Abstract

SPREITZHOFER, Gerald  and  NORTE, Federico A. Development of metgis, a combined high-resolution system of geographic, meteorological and snow cover information for the andes region. Meteorologica [online]. 2006, vol.31, n.1-2, pp.99-108. ISSN 1850-468X.

Within the framework of an interdisciplinary international research project with contributions from mountain research institutes and universities of the USA, Austria, Switzerland and Japan, a Java-based combined meteorological and geographic information system (named MetGIS) for South America is under development, with a special focus on the Andes region of Argentina, Chile and Peru. The geographic part of the system includes a topography based on data of the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) and representations of roads, railway lines, rivers, frontiers and cities. On top of various modes of terrain (elevation, slope, aspect), meteorological and snow information can be visualized in a variety of styles. The combined display of observations from various networks, of forecasts from numerical models like MM5 and of forecast errors will be possible. For a variety of parameters, meteorological input data may be subject to downscaling procedures using the VERA system (Vienna Enhanced Resolution Analysis). Regarding features of the system specifically related to mountain areas, the SRTM data combined with VERA allows a good estimation of areas with temperatures below zero and snow accumulation. For the future the inclusion of the Swiss model SNOWPACK is planned which provides simulations of the snow cover.

Keywords : Meteorological information system; GIS; Downscaling; Snow cover; Mountain weather.

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