About BeRTISS

Abrupt and heavy precipitation events occur more frequently and are more intensified than they used to be due to climate change which is a scientifically accepted fact. Therefore the application of technological systems to monitor and provide forecasting and early warning of such events is crucial to a wide spectrum of societal sectors. The main objective of BeRTISS is to develop and establish a pilot transnational severe weather service by exploiting Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) tropospheric products to enhance the safety, the quality of life and environmental protection in the Balkan‐Mediterranean region.

The project aims to provide timely information and warning regarding severe weather events as well as long-term monitoring of weather and climate change in the region, through the mapping and visualization of water vapor (the most abundant greenhouse gas that accounts for ~70% of global warming and most critical meteorological parameter for accurate weather prediction by forecasting models) for the first time in real time in this region. Furthermore, it builds on the GNSS Meteorology knowledge deriving from previous relevant European research projects and it will comprise the continuation of ongoing actions, such as the EU-COST Action “GNSS4SWEC” in which some of the partners are participating, in particular with respect to the expansion of the existing GNSS network of tropospheric products in one of the Europe’s most remote region and vulnerable to severe weather and climate change.

To achieve this, a new GNSS Analysis Center (AC) will be installed in Cyprus for the processing of GNSS tropospheric products and the computation, with the aid of numerical prediction models, of meteorological severe weather parameter, and all derived products and will be displayed in real time on a dedicated web-platform to provide the general public (operational forecasters, national meteorological services, research institutions, decision-makers, financial, agriculture and environmental sectors, tourist agencies, citizens) with prompt uninterruptable information and early warnings of forthcoming severe weather events.

The project will enhance the transfer of knowledge and expertise on techniques for monitoring, mapping and predicting such phenomena as well as the cross-border research cooperation, by bringing together scientists in the fields of GNSS technology, Meteorology and Climatology from Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria to address issues, which due to the nature of the atmosphere are of common interest to all countries. The results will improve the understanding of the tropospheric dynamics over the cross-border region and especially of the morphology and climatology of heavy precipitation events. They will also contribute to the improvement of relevant European and regional strategic policies for the protection of lives, climate, environment, biodiversity and natural resources in the region. 

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