What's New: September 2024

Wake Effects Parameterization in EURO1k Enhances Offshore Wind Energy Forecasts

One of the most exciting recent advancements is the parameterization of wake effects in large offshore wind parks across the North Sea and Baltic Sea, now integrated into the EURO1k model, which covers over 5,000 wind turbines.

The animation below compares wind speed as resolved by EURO1k (left) and ECMWF-IFS (right), clearly illustrating how EURO1k accounts for wind speed reduction as it passes through turbines—a critical factor for accurate energy forecasts and operational efficiency. This capability sets us apart in the renewable energy forecasting industry, delivering unmatched reliability for offshore wind farms.

New Parameters To Help Protect Crops from Frost and Humidity

Meteomatics offers a wide range of parameters relevant to the agricultural sector, including atmospheric parameters such as temperature, wind, and precipitation, as well as soil-related parameters such as soil frost, soil moisture, and frost depth, among others.

In addition to these basic parameters, we also calculate several agriculture-specific parameters, including: evapotranspiration, growing degree days, grassland temperature sum, leaf wetness, phytophthora negative prognosis, disease prevention, and most similar year.

The newest additions to this list are vapor pressure deficit and ground frost probability — especially valuable for preventing crop damage due to frost or insufficient humidity, which can lead to disease outbreaks or reduced yields.

Ground frost probability

Ground frost occurs when the temperature at the ground level drops below the freezing point of 0°C, and the humidity in the air can settle on the surface of plants or the ground as ice. This can be particularly damaging to agriculture and forestry. With ground frost probability, we combine information on temperature, humidity, radiation, and wind to provide an estimate of the likelihood of ground frost occurring over a specified time interval.

Water vapor pressure deficit

Water vapor pressure deficit (also known as saturation deficit) is an indicator of humidity. It measures the difference between the saturation level and the current amount of moisture in the air, expressed in terms of pressure. In other words, it indicates how much additional moisture the air could hold at a given pressure and temperature. A low vapor pressure deficit means that the air is nearly saturated with water, indicating high humidity levels.

Real-Time Alerts from European National Weather Services

The Meteomatics Weather API is a one-stop shop, providing comprehensive weather information through a single, reliable endpoint.

Now, in addition to offering our own Weather Alerts service, we aggregate warnings issued by all national European meteorological services, such as MeteoSwiss, MeteoFrance, DWD, and others, providing real-time updates to users.

You can subscribe to our push notification service to receive these alerts instantly, ensuring timely information on severe weather conditions.

Simply contact your customer success manager to set up the alerts.

Customize Your Wind Animations

We have made enhancements to the wind animation, allowing you to customize the size and quantity of wind particles for a more tailored visual representation.

Customize Your Line/Route Resolution

You can now customize the resolution for lines or routes, allowing for more detailed and precise data visualization. This enhanced control helps you pinpoint critical areas where key thresholds are met, leading to more informed decision-making and clearer communication of important insights across teams.

Start by sending us a GeoJSON file containing a route or any line-based representation (it doesn’t have to be a route; it can be any feature represented by a line). Our team will upload the file to your MetX account. Once the file is in your account, you can select a parameter, such as temperature, define thresholds, and set the line resolution length (kilometers or miles). The map will then highlight where these thresholds are met.

Customize Coloring Options for Areas (Polygons)

Similar to the line/route feature, this functionality applies to entire areas (polygons). Simply send us GeoJSON files representing areas and, once the file is in your account, define thresholds for specific parameters. The map will then highlight regions where these thresholds are met, providing clear visual insights into larger geographical areas and enhancing communication of key data points.

Compare Parameters Across Various Locations

We have introduced a multi-location table that allows you to compare parameters across various locations simultaneously. This is particularly useful for clients managing multiple points of interest who need to track parameter changes over time in multiple locations. The new static table view now provides an easier and more comprehensive way to view data from multiple locations at once.