Optimizing NIMH Weather Network in Bulgaria

1. WEATHER NETWORK IN BULGARIAStanislava Radeva, Asen Marinov, Vesselin AlexandrovNational Institute of Meteorology and HydrologySofia, BULGARIA International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006

2. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Introduction A weather network - its history, density, development, current status, problems, etc. – is an important classical basis for many researches and operational service in many sectors and fields such as weather forecast, climatology, hydrology, agriculture, transport, tourism, etc.

3. Current status and discussion 3 types of NIMH weather stations operate in Bulgaria: synoptic (), climatic ()and rain-gauge ()stations

4. Synoptic stations There are 42 synoptic stations working at a 24–hours regime, including 8 fixed weather observations consistent with the WMO recommendations

5. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Synoptic station of Varna (Eastern Bulgaria)

6. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Synoptic station of Plovdiv (Southern Bulgaria)

7. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Alpine synoptic station of Rojen (Southern Bulgaria)

8. Climatic stations For the time being, 99 climatic stations are operating on the territory of 111 000 km² and maintained by the NIMH

9. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Climatic station of Sadovo (Southern Bulgaria)

10. Rain-gauge stations The low - class meteorological stations operating in Bulgaria are the rain–gauge stations

11. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Concluding remarks In the context of the national and international research, for example,in the field of climate variability and change, the questions of past, present and future status and problems of the weather networks are important and should be always considered. The necessity ofoptimization, continuous maintenance and support as well as precise renovation of the NIMH weather stations should be realized. Solving the problems in the conventional weather network may reduce the negative consequences for operational weather service, science, as well as the Bulgarian economy.

12. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Concluding remarks Last, but not least, the NIMH network of automatic weather stations, gives the opportunities to create and develop, for the common users, an attractive information system in the big cities, mountains, seaside, spa–resorts, etc. This system and the modern methods for visualization of weather data and outputs popularize the NIMH activities and improve the relationships between the institute and the government and business. For example, operational weather data from the NIMH weather network is explored by the Permanent Governmental Commission for Population Protection against Disasters, Accidents and Catastrophes.

13. International Conference on Water Observation and Information System of Decision Support Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia, 23-26 May 2006 Thank you for your attention!