DWD Begins Meteodrone Testing to Improve Atmospheric Observations

DWD is testing a Meteodrone system at the Meteorological Observatory in Lindenberg to collect more frequent vertical profiles and enhance short-term forecasts. The project is part of a broader vision to expand drone-based observations across Germany.

The German Meteorological Service (DWD) is expanding its observational capabilities with the integration of a Meteobase-operated Meteodrone system at the Meteorological Observatory in Lindenberg, just outside Berlin. This site is already home to a wide range of atmospheric monitoring technologies, including radiosondes, radar, and ground-based remote sensing instruments that support Germany’s national forecasting infrastructure.

The newly installed system combines Meteomatics’ Meteobase — a ground station — with the Meteodrone, a weather drone capable of vertical atmospheric profiling up to 6 km in altitude. It is robust enough to operate in wind speeds up to 90 km/h and temperatures as low as -45°C. The Meteobase houses, charges, and supports drone takeoff and landing, all controlled remotely by a pilot. This setup enables safe, frequent, and weather-independent measurements without the need for on-site personnel.

With this setup, DWD is investigating the potential of Meteodrone-based atmospheric soundings to complement existing radiosonde observations, which are typically launched only twice per day. By contrast, Meteodrones can deliver high-frequency vertical profiles, particularly in the lower and middle atmosphere, a region critical for forecasting fast-developing weather events.

In this initial phase, DWD will compare vertical profiles from the Meteodrone with those gathered by a radiosonde attached to a tethered balloon, a method known for producing stable reference measurements. The goal is to validate the drone data against established benchmarks and assess its consistency, accuracy, and added value in operational meteorology.

This evaluation is part of a broader strategy of deploying additional Meteobase systems at other observatories across Germany to close existing data gaps and support higher-resolution forecasts.

While results from the current comparison study are still pending, a recent evaluation in Switzerland offers a preview of what such systems can achieve. There, a Meteodrone network has demonstrated a substantial improvement in low-level cloud forecasts in mountainous terrain, a notoriously difficult challenge for conventional models.