Adverse weather conditions seriously disturb air traffic. Thunderstorms in particular often cause delays – pilots consider these storms among the most hazardous phenomena in air traffic. Up until now, however, air and ground personnel have lacked the appropriate technical systems to provide them with the most current and precise information regarding upcoming thunderstorms. Today, thanks to the technology of DLR and WxFUSION, a solution finally exists.
Based on the latest research on cloud physics and traffic meteorology, we have developed methods to allow thunderstorms to be detected, tracked, and forecast for up to one hour. Made possible by satellite and radar data, these methods enable greater air traffic safety and efficiency by enabling common decision making for all aviation stakeholders.