News

2019 temperature records in France, Germany, UK

How predictable were this summer’s European temperature records?

Several European national and city temperature records tumbled this summer during two separate heatwaves in June and July. How well can such extreme events be predicted using a state-of-the-art global forecasting system?

Wildfire in Greenland July 2019

Unusual Arctic wildfire activity continues into August

Unusually high levels of wildfire activity within the Arctic Circle monitored since the second week of June 2019 have continued well into August, data from the EU-funded Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service implemented by ECMWF show.

Extract from first ECMWF operational forecast

ECMWF celebrates 40 years of operational medium-range forecasting

On 1 August 1979 ECMWF produced its first operational medium-range forecast for Member States. This major achievement marked the first milestone on the road towards producing useful weather forecasts beyond two to three days.

News highlights January to July 2019

News highlights January to July 2019

ECMWF news highlights in the first seven months of 2019 include an upgrade of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System that greatly improved forecasts; a series of events to drive forward numerical weather prediction; an assessment of ground-breaking new wind data; and the appointment of a new Director of Copernicus Services.

Florian Pappenberger at the observational campaigns workshop June 2019

Experts explore how observational campaigns can improve weather forecasts

Weather observation specialists met modelling experts at ECMWF from 10 to 13 June 2019 to discuss how to maximise the benefits of observational campaigns for weather forecasting and vice versa.

ECMWF Newsletter 160 cover

Summer 2019 Newsletter published

The summer 2019 issue of the ECMWF Newsletter is now available. As well as news about ECMWF staff and events, it features articles about new developments and the use that can be made of ECMWF products.

UEF 2019 Speakers' Corner

ECMWF user meeting puts emphasis on creativity and interaction

Creative and interactive sessions took pride of place in this year’s Using ECMWF’s Forecasts meeting, which took place at the Centre from 3 to 6 June. The meetings give ECMWF data users an opportunity to learn about the Centre’s plans, new products and services.

CAMS aerosol forecast for 00 UTC 14 July 2019

Upgrade improves global air quality forecasts

The global forecasting system of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) was successfully upgraded on 9 July, making air quality forecasts more accurate and robust. CAMS is implemented by ECMWF on behalf of the EU.

ECMWF Annual Report 2018 web image

Annual Report 2018 published

The ECMWF Annual Report 2018 is now available online. The report reviews improvements in forecast performance, advances in research, the Centre’s contributions to Europe’s Copernicus Earth observation programme, and preparations for the new data centre in Italy.

NEXTGenIO workshop image

September workshop to review next-generation I/O in supercomputing

Registration is open for a workshop at ECMWF on 25 and 26 September to review progress in the development of new I/O techniques for supercomputing at the exascale.

Jean-Noël Thépaut

Jean-Noël Thépaut appointed as ECMWF’s new Director of Copernicus Services

Jean-Noël Thépaut has been appointed as ECMWF’s new Director of Copernicus Services from 1 October 2019, when Juan Garces de Marcilla steps down from the post. Jean-Noël has been a key player in the ECMWF team which has successfully implemented two of the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation services.

Dick Dee

Reanalysis pioneer Dick Dee bows out as ERA5 replaces ERA-Interim

Dick Dee, one of the key figures in the development of global weather and climate reanalysis at ECMWF, is leaving the Centre on 28 June on reaching retirement age, but only after overseeing the transition from the hugely successful ERA-Interim to the state-of-the-art ERA5 reanalysis.

Tropical storm Karl on 23 September 2016

Boost to research as ECMWF provides OpenIFS to Oxford-based volunteer computing project

OpenIFS at ECMWF has teamed up with the University of Oxford e-Research Centre to enable scientists to run the OpenIFS weather model on thousands of people’s home computers. The OpenIFS@home project was launched on 18 June.

Extra observations used in data assimilation

Forecasting system upgrade set to improve global weather forecasts

ECMWF is implementing a substantial upgrade of its Integrated Forecasting System today, 11 June 2019, which will significantly improve global medium-range weather forecasts. One of the key novelties in IFS Cycle 46r1 is that it makes data assimilation more continuous.

Snow-covered mountains in the Arctic

Year of Polar Prediction webinars on 24 and 25 June to focus on next phase

June 2019 marks the official start of the Year of Polar Prediction’s three-year Consolidation Phase. On 24 and 25 June, three webinars will highlight the achievements of the WMO’s Year of Polar Prediction to date and the challenges that lie ahead.

Aeolus in orbit with laser beam

Aeolus data impact tests confirm potential of new wind data for NWP

A first evaluation of data from the Aeolus satellite launched by the European Space Agency in August 2018 has confirmed that the mission’s ground-breaking laser technology can be used to obtain global wind profiles that are very useful to numerical weather prediction.

Richard Forbes at EC-Earth meeting May 2019

EC-Earth hones Earth system model for climate predictions and projections

More than 50 scientists from the European EC-Earth consortium met at ECMWF from 21 to 23 May to discuss how to develop the Earth system model they use to make climate predictions and projections. The EC-Earth model uses ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System for the atmosphere–land component.

How to make Earth science workflows more reproducible

ECMWF will hold an international workshop from 14 to 16 October 2019 at its headquarters in Reading, UK, to investigate how workflows in Earth sciences can be made more reproducible.

Extra observations used in data assimilation

ECMWF holds webinars on June upgrade of its forecasting system

ECMWF upgrades its forecasting system on a regular basis, and one such upgrade is planned for 11 June 2019. Director of Forecasts Florian Pappenberger explained how the changes will improve forecasts in two webinars on 15 and 16 May 2019.