Bulgarian Integrated NowCAsting tool (BINCA)
Geographical location and climate features determine Bulgaria as one of the countries with high frequency of severe weather phenomena including hail, flood, lightning, etc. Operational forecasting and nowcasting of formation and development of vigorous thunderstorms producing heavy rain and hail is currently done by the Hail Suppression Agency in Bulgaria using radar images, surface and satellite observations in combination with Numerical Weather Prediction model. The challenge remains to resolve the high temporal and spatial variability of severe weather events. Additional information like water vapor derived from GNSS tropospheric products has a potential to be a valuable operational tool. For this goal, the Bulgarian ground-based GNSS meteorology network is set up as a part of the trans-national project “BalkanMed real time severe weather service (BeRTISS)” - Transnational Cooperation Programme Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020.
Within the framework of the BeRTISS project a contract was signed for the building a web platform for the Bulgarian Integrated NowCAsting tool (BINCA).
DATA SET
- Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data from GNSS network at the Hail Suppression Agency (HSA) and the Sofia University. The GNSS data from 12 ground-based stations is processed in near-real time
- Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. For derivation of water vapor products surface pressure and temperature from the WRF model is used. The atmospheric water vapor is a key element of the hydrological cycle and participates in cloud and precipitation formation and atmospheric stability. Two dimensional water vapor maps and water vapor time-series will be visualized.
- Radar data are obtained by 5 Doppler dual band (S and X band) and 2 Doppler S-band radar stations covering the territory of Bulgaria. The full volume scan is performed every 4 minutes. Interactive Radar Information System (IRIS) generates products based on this volume scan.
- Surface weather stations data from 12 weather stations is used will provide additional information about atmospheric conditions.
BINCA OUTPUT
- The tool combines radar and GNSS products as well as surface atmospheric observation data from the automatic networks operated by HSA and Sofia University.
- Hourly updated GNSS tropospheric products are produced.
- Continuous update of the critical meteorological parameter Integrated Water Vapor.
- Maps, time series and animations of IWV using the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model are displayed.
- Radar information updated every 4 minutes.
FUTURES OUTLOOK
- The operational nowcasting tool will be developed on a publicly accessible web platform. The WRF model runs will be conducted twice a day with horizontal resolution of 4 km covering Bulgaria.
- The WRF forecast products and satellite images will be also integrated in the operational tool.
- One year of testing of the tool in operational settings is planned.
- Update time will be reduced to 15 minutes.
- Warning information concerning impending dangerous atmospheric phenomena.
- Interactive web-platform will display the end products that will be available for operational forecasters, meteorological service organizations, regional authorities responsible for civil and environmental protection and the general public in the region.
Bulgarian Integrated NowCAsting tool (BINCA)