Weather professional Stefan Schwarzer: On the trail of strong thunderstorms!

Weather professional Stefan Schwarzer: On the trail of strong thunderstorms!

When it comes to weather observations in Germany, there is no way around the Hoher Peißenberg. This impressive peak, at 988 meters high, is not only the oldest mountain observatory in the world, but also an important location for climatological research by the German Weather Service (DWD). Stefan Schwarzer, an experienced weather observer and programmer, has had his place here for 30 years and has contributed a lot to the progress of weather data recording. As the South Germans reports, Schwarzer took his first steps in meteorology on the Zugspitze, where he worked for over a decade.

The importance of the Hoher Peißenberg cannot be overestimated. Meteorological data has been collected here since 1781, and the station has been part of the global climate monitoring program (GAW) since 1990. This means that the Hoher Peißenberg has not only national but also international significance. Weather data collected over decades helps to better understand the climate. What is particularly noteworthy is that the ozone measurement operation has been running here since 1967, while the GAW measurements have been monitoring trace gases, aerosols and rain constituents since 1994, explains DWD website.

Weather Observation: A Journey from the Past to the Future

The change from analog to digital methods is one of the biggest changes in weather observation. Stefan Schwarzer highlights how important the emergence of automated processes and supercomputers is for weather data analysis. Especially after the hail catastrophe in August 2023, which devastated the monastery village of Benediktbeuern, the need for precise weather forecasts is becoming more of a focus. Schwarzer was not only one of the first helpers in Bad Baiersoien, but also uses his Facebook page “Private Wetterstation Peißenberg” to spread well-founded information and criticize the media's sensationalism.

Weather data covers many aspects such as air pressure, humidity and wind speed, and the systematic collection of this data began in 1781. The foundation of meteorology was laid when scientists such as James Glaisher and Léon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort began exploring the atmosphere using balloons. Today, the DWD is not only responsible for recording the data, but also offers public access to the observatory, albeit only by prior registration, making it a special place for those curious. As a rule, group tours lead across the site and offer interesting insights into the world of weather observation, such as Wikipedia summarizes.

Innovations for a better future

In addition to his work, Schwarzer is currently developing a flood app for Peißenberg and is working on the second version to better inform the population about impending storms. “Weather observation is not a game, but a responsible task,” emphasizes the experienced expert. The German Weather Service, with its around 60 employees at Hoher Peißenberg, is not only a place for research, but also a contact point for everyone who is interested in the weather and its effects on our environment.

With constant technical innovations and increasing sensitivity to weather phenomena, weather observation will continue to play a central role in science and society. Because if you want to understand the weather, you have to be prepared to go deeper - and this is exactly where the impressive work of the weather observers at Hoher Peißenberg comes into play.