TIM Project

Focus on severe storms

The European field measurement campaign on severe thunderstorms already started in its preparation phase.
In the summer seasons from 2026 to 2028, the Intense Observation Periods (IOPs) will take place, gathering valuable data on thunderstorms, their connected wind systems, humidity and icing at different altitudes or temperature changes.

Focus Regions

Europe's field measurement campaign on severe thunderstorms (TIM) will focus on regions where severe thunderstorms are frequently observed. In those regions, the TIM partners will deploy a dense network of cutting-edge measuring systems.

TIM field campaign sensors

For TIM, classical meteorological networks, as well as the latest sensor technologies are used to collect as much critical data as possible on severe thunderstorms, in order to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Planned sensors and measurement methods:
Weather stations, radiosondes (weather balloons), swarm sondes, aircraft sensors, dropsondes, LIDAR, fixed and mobile RADAR units, drones, etc.

TIM project teams

For a field measurement campaign of this size, multiple teams will work together to guarantee a smooth operation of the whole project.

SENSOR

The sensor team is responsible for stationary measurement platforms and instrument types such as weather radar, doppler lidar, raman lidar, cloud radar, MW radiometers, satellites, conventional ground-based meteorological networks or upper air soundings.
The sensor team ensures the backbone coverage for the focus regions of TIM.

MOBILE

The mobile units are deployed to areas of severe storm activity. Their goal is to get near-storm coverage with mobile radar systems, airborne measurements (drone, airplane, micro balloons), and mobile weather stations. Furthermore, they will be responsible for photogrammetry and video documentation.

MET & OPS

The meteorological team is a highly specialized forecast unit providing medium- and
short-range forecasting, as well as nowcasting guidance for the mobile teams.

The Mission Control Centre will work closely with the MET unit to organize all dynamic TIM activities.

DATA

The data team is responsible for the setup & maintenance of the data flow from all devices and platforms to the central data hub.
The team is safeguarding the completeness of the data and merges it with important metadata on a daily basis.
In TIM's data hub, all collected data will be saved for future generations of researchers!

Chasing
the storm

Mobile teams

Main goal of the campaign is to gather high-quality data from the vicinity of severe storms. The data will be used to improve weather warnings, high-resolution weather models and new remote sensing technologies as new generation satellites or radar systems.

THE SCIENCE

Responsible Field Campaign

The TIM partners agree on a responsible conduct strategy for the entire field campaign. This includes minimising the environmental footprint by maximising green mobility and thorough CO2-sensitive planning, giving preference to local suppliers and small businesses. Support and active offers for less privileged groups to get involved.

For generations to come we want to gather important data from the "eye of the storm".

TIM* - EXPLORING THUNDERSTORMS

TIM, the European Field Measurement Campaign on Severe Storms, will take place from 2026 to 2028, a three year period of intense observations and measurements.

Mobile teams and fixed observation sites will be equipped with the newest sensor generations and technologies, to gather important data of extreme thunderstorms.

This data will be provided to the scientific world and be available for future generations of researchers.

*TIM = Thunderstorm Intensification from Mountains to Plains

THE PROJECT