A step forward in extreme weather monitoring and forecasting is on the horizon, thanks to the CYGMEN – Cyprus GNSS Meteorology Enhancement project. Funded by a grant of 1.5 million euros from the Research and Innovation Foundation, CYGMEN stands out as one of only five projects nationwide to secure funding from this institution.

Under the leadership of Dr. Christina Economou from the Frederick Research Center and a member of the Cyprus Ionospheric Research Group, the project aims to revolutionize weather prediction and analysis in the region. The effort to develop the Cyprus Meteorological System (CyMETEO) under the CYGMEN project is set to strategically enhance the infrastructure of both the Frederick Research Center and the Cyprus Meteorological Department.

This ambitious upgrade involves installing a lightning detection network, a dense GNSS network for measuring cloud humidity, a Radar Wind Profiler (RWP) capable of continuously monitoring wind speed and direction up to an altitude of 5000 meters, and a Microwave Radiometer (MWR) that computes both the water vapor content in clouds and temperature profiles related to altitude.

Dr. Economou explained, "All the data collected will be integrated into the Meteorological Service's system, enabling it to provide more accurate forecasts, particularly for extreme rainfall events."

The CYGMEN project brings together a consortium of partners including Cloudwater Ltd, the Meteorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, and the Nicosia Development Agency. Additionally, the National Observatory of Athens contributes as a Scientific Collaborator through its METEO team of the Observatory.