E-ASAP

E-ASAP (EUMETNET - Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme) is a joint programme of the European weather services for the coordination of weather balloon launches (radiosoundings) in the North Atlantic. The balloon launches are mainly carried out by the sailors of the participating merchant ships. The main purpose of the E-ASAP programme is to fill the data gap between Europe and North America. Shipborne radiosonde observations performed by E-ASAP in the North Atlantic provide valuable information on temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind profiles in this data-sparse region.

The E-ASAP radiosonde stations are fitted on board participating ships (currently 16), managed by four EUMETNET Members – the National Meteorological Services (NMSs) of Germany (DWD), France (Météo-France), Denmark (DMI), and Spain (AEMET). DWD, as the leader of the E-ASAP programme, is responsible for managing supplies (radiosondes, balloons, helium, etc.) and technical maintenance. Most of the participating ships are merchant container vessels in transatlantic service whose crews volunteer to regularly launch weather balloons. Transmission of the data from the radiosondes to the NMSs is fully automated. The NMSs forward the received data to the Global Telecommunication System (GTS), making it available to all NMSs worldwide.

EUMETNET kindly supports the observation activities of NAWDIC with additional radiosonde launches as part of the E-ASAP programme. During Intensive Observation Periods (IOPs) of NAWDIC, participating ships located in areas of interest will be requested to perform four radiosonde launches per day (at 0000, 0600, 1200, and 1800 UTC). These measurements will make a valuable contribution to the scientific goals of NAWDIC by providing meteorological context and filling data gaps in regions not yet covered by other NAWDIC observation platforms.