Meteorological Panel
What is the OSTIV Meteorological Panel?
The MET Panel is a collaborative forum for the exchange of knowledge on soaring meteorology, including topics such as:
- airborne observations including onboard sensors and flight track data
- usage of weather data and forecasting tools
- thermals and atmospheric convection
- atmospheric gravity waves, valley winds and slope flows
- mountain meteorology and boundary layer research in general
The panel connects scientific research with real-world flight experience, creating a unique environment where atmospheric scientists can meet pilots who experience these phenomena daily in the air, and where pilots can connect directly with the science behind them. Please find more information on the poster presented at the scientific conferences IMC and ICAM in 2025: download poster
What are the goals of the MET Panel?
The Meteorological Panel has two primary goals:
1. Networking Platform
The MET Panel acts as a bridge between atmospheric science and air sports, connecting researchers with pilots, datasets, and field expertise.
2. Communication
The panel helps translate atmospheric science research into practical knowledge for the gliding and free-flight community.
Researchers can also publish work relevant to soaring meteorology in the OSTIV scientific journal Technical Soaring.
What activities does the MET Panel organize?
The MET Panel supports the community through:
- bi-yearly on-site MET Panel Meetings
- sporadic webinars on specific meteorological topics
- contributions at OSTIV Congresses
As a non-profit organisation, OSTIV does not provide any funding, so the work of the OSTIV Met Panel is entirely done on a voluntary basis.
Who is the MET Panel for?
The MET Panel welcomes experts in soaring meteorology (pilots and non-pilots) including:
- students and scientists from aviation, boundary layer and mountain meteorology
- meteorologists working in operational forecasting or education
- engineers developing forecasting tools or sensors
- specialists supporting gliding and paragliding federations in meteorology
It is a place to meet experts, share ideas, and build collaborations across the fields of atmospheric science and air sports. The MET Panel also creates opportunities to develop new research projects - including MSc and PhD theses - and to exchange perspectives between scientists and pilots. Pilots can bring forward the practical needs and open questions they encounter in flight, while researchers can explore these real-world challenges to develop new scientific questions, measurement campaigns, and forecasting approaches in soaring meteorology.
Join the MET Panel network and stay informed about the meetings, collaborations, and research opportunities: Please contact met@ostiv.org
Who leads the MET Panel?
The Meteorological Panel is co-chaired by:
- Prof. Dr. John J. Bird, University of Texas El Paso
- Prof. em. Dr. Bruno Neininger, Switzerland
For inquiries, please contact: met@ostiv.org