On World Weather Day, March 23, meteorology focuses on the technological exploration of the lower atmosphere. The Swiss company Meteomatics addresses the so-called blind spot in weather observation, which lies between ground-level measuring stations and satellite data.
While satellites capture large-scale structures, high-resolution vertical profiles are often lacking in the lower atmosphere, up to an altitude of 6.000 meters. However, since crucial processes for local phenomena such as fog formation, thunderstorms, or heavy rainfall occur precisely at this altitude, automated drone systems, known as meteodrones, are becoming increasingly important for the precision of modern forecasting models.
The autonomously operating drones continuously record physical parameters such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, and wind speed during their ascent. This data is fed directly into high-resolution computational models, including the EURO1k model, which maps Europe with a grid spacing of just one kilometer. Compared to conventional weather balloons, which are lost after ascent, these drones offer the advantage of reusability and more precise spatial control. Ten of these systems are already in operation in Switzerland, among other things to optimize the logistically critical forecasting of fog patches for aviation and road traffic.
The use of this technology is expanding rapidly internationally. In Norway, a nationwide network of around 30 drone stations, known as Meteobases, is currently being established in cooperation with the research institute NORCE. Given the complex topography with fjords and mountains, traditional measurement methods often reach their limits there. The collected data are invaluable for infrastructure management and the energy sector. Science also utilizes these precise measurement flights: ETH Zurich employs the drones to investigate the microphysics of clouds and the interactions between aerosols and the atmosphere, thus improving the basis for future climate and weather analyses.
The St. Gallen-based company is led by founder and CEO Dr. Martin Fengler. Since its founding in 2012, Meteomatics has become a leading provider of weather intelligence, serving over 600 customers in sectors such as energy, insurance, and automotive. The integration of drone data marks a paradigm shift in weather observation, bridging the gap between localized ground-based measurements and distant orbital monitoring. This enables significantly higher accuracy in hyperlocal forecasts, which are essential for industrial planning processes and general traffic safety.