Advances in Lidar Observations for Airborne Hazards for Aviation in the Framework of the EUNADICS-AV Project

Abstract

The vulnerability of the (European) aviation system to the airborne hazards was evident during the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption in 2010. For support of Air Traffic Control (ATC) many observations of the event were available from satellites, ground based instruments and airborne platforms, at pan-European scale. However, efficient use of the data for ATC proved difficult mainly due to sub-optimal aggregation and integrated assessment of the available information in near-real-time. The project EUNADICS-AV (European Natural Disaster Coordination and Information System for Aviation) aims to close this gap. The observational component of the project will make existing data products for airborne hazards more accessible, visible and used, and to foster tailored product development. Once assimilated into models and integrated in the EUNADICS-AV Data Portal these data can be the base to efficiently improve European airspace resilience to airborne hazards. Since 2010 new data products have become available specifically for for airborne hazard alerting and monitoring together with specific tailored products designed for replying to user needs and recommendations. This paper describes the EUNADICS-AV approach and will focus on the role of operational and research grade ground based lidars.