News

Sea-surface temperature chart IFS Cycle 43r1

Model upgrade brings sea-ice coupling and higher ocean resolution

ECMWF implemented a new version of its forecasting system on 22 November, which introduces a dynamic sea-ice model and increases the resolution of the ocean model. These and other changes significantly improve the Centre’s weather predictions.
Arctic sea ice

ECMWF joins new project to probe impact of a changing Arctic climate

ECMWF is part of a new EU-funded project investigating ways to improve weather and climate predictions in the face of a rapidly changing Arctic climate.
ESA's ADM-Aeolus satellite

New satellite wind data expected to boost forecast performance

A ground-breaking satellite mission to be launched in late 2017 or early 2018 could herald a step change in the quality of weather forecasts around the globe by providing new wind data, a meeting on tropical modelling held at ECMWF has heard.
EC-Earth meeting at ECMWF 2 and 3 Nov 2016

EC-Earth to use OpenIFS in next-generation Earth system model

EC-Earth, a European consortium which aims to provide reliable climate information, will use ECMWF’s OpenIFS for the atmosphere–land component in future versions of its Earth system model.
Daily mean temperature January 2016 from ERA5

ECMWF unveils preview of new global climate monitoring tool

One year after the Paris Agreement on climate change, ECMWF launches its most powerful global climate monitoring tool to date, ERA5.
Clouds and sunrays

Progress in modelling the impact of clouds and aerosols on radiation

A workshop on the Earth’s radiation budget hosted by ECMWF from 18 to 21 October heard that progress has been made in radiation modelling at ECMWF.
Nils Wedi

What next for supercomputing in weather forecasting?

How fast can weather prediction models be adapted to work on tomorrow’s supercomputer architectures? This is one of the questions ECMWF scientist Nils Wedi will address in his talk at a supercomputer workshop which opened at the Centre on 24 October.

Newsletter 149 cover page

Autumn Newsletter published

The Autumn 2016 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.
Orographic drag illustration

Scientists grapple with Earth surface effects on atmospheric flow

The Earth’s surface slows down and deflects atmospheric flow in a variety of ways. Scientists believe a better representation of these processes in models can lead to improved weather forecasts.
South East Asia Map

WMO fellow from Vietnam begins placement year at ECMWF

Nguyen Thanh Tung, a forecaster from Vietnam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, has begun a 12-month placement at ECMWF, sponsored by the WMO.

Sea ice

WMO’s Paolo Ruti upbeat on Year of Polar Prediction

Paolo Ruti, the Chief of the WMO’s World Weather Research Division, says he is pleased with the progress made to date on the Year of Polar Prediction, a flagship activity of the World Weather Research Programme’s Polar Prediction Project.
Roberto Buizza at ECMWF's Annual Seminar 2016

Annual Seminar speakers set out case for Earth system approach

About 100 people met in Reading from 5 to 8 September for one of ECMWF’s flagship events, the four-day Annual Seminar.

HPC workshop 2016 image

Registration to close soon for workshop on supercomputing in meteorology

Registration for ECMWF’s workshop on high-performance computing in meteorology closes on Monday, 26 September.
ECMWF building and flags in Reading, UK

ECMWF is looking for a new Director of Research

ECMWF is inviting applications for the post of Director of Research with a starting date of June 2017. The closing date for applications is 7 October.
Manuel Fuentes, EMS President Horst Böttger and Baudouin Raoult

ECMWF’s MARS team receives EMS Technology Achievement Award

The team in charge of ECMWF’s Meteorological Archival and Retrieval System (MARS) received the European Meteorological Society (EMS) Technology Achievement Award 2016 in the Italian city of Trieste on 13 September.
ECMWF Strategy 2016-2025

ECMWF launches new Strategy

ECMWF has launched its new ten-year Strategy, which sets ambitious goals that push the limits of predictability in weather forecasting.
Gianpaolo Balsamo

Earth system modelling takes centre stage at Annual Seminar

ECMWF’s Annual Seminar on ‘Earth system modelling for seamless prediction’ opened on 5 September. One of the speakers at the four-day event, ECMWF scientist Gianpaolo Balsamo, explains how improved Earth system modelling can lead to better weather forecasts.
Artist's impression of Sentinel-4

ECMWF scientists trial new techniques to exploit satellite data

ECMWF is part of a consortium exploring new ways of exploiting high-resolution satellite data to monitor atmospheric ozone with unprecedented accuracy.
Photo of Dam in Monfragüe National Park, Spain

Seasonal forecasts to give earlier indications of river levels

A new seasonal outlook developed by ECMWF that extends the forecast horizon for river levels from two weeks to two months is being tested in the Copernicus European Flood Awareness System (EFAS).