| 12 Jun 2025
High-resolution atmospheric data cubes from the WegenerNet 3D Open-Air Laboratory for Climate Change Research
Abstract. This paper describes the first release of Level 1b and Level 2 high-resolution atmospheric data cubes generated in the WegenerNet 3D Open-Air Laboratory for Climate Change Research Feldbach Region (WEGN3D Open-Air Lab). These datasets, based on the continuous WegenerNet 3D observations form a growing multi-year observational data collection at sub-kilometer scale and sub-hourly resolution, capable to support the study of weather extremes in a changing climate, water vapor – cloud – precipitation interactions, and interactions between the surface and the free atmosphere, among other uses.
The data are not assimilated into reanalyses or numerical weather prediction models. Consequently, they can also serve as an independent dataset for evaluation and validation of such models, as well as of climate-oriented modeling, at high spatial and temporal resolution. The instrumentation behind the WEGN3D Open-Air Lab atmospheric data cubes consists of an X-band dual-polarization precipitation radar, a combined microwave/infrared tropospheric sounding radiometer, an infrared cloud structure radiometer, and a six-station water vapor sounding Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) network with baselines of 5 km to 10 km. These sensors form the WegenerNet 3D Observing System and complement the existing WegenerNet climate station network in the Feldbach region. The site is situated in the Alpine forelands of southeastern Austria and covers an area of approximately 1400 km2, with radar volume scans reaching up to an altitude of about 6 km and tropospheric profiles up to an altitude of 10 km. Precipitation radar measurements started in mid-2020, with the current sensor configuration being operational since mid-2021. The dataset will be continuously extended in near real time with the goal of providing a consistent, high-resolution long-term data record for atmospheric and climate sciences.
The temporal resolution of the datasets ranges from 2.5 min for precipitation radar and GNSS-derived datasets to 10 min for radiometer-derived datasets. Precipitation and cloud data cubes are provided on a 200 m by 200 m Cartesian grid, with height level resolution ranging from 20 m near the surface, to 200 m at 10 km altitude. These height levels adequately cover the sensor resolution of the observed tropospheric profiles.
The Level 1b dataset (Kvas et al., 2024a, DOI: https://doi.org/10.25364/WEGC/WPS3D-L1B-10) and the Level 2 dataset (Kvas et al., 2024b, DOI: https://doi.org/10.25364/WEGC/WPS3D-L2-10) are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license on the WegenerNet Data Portal (https://wegenernet.org/portal/3ddownload/, last accessed 2025-06-10) and are described with standardized metadata formats. The data portal offers users several convenient options for exploring and downloading the individual datasets. These include visualization tools for selected data variables, web interfaces for manual subsetting of datasets, and application programming interfaces (APIs) for automated or scripted downloads.
This manuscript presents the level 1b and level 2 release of the high-resolution atmospheric data cubes generated in the WegenerNet 3D Open-Air Laboratory for Climate Change Research Feldbach Region (WEGN3D Open-Air Lab.
This represents a new important component of the Wegenernet monitoring network. The network monitors a region around Feldbach (Austria) since 2007 with a wide array of atmospheric sensors, and its products are kept independent from the calibration of atmospheric models and other sensors (e.g., satellite precipitation estimates). This makes the network almost unique in the world and extremely useful for a range of applications. The data presented in the manuscript complements this effort with new sensors and monitored variables, for a period since 2021.
I accessed the Wegenernet portal and downloaded some of the described data with no issues. I could acres the data and use it easily. The portal also allows for “bulk download”, which is extremely helpful for research.
I commend the authors for their work, both the hard work on installing and maintaining such a network and for the quality of the submitted manuscript.
To my evaluation, the manuscript is ready for publication as is, aside from two points:
I believe the community should be thankful to the authors for providing such a service and making these data freely accessible to everyone.