ECMWF has a wide-ranging programme of research and development directed at improving the quality and variety of forecast products for the medium-range and beyond. Approximately 70 staff and consultants work in the Research Department on all aspects of the forecast and data assimilation systems. The result of this research effort is one of the most comprehensive earth-system models available anywhere.

Overview of research at ECMWF

The ECMWF Integrated Forecast System (IFS)

The comprehensive earth-system model developed at ECMWF forms the basis for all the data assimilation and forecasting activities. All the main applications required are available through one integrated computer software system (a set of computer programs written in Fortran) called the Integrated Forecast System or IFS.

The OpenIFS Project

The project started in December 2011 and promotes the use of the IFS for academic research and teaching. It will develop and release the OpenIFS model, with supporting software and documentation.

The OpenIFS is based on Cycle 38R1 and includes all of the forecast capability of IFS but does not include the data assimilation. Read more...

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Find more detailed information on the OpenIFs user pages

Research areas

Satellite data for numerical weather prediction
Data assimilation
Development of numerical algorithms
Physical Aspects
Ocean wave forecasting
Predictability and ensemble forecasting (EPS)
Monthly Forecasting
Seasonal Forecasting
Flood Forecasting
Diagnostics

EU-funded projects

ECMWF participates in a number of collaborative research projects funded by the European Union:-

Projects in the Framework 5 Programme:

Projects in the Framework 6 Programme:

Projects in the Framework 7 Programme:

ESA-funded projects

ECMWF participates in a number of collaborative research projects funded by the European Space Agency:-

WMO projects

Projects at ECMWF that are part of the WMO World Weather Research Programme (WWRP).

15.03.2013

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