Several new parameters and features have been added to the API lately:
Air Density
This parameter is now available in the API under the identifier air_density_<level>:kgm3. Air density depends on temperature, pressure as well as moisture. Regarding the vertical profile, air density decreases with increasing altitude.
Air density can play a crucial role for aircrafts, especially lower density values can lead to problems due to decreased lifting force and engine performance. The parameter is continuously available between 2 and 10'000 m altitude.
The plot above shows the air density at 1000 m for Europe on June 28th at 0 UTC, when the prevailing heat wave was interrupted by cooler air that propagated from the north to the south. The air mass boundary is visible across central Europe with higher density values in the north and lower values in the south.
Snow Line & Freezing Line
These two parameters are available within queries from the API with snow_line:m, freezing_level:m or freezing_level_agl:m.
The parameter snow line provides the height above ground level where precipitation occurs in form of snow.
The freezing line provides the height where the wet-bulb temperature equals 0 °C. This parameter can play an important role regarding thunderstorms, because the height of the freezing line influences the sizes of hail stones. Depending on the freezing line the region within the cloud, where hail stones can grow, is shifted. The freezing level can be queried in meters above ground level (agl) and meters above sea level.
Downscaling of Wind
The API now uses a new developed downscaling technique for wind speeds and wind gusts considering topography. Especially in mountainous regions this procedure leads to improved results.
The higher resolution wind data can be seen regarding the Alps as valleys are resolved with lower wind speeds and mountain crests exhibit higher wind speeds.
