snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE) and amount of cloud cover are currently of particular interest. The depth with more than one laser are that the system provides higher resilience following provides brief details of these measurements. and that it is easier to detect local errors in the individual beams.

The long-term aim is to improve the representativeness of snow depth Automatic snow depth measurements measurements. Future laser-based devices will therefore be designed to cover Since 2014, all automatic ultrasonic measurement systems in the surface net- as much area as possible with large-scale multiple point measurements. But the work have been replaced by high-precision laser distance sensors (snow depth question of whether this leads to the required representativeness or whether sensors SHM30 by Lufft). Snow depth sensors, like all other measuring instru- it will be necessary to equip critical sites, such as mountain stations, with more ments based on optical sensing principles, require maximum resistance to than one or two devices is being examined. environmental influences that might disturb the laser beam. In order to improve resistance to insects and ice accretion, in particular, development work is currently under way by the manufacturers, in collaboration with the DWD and part- Automatic measurement of snow water equivalent (SWE) nered meteorological services. The first instruments resulting from this devel- The experience gained and exchanged nationally and internationally has opment are already being tested. In addition to a changed shape of the case confirmed that the best option for automated determination of the snow water and a redesigned heater, these sensors now feature three lasers, each of which equivalent (SWE) is the use of snow scales. The DWD does not pursue any determines the snow depth individually. The advantages of measuring snow other methods, such as snow pillows (which bear the risk that the could be

22 Developments & Events Table of contents

Snow scale Snow melt analyser Cloud height measurement ......

Sommer SSG snow scale on the Wasser- Sommer SMA snow melt analyser in kuppe test field (the measurement is carried place at the Wasserkuppe test field since out on the metal plate in the centre) autumn 2015

Based on the cloud cover algorithm with a 30-minute data image, a data preprocessor bitten through by animals trying to reach the liquid) or techniques based on (e. g. AMDA or ASDUV) (middle) converts the cloud heights reported by the sensors the attenuation of radioactive radiation (which would require artificial injection (left: CHM15k and LD-40) into visualised spatial information (right). of radioactive material into the soil).

The current automatic method is as simple as recording the weight of the snow pack on a scale. The DWD will start the first trials using this technique Automatic determination of cloud amount in winter 2015/16. If it is found that the method is valid, further sites will be For the automatic determination of cloud amount, an internationally accepted equipped with the scale from 2016 onwards. and proven method is used which translates time-resolved in-situ measure- First trials using ments (LIDAR) into spatial information. The difficulty here is that extensive Also, customers from the water management sector are verifications and adaptations are necessary because of the fact that the DWD’s this technique interested in information about when the existing snow cover current measuring network uses a mix of different cloud height measuring will begin to release water. Some other countries are already devices with a variety of different specification profiles. in winter 2015/16 reporting positive experiences with snow melt analysers. These measure the AC resistance (impedance) at different The foundation for harmonisation was laid in 2015 when the DWD began frequencies in order to determine the state of the snow cover, based on the to replace the obsolete devices by the modern CHM 15k Nimbus systems conductivities (dielectricity constants) of each component (ice, water and air). produced by Lufft. This new technology is planned to be implemented at all The measurements currently under way are aimed at confirming this. operational sites by 2019.

23 Developments & Events Table of contents

From single measurements to cloud etage information Ceilometer ......

The inside of the CHM15k Nimbus

2/8 on Hamburg-Sasel test field

2/8

43.000 ff 43.000 7.000 m

1/8 1/8

2.000 m 1/8 2/8 1/8

30 Minuten 30 Minuten

From the single measurements of the various devices (max. 3 heights: red = low/ green = middle/blue = high), the cloud cover algorithm derives up to 3 cloud layers maximum, which are then attributed to the 3 cloud levels.

An aspect under intense scrutiny is whether the potential of the new Conclusion ceilometers will, even in the long term, be sufficient to meet the requirements The DWD is continually working to enhance the meteorological sensors it uses of weather forecasting and aeronautical meteorology. This means clarifica- for the measurements. In combination with remote sensing techniques, which tion of questions such as finding out the best way of including data from remote are also subject to constant improvement, we – as Germany’s national meteoro- sensing in order to improve the results and whether the devices need to be logical service – should thus be in a good position to meet increasing customer adapted for improved reliability of volcanic ash information. demands and fulfil our statutory duties to the highest standards of quality. In this context, checking the sensors on open-air test measurement fields before But the instruments also need to be improved in the short term with they are included in the measurement networks plays a vital role. regard to data quality in connection with rarely occurring meteorological events. Especially for heavy rain and low cloud situations in which the measuring method reaches its limits the plan is to carry out complementary ceilometer measurements or use measurements from other in-situ instruments to be able to assess and classify the data.

24 Developments & Events Table of contents

Significantly better forecasts: ICON Global By the end of the first quarter of 2016, the DWD will have introduced Model Ensemble Data Assimilation ensemble data assimilation (EDA) for ICON into its operational services. Initially, there will be an ensemble of 40 weather states in order to determine the Thanks to modern systems for observing the atmosphere, the amounts of current dynamic correlations, which in turn are used to calculate a coherent available data nowadays are in the order of 30 million values during 3-hour general state of the atmosphere. EDA is coupled with a variational system, periods. Based on these, data assimilation calculates the general state of leading to a hybrid data assimilation system (Ensemble Var; EnVAR). This allows the atmosphere every three hours, which is then used as initial state for the a much better exploitation of the observations, and the forecasts based on numerical weather forecasts at each of the approximately 270 million grid EnVAR are significantly improved compared to those based on the variational points of the global prediction model ICON. method only.

To achieve this, data assimilation uses both conventional in-situ meas- EDA can also be used to calculate an ensemble of weather forecasts, urements taken by aircraft, radiosondes or surface stations and indirect which is referred to as ensemble prediction system (EPS) and allows determining measurements from satellites and ground-based remote sensing systems. the uncertainty and with it the risk of occurrence of particular events.

In order to obtain from the point-based measurements a three-dimen- With EDA, the DWD provides its customers and users with a modern and sional representation of the atmosphere with all its parameters (such as state-of-the-art ensemble system, which is fit-for-purpose for today’s and future wind, temperature, humidity and pressure), the correlations, i. e. statistical requirements. dependencies, between the meteorological variables are established, ex- ploited and then processed by variational data assimilation.

18-hr forecast 42-hr forecast ......

Visualisation of the storm on Visualisation of the storm on 12 December 2014 in the 18-hour 12 December 2014 in the 24-hour forecast forecast

25 Developments & Events Table of contents

Turbulence forecasts for aviation Turbulence parameter ...... More than three quarters of all flight incidents during which air passengers were injured can be put down to the turbulence phenomenon. Turbulence refers to the occurrence of areas in the air where severe fluctuations of wind prevail which may give even large aircraft a “good shaking”. Important For this reason, the International Civil Aviation Organization progress in the (ICAO) requests that improved methods for the forecasting of turbulence be developed. This is specifically aimed at obtain- field of turbulence ing better forecasts of all processes involved, from large-scale vortices to the smallest-scale whirlwind. As a result of its own forecasting research and development work, the DWD has now made important progress in the field of turbulence forecasting.

Before, turbulence forecasting used to rely on the eddy dissipation rate Turbulence parameters for global use: ICON global forecast for 12 UTC from the 00 UTC (EDR), which gives the conversion rate for turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) as run on 09.12.2015: the red parts indicate the areas of strong turbulence. heat. Such atmospheric turbulence data can be derived from numerical weather forecasting models such as those operated by the DWD or from aircraft measurements. Three-dimensional representation ...... The DWD has now developed a new forecasting method based on the EDR calculation and has integrated it in the new weather forecasting models COSMO and ICON taking account of an extended mathematical-physical equation for TKE as well as EDR measurements taken by US aircraft. The new procedure also takes account of further atmospheric processes that may cause aircraft turbulence, such as horizontal shear vortices in the jet stream, mountain waves and convection, and can predict them better.

The DWD’s aviation meteorologists use these forecasts to issue warnings about severe turbulence. Global range forecasts are needed for the planning and execution of long-distance flights, which is why such data are increasingly passed on to airlines and their providers. By providing the appropriate products, the DWD strengthens its position both at the international level and as a certified provider of aeronautical meteorological services for air navigation. Extreme turbulence at about 9 km above the Alps on 05.01.1014 (three-dimensional): many pilots confirmed the 14-hour forecast in their reports from that day.

26 Developments & Events Table of contents

Launch of app for weather warnings The main idea behind the development and design of the app, which is free of charge and includes no adverts, is to provide easy-to-understand With the launch of its app for weather warnings named WarnWetter on 3 June warnings with the most widespread coverage. The app achieves this by giving 2015, the DWD now provides the large, continually growing community of smart the users the option to choose from a newly available meteorological infor- phone and tablet users with all important weather and warning information it mation kit in order to define how they want to be warned and informed about has on store. Mobile end devices have become a mainstay of communication, the expected weather developments. The app’s coloured warning map gives a for which reason it was a natural consequence for the DWD to extend the range quick overview of the general warning situation in Germany and, through it, of communication channels for weather warnings by an app. easy access to more detailed information.

Homescreens on a tablet Homescreens of the DWD app ......

ICON wind forecast ICON precipitation forecast Homescreen of the WarnWetter app Homescreen of the WarnWetter app showing the warning overview for showing a warning overview for Germany during a winter warning Germany in summer, including radar situation, including radar forecast, map forecast, map with towns and cities with towns and cities

27 Developments & Events Table of contents

Users can choose to have personalised warnings sent directly to their Severe thunderstorm situation in summer smart phone for specific places and criteria, such as heavy rain and storm, etc...... Up-to-date satellite and weather radar loops as well as precipitation and animated wind forecasts provide the users with a wealth of background information Left: Detailed, zoomed map about the warning situation. The graphics can be zoomed from a Europe-wide which includes the warnings view to the regional level. Localised forecasts and warning trends which issued for a summer thunder- illustrate the further development of the weather and warning situation make storm the range complete. Right: Example of an official warning for extremely Since its launch, the app has been downloaded more than 1.7 million severe weather (similar to times (figures of March 2016). During severe weather situations, the number of left figure) active users rises to close to 100,000 per hour. The feedback on the weather warning app is very positive. Google chose WarnWetter as one of the best apps in 2015 in the category ‘Perfect for tablets’ and the app received high praise from the specialised press. This new offer strengthens the DWD’s position as the central competent authority for weather warnings in Germany.

Push alerts Combined satellite and radar image ......

Left: Configuration of push Left: Combined satellite and warning messages for the radar image for a (severe favourites (the user is warned weather) thunderstorm situation actively, if desired with in summer warning signal or blinking LED Right: Warning monitor for a and special sounds) (severe weather) thunderstorm Right: Push warning message situation in summer, forecast for thunderstorm in Frankfurt/ of the storm’s track during the Main next couple of minutes

28 Developments & Events Table of contents

...... Newly launched: Deutscher Klimadienst (DKD), Germany’s network of climate service providers

Given the rapidly changing environment, climate information about past, present and future climate is becoming increasingly important. This is particularly so when it comes to planning long-term investments, such as infrastructural measures that are designed to last for decades.

Interpretation of short-term forecasts of weather and climate will also be much easier if these are understood against the background of historical- climatological experience. Providing reliable climate information is the task of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), an initiative in which many partner organisations of the United Nations are actively involved under the guidance of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Such climate information is most urgently needed especially at the local level. For this reason, Launch of Germany’s climate service network Deutscher Klimadienst (from the left): national structures are required which reliably and sustainably ensure that such Parliamentary State Secretary Peter Bleser (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, BMEL), information is available where it is needed. State Secretary Rainer Bomba (Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, BMVI), Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (Federal Ministry for In Germany, this task has been assigned to the Deutscher Klimadienst the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, BMUB), Dr Paul Becker (DKD), a network of national and federal state authorities and offices in (Vice-President of DWD) and Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian (President of DWD) Germany which have the statutory duty of providing such climate information. The DKD’s mission is to intensify the cooperation between the institutions involved, with the aim to provide a coherent and coordinated basis for informed Deutscher Klimadienst decision-making. The DKD was inaugurated on 7 October 2015 in an official ...... ceremony during the 9th Climate Conference of the DWD by Parliamentary State Secretary Peter Bleser (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, BMEL), Structure of the Deutscher State Secretary Rainer Bomba (Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Klimadienst (DKD) and Infrastructure, BMVI), Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter KlimAdapt (German system of (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and services for climate change Nuclear Safety, BMUB), Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian (President of DWD) and Dr Paul adaptation) Becker (Vice-President of DWD). The DKD’s work will be coordinated by the administrative office established at the DWD.

29 Developments & Events Table of contents

INKAS – Information portal for climate Schematic representation of the modelled area adaptation in cities ......

With the INKAS information portal for climate adaptation in cities , the DWD for the first time provides an advisory tool for the climate-compatible development of cities and towns. Launched in 2015, the Advisory tool portal enables the users to analyse and compare the thermal effects of various urban construction concepts designed for the climate- to help reducing the formation of urban heat islands during periods of heat stress in summer and thus to contribute to compatible climate change mitigation. development The expected climate variations are presented based on the results of systematic climate simulations for so-called virtual cities from the DWD’s urban climate model MUKLIMO_3. The aim is to assess concrete measures according to their impact on the structure of the built-up areas and their environment. The simplified spatial layout of a virtual A virtual city with four equally sized parks evenly distributed across the city city was chosen in order to be able to examine changes in the urban climate resulting from specific adaptation measures, such as roof planting. Impact analysis To start with, INKAS covers adaptation measures in the field of struc- ...... ture of built-up areas (e. g. building height, degree of soil sealing between buildings) and surface properties (e.g. green roofs). One by one, further model outputs are being added to INKAS, such as the ones relating to city size or the thermal effects of green spaces and water surfaces. Without much effort, INKAS allows to quantify the scale of the expected effect of a measure and compare it with that of other measures: once the user has selected the structure of the built-up area, the environment and the adaptation measure, the model results are presented as scatter charts for the maximum and minimum air temperature on a summer day with weak winds. The charts indicate absolute air temperatures and their deviation from a reference state following application of a measure. With INKAS, the DWD provides cities and towns with an important tool for decision-making, which will help them to identify, INKAS impact analysis for linear development areas surrounded by a dispersed settlement assess and plan climate adaptation measures. structure. The adaptation measure addresses the degree of soil sealing between the buildings (grey = reference state). Reducing the degree of soil sealing will, on a summer day, cause the maximum and minimum temperatures to decrease. The uncertainty range (orange) is ± 0.2 K.

30 Developments & Events Table of contents

ICOS – For a better understanding of climate change The DWD’s Hohenpeissenberg Meteorological Observatory (MOHp) is responsible for establishing and operating the atmospheric observation network The Integrated Carbon Observation System, ICOS, is a European-wide re- for ICOS in Germany. Altogether, the network comprises nine stations, six main search infrastructure for the coordinated measurement of the carbon cycle, stations, two secondary stations at high towers (e.g. radio/TV masts) and one greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric concentrations of the major trace marine station. All sites take continuous measurements of the climate gases gases. ICOS integrates networks of atmosphere, ecosystem and ocean obser- CO2 (carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane), CO (carbon monoxide) and N2O (nitrous vations and thus creates the body of data needed for a full European carbon oxide) and various meteorological parameters at three to five different heights. balance. Standardised measurements are carried out throughout Europe at The main sites are additionally equipped with devices for the sampling of other tall towers and ecosystem measurement sites located from the Arctic to the climate-relevant gases and carbon isotopes (14C and 13C). The air samples taken Mediterranean as well as on marine measurement platforms and research and there are analysed at the Central Analytical Laboratories (CAL) of ICOS and, merchant ships in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. Sustained, long-term like the data from the continuous measurements, are transmitted to the Atmos- provision of data is the basic precondition for being able to estimate the future phere Thematic Centre of ICOS in France. development of climate-relevant gases in Germany and the European Union, sustainably monitor the reduction of emissions and provide the information basis needed for climate policy decisions.

ICOS observation network CO2 and CH4 time series ......

Network of German ICOS atmospheric observation stations displayed in a CO2 emission map CO2 and CH4 times series (daily mean values) from the operational sites at

(M. Heimann, MPI-BGC Jena) which illustrates the CO2 flows at midday on a summer day. Hohenpeissenberg (HPB), Ochsenkopf (OXK) and Lindenberg (LIN)

31 Developments & Events Table of contents

...... By the end of 2015, the DWD had completed the installation of the In immediate vicinity ICOS stations at Hohenpeissenberg, Lindenberg, Ochsenkopf and Gartow, the of the runway observa- remaining five stations will be installed and put into operation during the course tion station, no aircraft of 2016. In the coming decades, the DWD will, through its ICOS network, make takes-off without the important contributions towards a better understanding of climate change and DWD’s meteorological independent verification of national greenhouse gas balances. advice.

Further information about ICOS can be found on the following websites: ICOS at DWD , the German ICOS component, ICOS-D and the ICOS European Research Infrastructure .

Modelled CO2 concentrations ......

Comparison between measured CO2 concentrations and the values computed by the Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport model (STILT) for the 93 m measurement level at Hohenpeissenberg ICOS station (12 UTC values)

32 Developments & Events Table of contents

...... Workshop on heat warning system attracts interest of White House

Impacts of heat waves on human health, ways to prevent these impacts and the development of a heat warning system – these were the main topics at a workshop held in Chicago, USA, from 28 to 30 July 2015. This event had been organised by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- Workshop in istration (NOAA) as the USA’s national meteorological service in cooperation with the World Organisation for Meteorology Chicago jointly (WMO) and the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). organized by The WMO took this opportunity to present the newly published „Heatwaves and Health: Guidance on Warning-System Devel- NOAA and DWD opment“, which had been prepared with the assistance of the DWD. The event attracted a lot of media attention, and even the White House referred to it in a press release entitled “Obama administration announces actions to protect communities from the health impacts of climate Many buildings – rare green spaces: view of Chicago from the Hankock Tower. Source change“. The workshop marked a first step towards a collaboration between NOAA and DWD regarding climate services within the WMO’s Global Framework ...... for Climate Services (GFCS).

Heat waves can claim thousands of deaths, and not only in Europe, but also in North America. It is likely that due to climate change, the frequency, length and intensity of heat waves will increase in the future. In 2015, heat waves in India and Pakistan again caused the death of several thousand people. In the summer of 2015, Germany was also affected by heat waves, which, however, were more frequent but shorter than in 2003. In addition, the summer nights in 2015 were more oppressive and more humid.

From left to right: Dr Timothy Owen (Executive Officer NOAA National Climatic Data Center), Dr Jon Gottschalk (NOAA Climate Prediction Center), Dr Rupa Kumar Kolli (World Climate Applications & Services, WMO), Dr Paul Becker (DWD Vice President).

Source

33 Developments & Events Table of contents

Click here – the DWD’s new website Clear and easy to read the new DWD homepage ...... On 13 October 2015, the DWD’s new website went live. With its modernised look and state-of-the-art responsive design for a variety of end devices from the The new DWD homepage simplest smart phone to desktop computers, it offers a captivating insight into the DWD.

Via its various service areas, the website gives access to a large number of different information and services, beginning with current city weather and active severe weather warnings displayed in the top blue bar and the direct links to the DWD’s Weather Glossary and WeatherShop at the bottom of the page. The home page gives a short and focused overview of key information about weather and climate, more details can be found on the follow-on pages.

The website system has a three-tier architecture consisting of a proxy layer, an application server and a database level. In addition to the content managing Government Site Builder (GSB), which includes an editing and a host- ing system, there are a database and a directory service for managing user data...... Modern search technology (Apache Solr) enables the users to easily find the information and products they are looking for using the search facets or content filters provided. The security requirements comply with the provisions of the DWD’s current IT security concept and the guidelines of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). Accessibility of the DWD website is guaranteed in compliance with the Ordinance on Barrier-Free Information Technology (BITV 2.0). Dynamic applications, such as the new official weather warning page or the DWD’s presence on Twitter, have also been integrated into the website.

The new system is operated by the German Meteorological Computing Centre according to high security standards. The use of the new Internet site is analysed and documented internally by means of statistical evaluations. In addition to the number of visitors, the results of these evaluations also reveal the large variety of end devices, browsers and operating systems used for accessing what is on offer. More than a million page views every day are the Presentation of global ground air forecast Presentation of climate chart for air proof that the new website has been well received. temperature

34 Developments & Events Table of contents

DWD’s National Meteorological Library joins hbz network

In 2015, the National Meteorological Library of Germany at the DWD joined the network of the North Rhine-Westphalian Library Service Centre (Hochschul- bibliothekszentrum, hbz). This cooperation is absolutely essential because of the library’s continuing process of strategic reorientation The library’s and its increased focus on online access and availability. By including the DWD’s media collections in the hbz catalogue, at visivility and first all current media items and later also the historical publications, the library’s visibility and relevance will clearly relevance will improve. improve The title data of internationally significant and sometimes rare books, maps and collections held by the National Meteoro- logical Library of Germany will then also be listed in the prestigious WorldCat, the world’s largest catalogue. In addition, the DWD can benefit from the hbz’s expertise in information technology and the training programmes it offers and, above all, also make use of the hbz’s latest innovations, such as the provision of eBooks.

The main reason for choosing hbz as a partner was that its system for managing the collections, called Aleph, is very similar to the one used by the DWD. Another reason: the excellent support services which the hbz is offering during the joining process. Therefore, much of the library’s activities in 2016 and 2017 will be dedicated to positioning itself in a large national network of libraries.

...... Bodo Feyh reads the soil temperature on the measuring field beside the runway observation station.

35 Table of contents

Measuring & 36 Observing Networks

Server room at the runway observation station. From here, all the meteorological data registered at the airport are transmitted to the DWD’s German Meteorological Computing Centre in Offenbach. Measuring & Observing Networks Table of contents

List auf Sylt 1 Glücksburg Ground-based measuring network: primary network Leck Arkona Schönhagen

Fehmarn Schleswig LT Kiel Marienleuchte Putbus 27 Stations staffed Schleswig-Jagel Kiel Barth S. P.-Ording Hohn Greifswalder Oie TW Ems Deutsche Bucht Rostock around the clock Dörnick Greifswald Pelzerhaken Helgoland Elpersbüttel Itzehoe Boltenhagen Laage/Flugplatz Cuxhaven Lübeck Ueckermünde 182 Main weather stations 17 Part-time staffed Norderney LT Alte Weser Quickborn Trollenhagen Nordholz Schwerin Goldberg Wittmundhafen Bremerhaven Waren stations Hamburg/Flughafen Emden Boizenburg Feldberg Grünow Bremervörde Marnitz

Friesoythe Fully automatic Angermünde 138 Bremen/Flughafen Soltau Lüchow Kyritz Neuruppin weather stations Faßberg Seehausen Bergen Meppen Manschnow Diepholz Tegel/Flughafen Celle Lingen Gardelegen Genthin Tempelhof Wunstorf Potsdam Belm Hannover/Flughafen Schönefeld/Flughafen Rheine 6 Fully automatic stations Bückeburg Braunschweig Ummendorf Lindenberg Ahaus Wiesenburg Bad Salzuflen Magdeburg Baruth 10 Aerological stations (auto launchers) Münster-Osnabrück/Flughafen Alfeld Wittenberg Lügde Cottbus Wernigerode Holzdorf Bad Lippspringe Brocken Braunlage Harzgerode Doberlug-Kirchhain With ozone soundings Werl 2 Hoyerswerda Warburg Göttingen Essen Leinefelde Leipzig/Flughafen Oschatz Görlitz Lüdenscheid Schauenburg Leipzig Düsseldorf/Flughafen Artern Kahler Asten Dresden/Flughafen Fritzlar Osterfeld Lichtenhain 119 Global radiation Eisenach Aachen Köln-Bonn/Flughafen Gera Bad Hersfeld Erfurt/Flughafen Chemnitz Bonn Zinnwald Nörvenich Neu-Ulrichstein Marienberg Bad Marienberg Schmücke Gießen/Wettenberg Schleiz Meiningen Stations for radiation Diffuse illumination Hoherodskopf 119 119 Wasserkuppe Neuhaus a.R. Plauen Fichtelberg Nürburg Andernach measurements Hof Carlsfeld Koblenz Kleiner Feldberg Oberlauter Bad Kissingen Büchel Atmospheric thermal Wetterpark 11 Wunsiedel-Schönbrunn Hahn Geisenheim Frankfurt/Flughafen radiation Neuhütten Bamberg Trier Deuselbach Würzburg Michelstadt-Vielbrunn Weiden Idar-Oberstein Mannheim Tholey Nürnberg/Flughafen Kümmersbruck Waldmünchen Weinbiet Niederstetten Berus Waibstadt 48 Stations measuring Roth Öhringen Großer Arber Saarbrücken/Flughafen Feuchtwangen radioactivity Weißenburg-Emetzheim Regensburg Rheinstetten Mühlacker Gelbelsee Zwiesel Kaisersbach-Cronhütte Straubing Schnarrenberg Harburg Neuburg Stuttgart/Flughafen Gottfrieding Stötten Ingolstadt Fürstenzell

Freudenstadt Augsburg Weihenstephan 18 Weather radar systems 1 Quality assurance and Lahr Ulm-Mähringen Mühldorf Laupheim München/Flughafen test radar Meßstetten Lechfeld München Climate reference station Klippeneck Freiburg Staffed weather station (24/7) Landsberg Feldberg Chieming Part-time staffed Altenstadt 28 Surface weather stations Leutkirch-Herlazhofen weather station Kempten Konstanz Hohenpeißenberg Automatic weather station of the Bundeswehr Weather station of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bundeswehr Geoinformation Service Geoinformation Service Oberstdorf Zugspitze LT Lighthouse TW Deep sea

1 Including the weather stations of the Bundeswehr Geoinformation Service Status 31 December 2015

37 Measuring & Observing Networks Table of contents

Ground-based measuring network: secondary network The DWD’s measuring and observing network in Saxony and 837 Submit online reports Saxony-Anhalt 1 781 Stations run by voluntary every hour weather observers The DWD’s network comprises about 660 Submit their observations by 2,000 measuring stations distributed Saxony-Anhalt manual report once a day all over Germany. Here, we present the measuring networks as in place in the German Länder, Saxony and

Saxony-Anhalt. Saxony

The phenological network

53 Phenological observation sites of the primary network

1 Climate reference station 3 Automatic precipitation 1 180 Secondary phenological 379 Immediately reporting sites stations observation sites 2 Round-the-clock staffed aeronautical meteorological 53 Voluntary precipitation office stations

3 Staffed weather stations 96 Voluntary precipitation (24/7) stations (conventional type)

The marine meteorological network 2 Part-time staffed 116 Phenological observation stations sites 2 Staffed shipborne weather 560 Stations stations 15 Automatic weather stations 1 Weather station of the Bundeswehr Geoinformation 558 Observation sites run by 2 Automatic climate stations Service voluntary weather observers 26 Voluntary climate stations

38 Table of contents

Global 39 Co-operation & International Projects

At the DWD’s MET Advisory Centre at Frankfurt Airport: head of the centre Sabine Bork and her team doing their daily analysis of the weather situation Global Co-operation & International Projects Table of contents

WMO On 19 January a squall line caused flooding in areas around Muscat in Oman World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ......

17th World Meteorological Congress in Geneva from 25 May to 12 June 2015 The World Meteorological Congress is the WMO’s supreme body and meets every four years. The delegates of the Member States decide on the key issues of the organisation’s work during the next financial period (in this case 2016 – 2019) and adopt the budget. The Congress also takes important personnel decisions. In addition to discussing in depth meteorological-technical topics as well as the difficult budget issues, the definite highlight of the 17th Congress was the eagerly awaited appointment of the new Secretary-General. The choice fell on Prof. Petteri Taalas who will be the organisation’s new Secretary-General for the 17th Financial Period (2016 – 2019). DWD President Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian was confirmed as Member of the WMO’s Executive Council for another four years. The deep trough triggered unusual heavy hailstorms over parts of Abu Dhabi and

Ras Al Khaima. Source Early Career Researchers Workshop 2015 at the DWD Focusing on key questions such as “What are today’s challenges for earth system sciences?”, “How can these be tackled?” and “What structures are For a few days in February, a wide trough prevailed over Europe needed to support this?”, the international steering group of the Young Earth ...... System Scientists group (YESS) met for the first time at the DWD’s headquarters in Offenbach at the end of October. In response to the call issued by the World Weather Open Science Conference in 2014 for a stronger focus on training and developing the next generation of scientists, the DWD supported this interdisciplinary meeting of the YESS community, which also includes one of the DWD’s female scientists.

Global Framework for Climate Services One of the key complex of topics discussed at the 17th WMO Congress was the further development of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). Among other things, the Congress decided on new data policy rules which are The positions of various low pressure There are minimum values of water vapour aimed at facilitating the international exchange of climate-relevant data. areas can be observed in the Airmass RGB content in the high levels of troposphere. image. Source Source

40 Global Co-operation & International Projects Table of contents

...... In October 2015, the Management Committee of GFCS came together in Geneva for its third meeting, with the focus on the continued consolidation of governance structures, first plans for the proof-of-concept phase and the establishment of the requisite monitoring and control mechanisms. Energy was included as a new priority area. The ambitious plan of action up to 2018 was presented and a scheme developed to monitor GFCS projects.

WMO Voluntary Cooperation Programme (VCP) At the invitation of the DWD, the 2015 WMO VCP meeting was held in Hamburg in April, with 22 participants from the donor countries and the WMO as well as a number of guests, such as Germany’s agency for international cooperation, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). During the three-day meeting, information was exchanged both about ongoing as well as planned voluntary development projects and the possibilities of efficient cooperation to support the national meteorological services of developing countries. The participants of the WMO’s VCP meeting in front of the DWD branch office in Hamburg

6 March: Strong Bora on the Croatian Cost ......

EIG EUMETNET Network of European Meteorological Services

EUMETNET’s activities during the last year concentrated on the preparations for the next programme phase starting in 2018. The DWD will continue to man- age both the key Observations Programme Management programme (Obs PM) as well as the EUMETNET Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme for radiosoundings from merchant ships (E-ASAP).

2015 saw the mid-term review of the EUMETNET programmes, which were all assessed for any necessary improvements in mission and governance. Very strong episode of Bora wind occurred A strong gradient between the cyclone and On the initiative of EUMETNET and in agreement with the Members, Prof. Julia over the eastern Adriatic sea, on some parts high pressure over western Europe further Slingo from UK Met Office was delegated to the latest European advisory body of the Croatian coast it reached speeds of enhanced this flow. Source for research issues, the Scientific Advise Mechanism (SAM), which had been 200 km/h. Source

41 Global Co-operation & International Projects Table of contents

newly established by the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude On 20 March, the shadow of the Moon crossed the Earth causing a solar eclipse Juncker in May 2015 ......

ECMWF European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

The results of the ECMWF’s work in 2015 have once again confirmed the centre’s leading role on the international stage. For instance, following the successful forecast of a snow storm on the west coast of the United States, the The animated gif shows the start Parts of Norway, including the Metop ECMWF received a prominent mention in the international non-scientific press of the eclipse over Europe seen by Ground Station in Svalbard, saw a total (The Economist). Last year, work at the ECMWF focussed on the centre’s tasks Meteosat-10 Natural RGB, 20 March solar eclipse, while other parts of Europe within the framework of the European Union’s Copernicus programme as well 08:00 to 09:45 UTC. Source only had a partial eclipse. Quelle as on planning the new supercomputer and the search for a new accommodation. Lee cloudiness over France, Spain and western parts of the Mediterranean Sea In January 2015, Serbia became the centre’s 21st Member State. Before ...... leaving office at the end of 2015, ECMWF Director-General Alan Thorpe paid a visit to the DWD in November to discuss a number of topics including the centre’s new supercomputer and the new accommodation.

In December, the ECMWF Council elected Florence Rabier as the ECMWF’s first woman Director-General to succeed Alan Thorpe. During the same session, DWD President Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian was confirmed as President of the ECMWF Council for a third one-year term of office.

In this case lee cloudiness is associated with the Pyrenees mountains on the Iberian Peninsula, Massif Central, and mountain areas in Corsica and Sardinia. On both the Meteosat-10 infrared images, the areas with high wind speeds can be clearly seen.

These are the areas where lee cloudiness is well developed. Source

42 Global Co-operation & International Projects Table of contents

EUMETSAT A dust storm formed rapidly over the Arabian peninsula on 1 April European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites ......

In July, the fourth satellite of the Meteosat Second Generation series (MSG4) The Meteosat-10 Dust RGB loop was successfully brought into its geostationary orbit. After successful com- from 1 – 8 April shows the evolution pletion of commissioning, the MSG-4 is now on stand-by mode. This ensures of the dust storm. Among other that the satellite is available to provide operational observation data from interesting features note the the geostationary orbit should one of the ageing MSG satellites unexpectedly vigorous and multicoloured initial fail or the next satellite generation be delayed. dust uptake and the fast night time progression of the dust front EUMETSAT’s official decision on the EUMETSAT Polar System Second on the night of 1 – 2 April, which Generation (EPS-SG) marked a successful conclusion to the approval process for speeds up to a 65km/h low-level this mandatory programme, which is needed to ensure continuous availability jet. Source of observations from the polar orbit. After difficult discussions, especially about funding, the optional Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS)/Sentinel-6 mission was put into force. This represents a major contribution to the continu- A tornado left a trail of devastation when it hit the German town of Bützow on 5 May ous monitoring of sea surface heights, one of the essential parameters for ...... monitoring climate change, and also consolidates EUMETSAT’s position in the oceanographic community.

European Union – Copernicus

At the end of 2014, the European Union had concluded agreements with EUMETSAT and the ECMWF and tasked the two organisations with important responsibilities in the context of the Copernicus programme. The ECMWF is responsible for the Copernicus services Atmosphere Monitoring and Climate Change. EUMETSAT operates several of the Sentinel satellites of the Coper- nicus programme. Dynamically unstable atmosphere was responsible for multiple tornado events in north- eastern Germany (Rostock area). Strong wind shear and tropopause folding associated with The year 2015 was dominated by the first measures for implementing the upper level jet were the main drivers of convective processes that led to these hazard- operational services. Tenders have been issued for a large part of the ous events with casualties and big economic loss. Source

43 Global Co-operation & International Projects Table of contents

deliverables necessary for the Copernicus services in the ECMWF’s respon- 3 July: Early morning thunderstorms over Germany sibility. The DWD has successfully participated in the tender process and has ...... been contracted to provide the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service with data that are based on the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme. The DWD will also fulfil validation tasks for this Service.

As to climate change monitoring activities, the DWD contributes to these by providing meteorological and hydrological data to the European Flood Alert System (EFAS) of the Emergency Management Service. The DWD, in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, also contributes to the provision of seasonal forecasts.

Furthermore, in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), the DWD is actively involved in preparing the The Natural Colour RGB, shows that This moisture boundary can also be seen related committee meeting in Brussels. At national level, the DWD coordinates the air to the west of the thunderstorm in the Dust RGB product, here displayed the dialogue with users in both Copernicus services in question. The DWD line is much more hazy (moist) than together with the Total Precipitable Water also played a key role in the success of the National Forum for Remote Sensing the air east of it (e. g. over Poland). In (TPW) field from the ECMWF model. and Copernicus held in November at the BMVI. Experts from the DWD held the end, the thunderstorms developed Source keynote speeches and organised expert workshops. on the leading edge of the moist air that was pushing in from France towards

Germany. Source

On 29 August, during its commissioning phase, MSG-4 scanned the Moon ...... UNFCCC in 2015 On Saturday 29 August, MSG-4 Contrary to widespread fears, the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United was able to observe the Moon Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) in Paris delivered passing below the Earth’s what is considered to be a historic result, the Paris Agreement. Even if the South Pole, providing the unique agreement only marks the beginning of a long and difficult road to effective opportunity for SEVIRI to take climate protection, it is still of utmost importance: for the first time, all states a series of pictures of both Earth have been committed to getting involved in climate protection and adaptation and the Moon. Source to the unavoidable climate change. As in all the years since 2001, the DWD once again supported the German delegation throughout the conference by sending its special expert – and thus played a small part in the success.

44 Global Co-operation & International Projects Table of contents

Bilateral co-operation The historic data from a number of Chinese stations (some of which lie in the former German colony Kiautschou (Jiaozhou)), which had been digitised at The year 2015 again saw a number of bilateral talks at director’s level, which the DWD’s Marine Meteorological Office in Hamburg, were handed over to the took place either in Offenbach or in the countries of the partnered meteoro- CMA’s Administrator Dr Zheng Guoguang by DWD President logical services. Since close and regular exchange of information with the direct Handover of Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian. In connection with this, a delegation neighbours is very important, talks were held with colleagues from MeteoSwiss, from the Qingdao Meteorological Bureau paid a visit to IMGW (Poland), KNMI (Netherlands) and KMI (Belgium). Having started it in historical climate the DWD’s branch office in Hamburg. Further to this, DWD 2015, the three big partners Météo-France, UK Met Office and DWD will now be and CMA are also collaborating on a number of other topics, meeting twice a year to discuss strategic and political issues. data including quality control in the context of automation of weather stations, numerical weather prediction and warning In summer, the DWD renewed and strengthened its contact with the management. The meteorological observatories of the two partners also China Meteorological Administration (CMA). Positive talks took place in July in engage in lively collaboration. Beijing and Qinghai at the invitation of the CMA’s Administrator. Concrete new projects were launched to expand the good cooperation that already exists between the two services. The exchange of information about climate-relevant topics, such as urban climatology or the digitisation of historic climate data, is attracting increasing interest.

......

Participants of the bilateral meeting between CMA and DWD on 25 November 2015 in Hamburg (from left to right): Jianxin Ran, Lin Hang, Dr Axel Andersson, Prof. Yan Ma, Dr Birger Tinz, Guang Hong,

Dr Thomas Bruns and Wei Bi. Source

Handing over of historic climate data to the Chinese colleagues: Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian and Dr Zheng Guoguang (Administrator of China’s Meteorological Administration, CMA).

Source

45 Table of contents

Facts & Figures 46

Changing over to the night shift at the observation station: Bodo Feyh (right) and (Markus Liebeck, left) Facts & Figures Table of contents

DWD costs each citizen just 3.02 euros per year Increase in revenue

The DWD’s budget in 2015 amounted to about 305 million euros, which was The DWD’s revenues from the sale of products and services increased in 2015 slightly over 2 million euros less than in the previous year. The actual require- by only around 0.3 million euros to a total of 59.1 million euros. The DWD, ment for public funds, however, was much lower than that due to the fact however, has no authority to use the proceeds from its sales. They go directly that 19.4 per cent of the overall budget were indirectly covered by revenues. into the Federal Budget and thus indirectly reduce the public funds which the Compared to the previous year, the DWD’s requirement for public funds DWD, as Germany’s national meteorological service, needs for the fulfilment of decreased in 2015 by around 2.5 million euros. This means that every citizen its tasks, for example in the field of disaster risk reduction. in Germany (mid-2015 number of inhabitants: 81.459 million, source ) only had to pay 3.02 euros for important federal tasks such as weather forecasting, severe weather warnings and climate monitoring. One reason for the lower requirement for public funds is that the higher amount of allocations to European and international organisations (2.3 million euros more) was countered by lower other allocations and lower investments.

The DWD’s requirement for public funds Income achieved by the DWD 2011 – 2015 1 2011 – 2015 1 ......

2011 193,966 200,000 2011 57,443 60,000

2012 223,088 2012 54,837 150,000 45,000 2013 233,350 2013 54,329 100,000 30,000 2014 248,259 2014 58,834

2015 245,724 50,000 2015 59,128 15,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1 In thousand euros

47 Facts & Figures Table of contents

Lower investments EUMETSAT takes the largest share

As compared with the previous year, the DWD’s investments in the year In 2015, the allocations and subsidies for international organisations increased under report decreased by 15.5 per cent. Here, the lion’s share went to infor- to more than 121.4 million euros, compared with a good 119.4 million euros mation technology (57.8 per cent), followed by expenditure on materials in 2014. The largest part of these (more than 66 million euros, or 53.9 per cent) (32.6 per cent). went to EUMETSAT, which is close to 12 million euros more than in the previous year. The amount allocated to ESA, however, decreased by nearly 12 million to 36.8 million euros. The remaining amount of allocations was shared amongst ECMWF, WMO, EUMETNET and other organisations.

The DWD’s investments Allocations/subsidies in 2015 1 2015 (external budget chapters included)1 ......

Building projects 2,421 9.1% EUMETSAT 66,103 53.9%

Vehicle pool 125 0.5% ESA 36,786 30.0%

Expenditure on materials 8,709 32.6% EZMW 11,118 9.1%

Information technology 15,417 57.8% EUMETNET 1,259 1.0%

WMO 4,422 3.6%

Other 2,980 2.4%

1 In thousand euros

48 Facts & Figures Table of contents

Service provider with high personnel requirements Slightly increased expenditure on staff

As a scientific-technical authority with slightly more than a quarter of all Despite staff cut-backs, the DWD’s expenditure on staff increased slightly employees working shifts, the DWD has a high demand for qualified and highly to 113.9 million euros in 2015 mainly due to rising salaries. Add to this, competent staff, which is the obvious reason why the personnel costs are beyond the pure personnel costs, another 3.3 million euros for allocations among the highest cost factors. In 2015, their share in total expenditure to the pension fund. accounted for 37.4 per cent, which is almost as much as the 39.8 per cent for allocations to international organisations.

Expenditure distribution in the DWD budget of The DWD’s expenditure on staff 2015 (external budget chapters excluded)1 2011 – 2015 1 ......

Allocations/subsidies 121,435 39.8% 2011 106,143 100,000

Investments 26,671 8.8% 2012 109,291 75,000 Expenditure on materials 42,823 14.0% 2013 111,008 50,000 Expenditure on staff 113,921 37.4% 2014 113,553

2015 113,921 25,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1 In thousand euros

49 ZahlenFacts & & Figures Fakten Table of contents

Number of posts at DWD now reduced by about 30 per cent since 1992

The DWD continues to contribute actively to the ongoing, nation-wide Over the past 23 years, this development has been strongly reflected process started in 1993 to reduce the costs of the civil service whilst achieving, in the DWD’s staffing levels. While in 1992, in the course of Germany’s at the same time, a high level of efficiency. In addition to concentrating on reunification, the Deutscher Wetterdienst reported the highest number of staff core areas and making greater use of the opportunities provided by information in its history, i. e. 3,087 established posts, the number came down to 2,226.5 technology, the main challenge in this context now is the increasing focus on in 2015. Despite the addition of some posts, this corresponds to a reduction process optimisation and quality management. At all management levels of around 30 per cent. In 2015, the DWD had 2,385 staff members (871 women and at every workplace, the personnel factor is the key to success. Nowadays, and 1,514 men). The difference between the number of established posts and ‘personnel development’ no longer stands for an increase in the number of the total number of staff members is partly due to temporary or part-time employees but, above all, for committed staff members with higher levels of employment. qualification and who show innovative thinking and action.

Number of established posts 1990 – 2015 ......

1990 2 013 1999 2 751 2008 2 385 3 000

1991 3 039 2000 2 713 20091 2 427 2 800 1992 3 087 2001 2 672 2010 2 399,5 2 600 1993 3 081 2002 2 626,5 2011 2 361,5

1994 3 023 2003 2 584,5 2012 2 313,5 2 400

1995 3 024 2004 2 546 2013 2 235,5 2 200 1996 2 912 2005 2 505 2014 2 226,5 2 000 1997 2 866 2006 2 464,5 2015 2 226,5

1998 2 807 2007 2 415,5 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

1 In 2009, the DWD was endowed with additional posts for inter-authority projects.

50 Table of contents

Executive Board & 51 Organisation

The Executive Board of the Deutscher Wetterdienst Executive Board & Organisation Table of contents

Deutscher Wetterdienst Administrative Advisory Scientific Advisory Bundeswehr Geoinformation Board Board Service – Meteorological Division with the DWD

Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian Dr Paul Becker Prof. Dr Sarah C. Jones Hans-Gerd Nitz Dr Jochen Dibbern Hans-Joachim Koppert President Vice-President Director and Professor Head of Business Area Head of Business Area Head of Business Area

Chairman of the Business Area KU Business Area FE Business Area PB Business Area TI Business Area WV Executive Board Climate and Environment Research and Development Personnel and Business Technical Infrastructure Weather Forecasting Management and Operations Services

Staff Division STB Department KU 1 Department FE 1 Department PB 1 Department TI 1 Department WV 1 Strategy and Climate and Environment Meteorological Analysis and Personnel and Finances Systems and Operations Basic Forecasts Office of the President Consultancy Modelling

BTZ Department TI 2 Department WV 2 Staff Division PÖ Department KU 2 Division FE PK Meteorological Training and Observing Networks and Data Aeronautical Meteorology Press and Public Relations Climate Monitoring Planning and Co-ordination Conference Centre

Department TI 3 Division WV PK Staff Division INT Department KU 3 Division FE ZE Division PB FB Service and Logistics Planning and Co-ordination International Affairs Agrometeorology Central Development National Meteorological Library and Documentation Centre Division TI PK Staff Division IP Department KU 4 Meteorological Planning, Co-ordination and Internal Audit Hydrometeorology Observatory Division PB JU Quality Assurance Hohenpeissenberg Legal Affairs

Division KU VL Customer Relations Management Meteorological Division PB PV Observatory Marketing Policy Lindenberg Division KU PK Planning and Co-ordination

Status 31 December 2015

52 Executive Board & Organisation Table of contents

Prof. Dr Gerhard Adrian Dr Paul Becker President Vice-President

President Business Area ‘Climate and Environment’ The President of the DWD is the chairman and spokesman of the Executive Business Area ‘Climate and Environment’ has the task of providing com- Board of Directors. He manages the day-to-day business of the Board prehensive diagnoses of the climate system and prognoses on its future devel- and co-ordinates its duties. He represents the DWD as a whole in its outward opment. In times of a globally changing climate, climate monitoring, the presentation and in national and international bodies. documentation of its results and the prediction of the impacts of climate change have become essential to the general understanding of the climate. The find- The President is responsible for the development of the DWD strategy ings of this work form the basis for political and economic decision-making, and is head of the Staff Divisions ‘Strategy and Office of the President’, contribute to improving preparedness to weather-related disasters and help to ‘Press and Public Relations’, ‘International Affairs’ and ‘Internal Audit’, all of provide sustainable support for disaster control. which report directly to him. In his function as Chairman of the Executive Board of Directors of the DWD, he is the Permanent Representative of Germany With regard to the tangible impacts of climate change, the Business with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and is responsible for the Area ‘Climate and Environment’ provides expert opinions and assessments co-operation with the Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces). relating to projects notably in the field of traffic and urban development, water management, agriculture, the health sector and technical climatology. The focus here is on the prediction of snow, ice and wind loads.

53 Executive Board & Organisation Table of contents

Prof. Dr Sarah C. Jones Hans-Gerd Nitz Director and Professor Head of Business Area

Business Area ‘Research and Development’ Business Area ‘Personnel and Business Management’ Business Area ‘Research and Development’, as expert infrastructural area, Business Area ‘Personnel and Business Management’ controls centrally the promotes all activities of the DWD by centrally handling research and personnel and finance management, the organisational development and the development tasks in the field of meteorology. Its main concern is the provision marketing policy of the Deutscher Wetterdienst. It not only develops the of scientific knowledge and methods for use in the customer-oriented areas necessary steering instruments, such as a future-oriented controlling system of the DWD as well as in the development of measuring methods for improving based on cost-performance accounting, but also makes them available. data acquisition and optimisation of the observation network. ‘Personnel and Business Management’, in its role as internal service provider, supports all parts of the DWD by supplying them with efficient administration services.

54 Executive Board & Organisation Table of contents

Dr Jochen Dibbern Hans-Joachim Koppert Head of Business Area Head of Business Area

Business Area ‘Technical Infrastructure and Operations’ Business Area ‘Weather Forecasting Services’ Business Area ‘Technical Infrastructure and Operations’ is responsible for Business Area ‘Weather Forecasting Services’ issues weather forecasts and the acquisition of data in the measuring and observation networks and for the weather warnings for the general public and users in special areas such operation of all technical systems the DWD needs for fulfilling its tasks as as, for example, road traffic, aviation, marine shipping, and the Bundeswehr National Meteorological Service. (German Federal Armed Forces). Private meteorological information providers also use these products. A main focus is to provide the population and disaster These technical systems include the wide variety of measuring tech- control institutions of the Federation and the Länder with warnings for the nologies, the complex communication technology systems for data exchange, purposes of hazard prevention. and the information technology systems ranging from the normal workplace environment to the high performance computing centre in Offenbach. ‘Weather Forecasting Services’ assures the meteorological consultation for aviation and marine shipping, taking into account the international rules and provisions for the improvement of security and economic efficiency.

55 Executive Board & Organisation Table of contents

Advice and Support

Scientific Advisory Board of the (3) The Scientific Advisory Board shall DWD: § 9 of the Law on the Deutscher adopt rules of procedure which require Wetterdienst the approval of the Executive Board of the Deutscher Wetterdienst. (1) The Scientific Advisory Board shall advise the Executive Board of the Deutscher Wetterdienst on import- Advisory Board of the Federation ant matters of research, which the and the Länder: § 10 of the Law on the Deutscher Wetterdienst carries out Deutscher Wetterdienst within the framework of its duties pursuant to § 4 and can make recom- (1) The Advisory Board of the Feder- mendations in this respect. The ation and the Länder shall advise the Scientific Board shall further the con- Executive Board of the Deutscher tact with universities and shall support Wetterdienst and the Federal Ministry the co-operation of the Deutscher of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Wetterdienst with national and inter- in matters concerning the interests of national research institutes and its the federal ministries and the Länder inclusion in national and international in the fulfilment of the duties of the research programmes. Deutscher Wetterdienst in accordance with § 4, and shall guarantee the (2) The Scientific Advisory Board appropriate co-operation. shall comprise ten members. They shall be appointed by the Federal (2) The Advisory Board of the Fed- Ministry of Transport and Digital Infra- eration and the Länder shall consist structure at the suggestion of the of representatives from the federal ...... Executive Board of the Deutscher ministries and the Länder; each Land At the runway obser- Wetterdienst for a period of four may send one representative. The vation station, the tech- years. Reappointment is possible for Advisory Board of the Federation and nicians from the DWD’s one more period. Scientists from the Länder shall adopt rules of proced- headquarters instruct meteorology and related fields shall ure which require the approval of the weather observers be adequately represented. the Federal Ministry of Transport and in the new methods Digital Infrastructure. for meteorological data recording.

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A look back & 57 a look forward

Although no longer required technically, Martin Slanina occasionally resorts to his binoculars at the DWD’s Aeronautical Meteorological Office at Frankfurt Airport. A look back & a look forward Table of contents

60 years of atmospheric radioactivity tests. The Chernobyl accident led to a change in thinking: the radioactivity monitoring by the DWD network run by the DWD, for example, was extended to today’s 48 stations, new acts were passed, such as the Precautionary Radiation Protection Act (StrVG), Shortly after World War II, the nuclear weapon tests carried out by the USA, and new authorities and networks established, such as the Federal Ministry for USSR and Great Britain led to an increase in the levels of radioactivity in the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (then BMU, the earth’s atmosphere. In 1955, the newly established Deutscher Wetterdienst today BMUB), the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and the Inte- (DWD) was tasked with the continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for radio- grated Measuring and Information System for Monitoring Environmental Radio- active pollutants in the air and in precipitation in Germany. All data were, and activity (IMIS). still are, transferred for further evaluation and use to experts at specifically specialised federal authorities that act as the Federation’s coordination centres. The DWD has consequently, although mostly unnoticed by the public, been Fukushima and the future conducting the corresponding measurements for 60 years now and, through this The nuclear accident at Fukushima in 2011 has shown how important it is to work, has played an essential role in precautionary radiation protection in monitor the radioactivity levels in the atmosphere on a continuous basis and Germany. to ensure close collaboration between the BMUB, BfS and DWD. New measurement technologies, latest state-of-the-art radiochemical analysis procedures, highresolution dispersion calculations, a well functioning communication The acid test: Chernobyl 1986 infrastructure, the operation of specially equipped measurement aircraft and The DWD was put to its acid test on 26 April 1986 when the nuclear accident constant availability of operation will all ensure that Germany can rely on a happened at Chernobyl. The DWD was the only body that could provide fore- maximum degree of protection and security. casts about the dispersion of the radioactive particles and their arrival in Germany and, at later stages, publish updated information about radioactive ...... pollution for the whole German territory. Integrated over the whole year, the levels of radioactivity measured in the precipitation were comparable to those Nuclide-specific recorded during the 1960s following several above-ground nuclear weapons gamma filter system for the detection of ...... aerosol-bound single nuclides

Beta measurement units for determining total beta activity in precipitation; picture taken in the 1950s A beta measurement unit today

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...... Proving secret tests of nuclear weapons

The Deutscher Wetterdienst itself does not publish any data about radioactivity. In fact, though, it passes on data to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), which in turn forwards the information, among others, to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Ban-Test Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

Dr Matthias Auer is Project Manager Radionuclide at the CTBTO’s International Monitoring System Division.

DWD: Dr Auer, what is your task at the CTBTO?

Dr Matthias Auer: As part of the CTBTO’s International Monitoring System (IMS), we operate stations which measure aerosol-bound radionuclides and radioactive xenon isotopes. I am responsible for installing and certifying the monitoring stations and for advancing radionuclide technology. One focus Dr Matthias Auer, Project Manager Radionuclide at the International Monitoring System is on improving the systems which measure radioxenon, a technology which Division of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Ban-Test Treaty Organization (CTBTO). Source is mainly used to monitor underground tests of nuclear weapons.

DWD: The tasks of the DWD consist in measuring and calculating the disper- CTBTO World Map Verification Regime sion of radioactivity. Compared to this, what are the objectives of the CTBTO for ...... measuring radioactivity?

Dr Matthias Auer: Our objective for the measurements is to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Ban-Test Treaty, and therefore to prove secret tests of nuclear weapons. The structure of our measurement network enables it to detect tests carried out above ground, underground and under- water. Among our tasks are the daily collection of samples, on-site measurement of the samples, data transfer to the central International Data Centre in Vienna, analysis of the data as well as the provision of raw data and results of the analyses to the Member States. We also carry out dispersion calculations; however, they don’t primarily aim at predicting the dispersion of emissions, but at determining the source, based on the measurements taken at our stations. It is then Interactive Map. Source The Radionuclide Network and how it works. up to the National Data Centres of our Member States to interpret the results Source

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...... of the measurements, i.e. to answer the question whether the data hint at a nuclear test or not.

DWD: With regard to the measurement network: The CTBTO globally operates 80 radionuclide monitoring stations, of which one is located in Germany. The DWD takes measurements at 48 stations. How can you explain these figures – 80 stations globally, 48 in Germany?

Dr Matthias Auer: From a technical point of view, it is certainly desirable for the measurement network to be as dense as possible. But we also have to consider the installation and operating costs, which are obviously significant for a global network, especially given the very high demands on data quality. However, there are also scientific arguments which justify a relatively small number of IMS stations.

To begin with, the CTBTO’s monitoring network is not meant to be an early warning system for civil protection, and therefore prompt detection, i. e. measuring near the source and high spatial density of the measurements only has a lower priority. Although our stations measuring seismic waves, infrasound and hydroacoustics allow a very prompt detection of explosions, the release of radioactivity after underground tests can be delayed by days or even weeks. For this reason, the IMS is designed in a way that tests of nuclear weapons can Ivy Mike (yield 10.4 mt) – an atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the U. S. at Enewetak be proven within several days or weeks after the event. Atoll on 1 November 1952. It was the world’s first successful hydrogen bomb. Source

Compared to measurement networks for civil protection, a clear demar- cation of the source region is less important for the IMS’ network of radionuclide particulate stations, because wave technology usually allows localising the samples is very high – for aerosol samples, we collect more than 12,000 m3 of source with great precision. However, the spatial resolution of the radionuclide air per day. On the other hand, our detectors for radioisotopes are optimised measurements should be high enough to confirm consistency with seismic to meet the latest technological standards in order to achieve the best possible results. and most selective sensitivity to substances released by tests of nuclear weapons. In addition, it should be taken into account that the detection probability increases with a higher density of the measurement network, because the There are only four stations in continental Europe which measure radio- further away from the source, the more the radionuclides are diluted. We com- nuclides. One of them is situated on the Schauinsland near Freiburg, Germany, pensate for the relatively low number of stations by using measurement devices and is operated by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). with a sensitivity as high as possible. On the one hand, the volume of the Due to its exposed location on a mountain ridge at a height of 1,200 m, this

60 A look back & a look forward Table of contents

...... station is especially well suited to monitoring a wide-ranging area. Given the prevailing winds, it covers western Europe as well as large parts of the North Atlantic and the eastern coast of North America.

It is important to add that in addition to the IMS routine measurements, on-site inspections can be carried out if there are any suspicions. These allow a very precise localisation and can provide the definite proof of a nuclear weapons test. However, this possibility will exist only after the CTBT has come into force.

DWD: To what extent have the measurements at the 80 CTBTO stations been automated?

Dr Matthias Auer: Our stations are in continuous operation. Every day, at least one sample is analysed at every station; at stations measuring noble gases, we are even planning to analyse up to four samples every day. For this reason, we aim at a high degree of automation. For technical reasons, stations measuring noble gases are well suited to automation, which is why all these stations are operated automatically, with the exception of regular maintenance tasks. However, half of our aerosol stations are operated manually. One of the Radionuclide Station RN33, Schauinsland near Freiburg, Germany. Source reasons for this is that 20 years ago, when we started to establish the IMS, there had been very little experience with automated equipment with a very ...... high air throughput. Another reason is that manual stations are less complex, the station operators are more closely implicated in the daily operations and thus can often carry out repairs independently.

DWD: How does the CTBTO ensure verification of its measurements?

Dr Matthias Auer: We rely on several levels of quality assurance. To start with, a station’s data are only accepted when the station has been certified, which means when it has passed a kind of MOT for IMS stations, with a detailed catalogue of criteria checked as part of a four-month operational test phase. On top of this, the stations send so-called state-of-health information in addition to the actual measurements, reporting relevant system parameters measured Installations at Radionuclide Station RN29 A view of radionuclide station RN43 during every 10 minutes for this purpose. We have a specific department in our organ- Réunion, Madagascar. Source a sandstorm at Nouakchott, Mauritania. isation, whose main task is the daily evaluation of this data for each station. Source

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...... If critical errors are found, the station will be suspended from routine operations until the error can be corrected; in some cases, the station might even need Radionuclide Station RN56 to undergo another certification. Peleduy, Russian Federation Source Another important tool for the quality assurance consists in control measurements of the samples in one of the 16 IMS laboratories, for which every year up to four samples of each station are sent to a laboratory. These laboratories are also subject to their own quality assurance programme. Similar to the stations, a laboratory must first be certified by the CTBTO, and this certification is reviewed every three years. In addition, a ring trial is carried out once a year with all laboratories, and only laboratories which are successful in these ring trials receive samples from the stations.

Another essential element are the National Data Centres (NDC) which I have mentioned already. Each Member State can operate such a data centre. An NDC receives raw data and carries out independent analyses, and can also give feedback to the International Data Centre.

In order to guarantee the quality of the atmospheric dispersion calculations, we work in close cooperation with the World Meteorological Organiza- tion (WMO) and its regional centres. We routinely receive meteorological data for our calculations from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). If necessary, we can arrange for further dispersion calcu- ...... lations to be carried out within 24 hours by cooperating meteorological services, including the DWD. These additional calculations contribute significantly to improving the localisation of radiation sources.

DWD: Thank you very much for the interview!

Radionuclide Station RN51 Kavieng, Radionuclide Station RN50 Panama City,

Papua New Guinea. Source Panama. Source

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Contact & Imprint At the runway observation station, Markus Liebeck explains to his Deutscher Wetterdienst Important links colleague from the Press (DWD) Office where all the Frankfurter Strasse 135 Publications meteorological sensors 63067 Offenbach am Main at Frankfurt Airport are Germany Climate information located. Telephone +49 69 80 62-0 Fax +49 69 80 62 - 44 84 Current weather www.dwd.de [email protected] App for weather warnings

Weather hotline 1 Information for journalists Telephone+49 18 02 91 39 13 Editor Newsletters Deutscher Wetterdienst When calling our weather hotline you will automatically be connected with Concept and editing the closest DWD Branch Office. Gertrud Nöth

1 Maximally 0.14 Euro per call from German DWD fixed lines, maximally 0.42 Euro per minute Press and Public Relations from mobile networks Translation Further telephone and Gabriele Engel service numbers DWD

ISSN 2199-6091 Layout Simone Leonhardt, Frankfurt am Main

Fotography Michael Alfen, Aschaffenburg

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Picture sources

Cover, Pages 3, 5, 9, 15, 20, 32, 35, 36, 39, 46, 57, 63, 65 Ziese, M., Becker, A., Finger, P., Meyer-Christoffer, A., Rudolf, B., Schneider, Michael Alfen U. (2011): GPCC First Guess Product at 1.0°: Near Real-Time First Guess monthly ...... Land-Surface Precipitation from Rain-Gauges based on SYNOP Data. Page 6 DOI: 10.5676/DWD_GPCC/FG_M_100 Karsten Friedrich, DWD ...... Page 16 Page 12 Claudia Hinz, DWD Earth Observatory , last accessed on 29 October 2015 ...... Page 33 Page 13 Dr Christina Koppe, DWD ...... The Long Paddog, Queensland Government , downloaded on 25 October 2015 Page 41 bottom, pages 42 to 44 Schneider, U., Becker, A., Finger, P., Meyer-Christoffer, A., Rudolf, B., Ziese, M., EUMETSAT (2015): GPCC Full Data Reanalysis Version 7.0 at 1.0°: Monthly Land-Surface ...... Precipitation from Rain-Gauges built on GTS-based and Historic Data. Page 45 left DOI: 10.5676/DWD_GPCC/FD_M_V7_100 Detlev Frömming (DWD) ...... Meyer-Christoffer, A., Becker, A., Finger, P., Rudolf, B., Schneider, U., Ziese, M., Page 45 right (2015): GPCC Climatology Version 2015 at 1.0°: Monthly Land-Surface Stephan Grimm (DWD) Precipitation Climatology for Every Month and the Total Year from Rain-Gauges ...... built on GTS-based and Historic Data. DOI: 10.5676/DWD_GPCC/ Pages 59 to 62 CLIM_M_V2015_100 CTBTO Schneider, U., Becker, A., Finger, P., Meyer-Christoffer, A., Ziese, M. (2015): ...... GPCC Monitoring Product: Near Real-Time Monthly Land-Surface Precipitation Any pictures not credited are from from Rain-Gauges based on SYNOP and CLIMAT data. DOI: 10.5676/DWD_GPCC/ DWD MP_M_V5_100

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...... A rare natural spectacle: a halo observed at the observation station Text sources at Runway 18 West

Page 13

Buis, Alan: A still-growing El Niño set to bear down on U.S., NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (29.12.2015)

Bureau of Meteorology (Australia): ENSO Wrap-up

Climatic Research Unit (University of East Anglia) und Hadley Centre (UK Met Office): Temperature

NASA, Goddard Institute for Space Studies: GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP)

NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information: Global Analysis – Annual 2015

Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo Climate Center: Global Average Surface Temperature Anomalies

ReliefWeb: More than 160,000 evacuated in deadly LatAm floods

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Wikipedia