News

News highlights image Jan-Jul 2021

News highlights January to July 2021

ECMWF news highlights in the first seven months of 2021 include an upgrade of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System; projects and workshops to drive forward weather science; and new developments regarding the EU-funded Copernicus services implemented by ECMWF.
Arctic sea ice

APPLICATE project to have lasting effects on polar forecasting

As part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 project APPLICATE, ECMWF has reviewed the challenges that limit forecast skill in Arctic regions. Advances have been made in coupled modelling, process-based diagnostics, and the effective use of observations and data assimilation.
Image of flooding in Erfstadt-Blessem in July 2021

ECMWF’s role in the Copernicus Emergency Management Service renewed

ECMWF is to continue as the computational centre for the hydrological forecasting activities of the EU-funded Copernicus Emergency Management Service for a further six years. The computational centre helps to deliver the European and Global Flood Awareness Systems, EFAS and GloFAS.
ECMWF Newsletter 168

Summer 2021 Newsletter published

The summer 2021 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.
Earth in space with names of ECMWF Copernicus Services

ECMWF and European Commission renew contract for Copernicus services

ECMWF has signed an agreement with the European Commission to continue implementing the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) for the next seven years.
Forecast User Forum image

ECMWF opens forum for forecast users

ECMWF has opened a forum for its users to post comments on topics related to weather and forecasting, join conversations and provide feedback to the Centre.
Meteosat Third Generation and Metop-SG satellites

EUMETSAT to provide new satellite observations to improve weather forecasts

ECMWF needs up-to-date satellite observations of weather-related variables to initialise its forecasts and to conduct research. Its partnership with EUMETSAT is essential in this regard.
ECMWF Annual Report 2020 Cover web news

ECMWF Annual Report 2020 available online

The Report reviews improvements in forecast performance, advances in research, the Centre’s contributions to Europe’s Copernicus Earth observation programme, preparations for the new data centre in Italy, and how we have worked through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Weather observation super-site in Falkenberg, Germany

How super-site observations help improve ECMWF forecasts

ECMWF researchers have used detailed soil and weather observations up to about 200 metres above ground from several observational super-sites in Europe to assess and improve different aspects of our weather forecasts.
UEF2021-montage

An extraordinary ‘Using ECMWF’s Forecasts 2021’ event

The second fully virtual Using ECMWF’s Forecasts event was held from 1 to 4 June 2021. The meeting attracted people from all over the world to discuss and provide feedback on ECMWF products and services.

Saildrone to help ECMWF understand the Gulf Stream

ECMWF is to ingest data from Saildrone uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) later this year to improve our understanding of the behaviour of the Gulf Stream and its influence on weather. Up to six solar-powered USVs will cover a part of the Gulf Stream that is crucial for forecasts.
Ocean data assimilation workshop image

Scientists review advances in ocean data assimilation

Some 170 scientists from around the world presented recent progress and challenges ahead in ocean data assimilation in a virtual event from 17 to 20 May 2021, organised jointly by ECMWF and OceanPredict.
Some of the participants in the EGU General Assembly 2021

ECMWF scientists show latest research at EGU General Assembly

ECMWF scientists made a big contribution to the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2021, held online from 19 to 30 April. Their presentations touched on many aspects of weather prediction as well as work done by the two EU Copernicus services run by ECMWF.
IFS Cycle 47r2 general image

Forecast upgrade innovates on single precision and ensemble resolution

An upgrade of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System implemented on 11 May has introduced single precision for high-resolution and ensemble forecasts and increased the vertical ensemble resolution.
19th HPC workshop graphic

HPC workshop to consider path to exascale computing for meteorology

Registration and abstract submission are open for ECMWF’s online workshop on the use of high-performance computing in meteorology from 20 to 24 September.
ECMWF Newsletter No. 167 cover image

Spring 2021 Newsletter published

The spring 2021 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.
European state of the climate poster

Copernicus Climate Change Service publishes report on 2020

The EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service implemented by ECMWF has produced a comprehensive overview of last year’s European climate. The European State of the Climate 2020 also includes a focus on the Arctic and a summary of global conditions.

Frédéric Vitart

ECMWF addresses underprediction of tropical storms in seasonal forecasts

A change in ECMWF’s seasonal prediction system SEAS5 has reduced the underprediction of tropical storms. Frédéric Vitart had a key role in developing it.
Wind turbines and solar panels

Data to inform policy-making: discussing climate challenges with Spain

The latest climate projections for the coming decades are now available in the Climate Data Store of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). A special event for decision-makers in Spain explored how such C3S climate data can help drive solutions for water and energy sectors.