Project Overview

The EuRTISS project (Southeastern Europe Real-Time Severe Weather System) focuses on the development of an integrated system for real-time monitoring, forecasting, and climate assessment of severe weather events across Southeastern Europe, a region identified as one of the most prominent climate change hotspots worldwide. 

Extreme weather phenomena, including heavy precipitation events and Medicanes, are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity in the region, posing significant risks to society, infrastructure, and economic activities. A key parameter in understanding and predicting these events is Water Vapour (WV), which plays a central role in atmospheric processes and is recognized as an Essential Climate Variable. 

EuRTISS exploits GNSS-based atmospheric remote sensing (GNSS Meteorology), where tropospheric signal delays are used to derive water vapour information. These data are essential for improving high-resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, which currently face challenges in capturing rapid atmospheric variations. 

The project integrates GNSS observations, meteorological datasets, and Copernicus Climate Change Service data into a unified system capable of delivering near real-time monitoring and forecasting products. Building on existing infrastructures such as CyMETEO, the system combines observational and simulation components to provide high-resolution weather information, forecasting maps, and severe weather warnings through a user-friendly web platform. 

In addition to real-time forecasting, EuRTISS also supports climate change analysis, enabling the study of long-term atmospheric variability and the characterization of extreme weather events. The project contributes to the development of innovative tools and methodologies for understanding and managing climate-related risks in Southeastern Europe. 

PROJECT STRUCTURE

WP1 – Project Management 
Manages the overall execution of the project, ensuring coordination among partners and proper implementation of all activities.  

WP2 – Dissemination and Exploitation Activities 
Promotes project results, supports stakeholder engagement, and ensures the long-term use and visibility of the system.  

WP3 – Coordination of Horizon Europe Proposal 
Supports the preparation of future proposals, enabling the continuation and scaling of the project at the European level.  

WP4 – GNSS Tropospheric Analysis Component 
Processes GNSS tropospheric data to derive atmospheric parameters such as water vapour, supporting real-time monitoring.  

WP5 – GNSS Severe Weather Analysis Component 
Develops methodologies for analysing severe weather events using GNSS data, improving detection and forecasting capabilities.  

WP6 – EuRTISS System 
Integrates all components into a unified platform that provides real-time monitoring, forecasting, and climate analysis services.  

GENERAL PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The main objective of EuRTISS is to develop a prototype transnational system for real-time monitoring and forecasting of severe weather and climate conditions across Southeastern Europe. 

The project aims to improve the accuracy, resolution, and timeliness of weather predictions, particularly for extreme precipitation events, by exploiting near real-time GNSS tropospheric data. By enhancing the representation of water vapour and its gradients in atmospheric models, EuRTISS addresses key challenges in forecasting and nowcasting severe weather phenomena. 

Another important objective is to develop innovative methodologies for the characterization of extreme weather events, including the analysis of their frequency, intensity, and potential impacts in the context of a changing climate. The project also focuses on integrating space-based and ground-based data sources, including Copernicus datasets, to create a comprehensive monitoring system. 

EuRTISS further aims to support climate change research, providing continuous datasets and tools for analysing long-term trends and variability. Through its web-based platform, the project enhances data accessibility and user engagement, supporting decision-making processes for meteorological services, policymakers, and other stakeholders. 

In addition, the project promotes transnational collaboration and knowledge transfer, building on previous initiatives such as BeRTISS and aligning with European priorities in space-based data exploitation and climate services. Ultimately, EuRTISS contributes to strengthening the capacity of the region to monitor, understand, and respond to severe weather and climate-related risks. 

RESEARCHERS

• Christina Oikonomou – HO Frederick Research Center (FRC)  

• Haris Haralambous – HO Frederick Research Center (FRC) 

• Despina Giannadaki – PA1 CLOUDWATER Ltd 

• Vassiliki Kotroni – FRO National Observatory of Athens (NOA) 

• Konstantinos / Kostas Lagouvardos – FRO National Observatory of Athens (NOA)