3D RADAR Service (GRIB2) 1.0.0

Abstract

The Pan-European 3D RADAR Service aims to provide a SWIM Compliant access point to high resolution RADAR data in Grib2 format, including multiple vertical Flight Levels of horizontal reflectivity to visualise the depth and intensity of convection and a series of derived 2D products to evaluate storm severity and assess potential for hail. Data is available at two resolutions: one dataset covers FABEC and UK-Ireland FAB at a 5-minute temporal and 1km horizontal resolution (this 1km product also includes pre-defined spatial subsets), the other covers the wider European geographical area at a 15-minute temporal and 2km horizontal resolution. These products are currently CANDIDATE services and are being exposed by the Met Office now in order to gain feedback on them from external reviewers, they are NOT to be used operationally. In the future they may provide applications for use both strategically in the flight planning phase and in the in-flight phase. This RADAR provision will provide greater situational awareness and enhance safety through pro-active decision making, greater efficiency routing aircraft, reduced fuel burn and informing capacity/constraint management at an earlier stage. They can also be used tactically by specialists and air traffic control to provide in-flight updates. Authorised aviation stakeholders include European Air Traffic Management users, Eurocontrol Network Managers, State ANSPs, airlines, and airports. This data is also available for use by MET ANSPs for Official Duty purposes only. Additional benefits to this service include providing datasets for long term aviation analysis, algorithm development and verification, reduced flight delays, improved safety and fuel efficiency. Please refer to the point-of-contact for further enquiries with regards to authorisation to access this service. Severe convection is a major aviation hazard because this can lead to structural damage to aircraft and cause fatalities. There is an operational need for an authoritative source of 3D RADAR Data across the Pan-European domain for consistent situational awareness and avoidance of hazardous areas of airspace. Pan-European 3D RADAR composites are generated at both the Met Office and Meteo France from radar data contributors. The input radar data of this service has been provided via OPERA, the Radar Programme of EUMETNET, and has been processed and made available by the Met Office and Météo-France.

 

Service Type
SWIM_CANDIDATE
Life Cycle
Business Activity Type
AIRSPACE_ORGANISATION_AND_MANAGEMENT
AIRSPACE_USER_OPERATIONS
INFORMATION_MANAGEMENT
TRAFFIC_SYNCHRONISATION
Intended Consumer
AERONAUTICAL_INFORMATION_SERVICE_PROVIDER
AIR_TRAFFIC_SERVICE_PROVIDER
CIVIL_AIR_NAVIGATION_SERVICE_PROVIDER
CIVIL_AIRSPACE_USER
NETWORK_MANAGER
PROVIDER_OF_DATA_SERVICES
REGULATED_METEOROLOGICAL_SERVICE_PROVIDER
Information Exchange Category
AERONAUTICAL_INFORMATION_EXCHANGE
METEOROLOGICAL_INFORMATION_EXCHANGE
Application Message Exchange Pattern
SYNCHRONOUS_REQUEST_REPLY
State ICAO Nationality Letters
LA
DA
LO
UM
EB
LQ
LB
LD
LC
LK
EK
EE
EF
LF
ET
ED
LG
BG
LH
LE
BI
EI
LL
LI
EV
EY
EL
LE
LM
LE
LU
LN
LY
GM
EH
LW
EN
EP
LP
LR
UU
UL
UR
LY
LZ
LJ
LE
GE
ES
LS
DT
LT
UK
EG
ICAO Region
EUR
Geospatial Categorisation Description
OGC Europe + wide coverage based on gridded forecast data
In-Operation Date
01-Jun-2021
Provider
Met Office

The Met Office is the sole Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) certificated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to provide and disseminate a range of aviation forecast products and services, in accordance with ICAO Annex 3 to the Chicago Convention, Meteorological Service for international Air Navigation.

ICAO’s Annex 3 provides the main regulatory framework against which the UK is obliged to provide meteorological services, and which the Met Office delivers Met Services against. This ensures that the UK meets its obligations to ICAO to provide safe, efficient and regular air travel.

These services fall into the following main categories:

a) UK services.

b) The World Area Forecast System (WAFS), as provided by World Area Forecast Centre (WAFC) London, in coordination with WAFC Washington.

c) SADIS (Secure Aviation Data Information Service).

d) The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) London.

In addition to the ICAO Annex 3 determined services, a range of discretionary services that are determined as a requirement in the UK are also provided. Specific services such as Aviation R&D and the provision of information to NATS are examples of this.

Provider Type
AERONAUTICAL_INFORMATION_SERVICE_PROVIDER
Support

Support services available 24/7 via Met Office Customer Service Number 0370 900 0100

Revision Save Date
Mon, 03/25/2024 - 23:19
Schema version
v2