Massimo joined ECMWF in March 2009 to work on the development of the variational data assimilation system and its ensemble extension. SInce February 2016 Massimo leads the Data Assimilation Methodology Team of the Earth System Assimilation Section, which works on the continuous improvement of the data assimilation algorithms used for the initialization of ECMWF forecasts.
- Data Assimilation
- Estimation Theory
- Inverse Problems
After obtaining his Master Degree in experimental Physics from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (1992) Massimo worked for two years in the telecom industry as a software developer. In 1995 he joined the Weather Service of the Italian Air Force, where he worked for 15 years first as a forecaster and then in the data assimilation section. In this time he obtained a Master in Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, USA (2000-2001).
In March 2009 Massimo joined ECMWF where he has since worked on various aspects of the data assimilation problem, with particular emphasis on error estimation and characterisation. During this period he has obtained a PhD in Remote Sensing from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (2012-2015). He currently coordinates the research effort of the Data Assimilation Methodology Team.
- 2024
- Massimo Bonavita (June 2024) On Some Limitations of Current Machine Learning Weather Prediction Models, Geophysical Research Letters. DOI: 10.1029/2023GL107377
- 2023
- Massimo Bonavita, Rochelle Schneider, Rossella Arcucci, Matthew Chantry, Marcin Chrust, Alan Geer, Bertrand Le Saux, Claudia Vitolo (July 2023) 2022 ECMWF-ESA workshop report: current status, progress and opportunities in machine learning for Earth System observation and prediction, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. DOI: 10.1038/s41612-023-00387-2
- Alban Farchi, Marcin Chrust, Marc Bocquet, Patrick Laloyaux, Massimo Bonavita (September 2023) Online Model Error Correction With Neural Networks in the Incremental 4D‐Var Framework, Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems. DOI: 10.1029/2022MS003474
- 2022
- Rochelle Schneider, Massimo Bonavita, Alan Geer, Rossella Arcucci, Peter Dueben, Claudia Vitolo, Bertrand Le Saux, Begüm Demir, Pierre-Philippe Mathieu (June 2022) ESA-ECMWF Report on recent progress and research directions in machine learning for Earth System observation and prediction, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. DOI: 10.1038/s41612-022-00269-z
- Alban Farchi, Marcin Chrust, Marc Bocquet, Patrick Laloyaux, Massimo Bonavita (October 2022) Online model error correction with neural networks in the incremental 4D-Var framework. DOI: 10.1002/essoar.10512719.1
- 2021
- Linus Magnusson, Sharanya Majumdar, Rebecca Emerton, David Richardson, Magdalena A. Balmaseda, Calum Baugh, Peter Bechtold, Jean Bidlot, Antonino Bonanni, Massimo Bonavita, Niels Bormann, Andy Brown, Philip Browne, Hilda Carr, Mohamed Dahoui, Giovanna De Chiara, Michail Diamantakis, David I. Duncan, Stephen English, Richard Forbes, Alan Geer, Thomas Haiden, Sean Healy, Timothy Hewson, Bruce Ingleby, Martin Janousek, Christian Kühnlein, Simon Lang, Sarah-Jane Lock, Tony McNally, Kristian S. Mogensen, Florian Pappenberger, Inna Polichtchouk, Fernando Prates, Christel Prudhomme, Florence Rabier, Patricia de Rosnay, Tiago Quintino, Michael Rennie (October 2021) Tropical cyclone activities at ECMWF, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 888. DOI: 10.21957/zzxzzygwv
- Alban Farchi, Marc Bocquet, Patrick Laloyaux, Massimo Bonavita, Quentin Malartic (October 2021) A comparison of combined data assimilation and machine learning methods for offline and online model error correction, Journal of Computational Science. DOI: 10.1016/j.jocs.2021.101468
- Alban Farchi, Patrick Laloyaux, Massimo Bonavita, Marc Bocquet (July 2021) Using machine learning to correct model error in data assimilation and forecast applications, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. DOI: 10.1002/qj.4116
- (January 2021) Continuous data assimilation for global numerical weather prediction, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. DOI: 10.1002/qj.3917
- Massimo Bonavita, Rossella Arcucci, Alberto Carrassi, Peter Dueben, Alan J. Geer, Bertrand Le Saux, Nicolas Longépé, Pierre-Philippe Mathieu, Laure Raynaud (April 2021) Machine Learning for Earth System Observation and Prediction, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. DOI: 10.1175/bams-d-20-0307.1
- Inna Polichtchouk, Peter Bechtold, Massimo Bonavita, Richard Forbes, Sean Healy, Robin Hogan, Patrick Laloyaux, Michael Rennie, Timothy Stockdale, Nils Wedi, Michail Diamantakis, Johannes Flemming, Stephen English, Lars Isaksen, Filip Vána, Sonja Gisinger, Nicholas Byrne (January 2021) Stratospheric modelling and assimilation, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 877. DOI: 10.21957/25hegfoq
- Massimo Bonavita (July 2021) Exploring the structure of time‐correlated model errors in the ECMWF data assimilation system, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. DOI: 10.1002/qj.4137
- (April 2021) Data assimilation or machine learning? , ECMWF Newsletter, pp. 17-22. DOI: 10.21957/ut51mb7c39
- 2020
- Sebastien Massart, Niels Bormann, Massimo Bonavita, Cristina Lupu (August 2020) Skin Temperature Analysis for the Assimilation of Clear-Sky Satellite Radiances, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 870. DOI: 10.21957/goe0ads8z
- Patrick Laloyaux, Massimo Bonavita (April 2020) Improving the handling of model bias in data assimilation, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 163, pp. 18-22. DOI: 10.21957/pl881qs63d
- Massimo Bonavita, Peter Lean (October 2020) 4D‐Var for numerical weather prediction, Weather. DOI: 10.1002/wea.3862
- Alan Geer, Massimo Bonavita, Mats Hamrud (February 2020) All-sky microwave radiances assimilated with an ensemble Kalman filter, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 861. DOI: 10.21957/hoi2h2x08
- Massimo Bonavita, Patrick Laloyaux (July 2020) Machine Learning for Model Error Inference and Correction. DOI: 10.1002/essoar.10503695.1
- Massimo Bonavita, Patrick Laloyaux (December 2020) Machine Learning for Model Error Inference and Correction, Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems n. 12. DOI: 10.1029/2020MS002232
- 2019
- Simon Lang, Elias Hólm, Massimo Bonavita, Yannick Tremolet (January 2019) A 50-member Ensemble of Data Assimilations, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 158, pp. 27-29. DOI: 10.21957/nb251xc4sl
- Peter Lean, Massimo Bonavita, Elias Hólm, Niels Bormann, Tony McNally (January 2019) Continuous data assimilation for the IFS, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 158, pp. 21-26. DOI: 10.21957/9pl5fc37it
- 2018
- Hans Hersbach, Patricia de Rosnay, Bill Bell, Dinand Schepers, Adrian Simmons, Cornel Soci, Saleh Abdalla, Magdalena A. Balmaseda, Gianpaolo Balsamo, Peter Bechtold, P. Berrisford, Jean Bidlot, de Boisséson E., Massimo Bonavita, Browne P., Roberto Buizza, Per Dahlgren, Dick Dee, Rossana Dragani, Michail Diamantakis, Johannes Flemming, Richard Forbes, Alan Geer, Thomas Haiden, Elias Hólm, L. Haimberger, Robin Hogan, Andras Horanyi, Janiskova M., Patrick Laloyaux, Philippe Lopez, Joaquin Muñoz-Sabater, C. Peubey, Raluca Radu, David Richardson, Jean-Noel THEPAUT, Frederic Vitart, Yang X, Ervin Zsoter, Hao Zuo (December 2018) Operational global reanalysis: progress, future directions and synergies with NWP, ERA Report Series n. 27. DOI: 10.21957/tkic6g3wm
- Patrick Laloyaux, Frolov S., B. Ménétrier, Massimo Bonavita (August 2018) Implicit and explicit cross-correlations in coupled data assimilation, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 827. DOI: 10.21957/hpbwlimdj
- Massimo Bonavita, Peter Lean, Elias Hólm (September 2018) Nonlinear effects in 4D-Var, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 828. DOI: 10.21957/xiidkomlf
- 2017
- Alan Geer, Maike Ahlgrimm, Peter Bechtold, Massimo Bonavita, Niels Bormann, Stephen English, Mark Fielding, Richard Forbes, Robin Hogan, Elias Hólm, Marta Janiskova, Katrin Lonitz, Philippe Lopez, Marco Matricardi, irina sandu, P. Weston (November 2017) Assimilating observations sensitive to cloud and precipitation, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 815. DOI: 10.21957/sz7cr1dym
- Roberto Buizza, Peter Bechtold, Massimo Bonavita, Niels Bormann, Alessio Bozzo, Thomas Haiden, Robin Hogan, Elias Hólm, Gabor Radnoti, David Richardson, Michael Sleigh (November 2017) IFS Cycle 43r3 brings model and assimilation updates, ECMWF newsletter, issue 152, pp. 18-22. DOI: 10.21957/76t4e1
- Massimo Bonavita, Mohamed Dahoui, Philippe Lopez, F. Prates, Elias Hólm, Giovanna De Chiara, Alan Geer, L. Isaksen, Bruce Ingleby (November 2017) On the initialization of Tropical Cyclones, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 810. DOI: 10.21957/insgrw8u6
- Massimo Bonavita, Y. Trémolet, Elias Hólm, S. T. K. Lang, Marcin Chrust, Marta Janiskova, Philippe Lopez, Patrick Laloyaux, Patricia de Rosnay, Mike Fisher, M. Hamrud, Stephen English (November 2017) A Strategy for Data Assimilation, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 800. DOI: 10.21957/tx1epjd2p
- 2016
- Sebastien Massart, Massimo Bonavita (November 2016) Ensemble of Data Assimilations applied to the CAMS' greenhouse gases analysis, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 780. DOI: 10.21957/rvnt8iz3s
- 2015
- Niels Bormann, Massimo Bonavita, Rossana Dragani, Reime Eresmaa, Marco Matricardi, A. McNally (July 2015) Enhancing the impact of IASI observations through an updated observation error covariance matrix, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 756. DOI: 10.21957/gq8j2gjp7
- Hamrud M., Massimo Bonavita, L. Isaksen (November 2015) Promising results in hybrid data assimilation tests, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 144, pp. 33-39. DOI: 10.21957/4n5hz0y5
- 2014
- M. Hamrud, Massimo Bonavita, L. Isaksen (September 2014) EnKF and Hybrid Gain Ensemble Data Assimilation, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 733. DOI: 10.21957/742fseq8f
- Massimo Bonavita, E. V. Hólm, L. Isaksen, Mike Fisher (December 2014) The evolution of the ECMWF hybrid data assimilation system, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 743. DOI: 10.21957/uri3603hp
- 2013
- Massimo Bonavita (May 2013) On some aspects of the impact of GPSRO observations in global numerical weather prediction, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 701, pp. 24. DOI: 10.21957/lyaav98o5
- S.J. English, A. McNally, Niels Bormann, Kirsti Salonen, Marco Matricardi, Andras Horanyi, Michael Rennie, Marta Janiskova, S. Di Michele, Alan Geer, Enza di Tomaso, Carla Cardinali, Patricia de Rosnay, J.M. Sabater, Massimo Bonavita, C. Albergel, Richard Engelen, Jean-Noel THEPAUT (November 2013) Impact of satellite data, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 711, pp. 46. DOI: 10.21957/b6596ot1s
- Linus Magnusson, A.J. Thorpe, Massimo Bonavita, S.T.K. Lang, A. McNally, Nils Wedi (April 2013) Evaluation of forecasts for hurricane Sandy, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 699, pp. 28. DOI: 10.21957/b5nhw6qe1
- Peter Bauer, Anton Beljaars, Maike Ahlgrimm, Peter Bechtold, Jean Bidlot, Massimo Bonavita, Alessio Bozzo, Richard Forbes, E. V. Hólm, Martin Leutbecher, Philippe Lopez, Linus Magnusson, F. Prates, Mark John Rodwell, irina sandu, A. Untch, Frederic Vitart (July 2013) Model Cycle 38r2: Components and Performance, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 704, pp. 58. DOI: 10.21957/xc1r0lj6l
- A. McNally, Massimo Bonavita, Jean-Noel THEPAUT (March 2013) The role of satellite data in the forecasting of hurricane Sandy, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 696, pp. 29. DOI: 10.21957/zf223lj8
- Niels Bormann, Massimo Bonavita (October 2013) Spread of the ensemble of data assimilations in radiance space, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 708, pp. 29. DOI: 10.21957/edrq57brh
- 2012
- Mark John Rodwell, Magnusson L., Peter Bauer, Peter Bechtold, Massimo Bonavita, Carla Cardinali, Michail Diamantakis, P. Earnshaw, Anotonio Garcia-Mendez, L. Isaksen, Källén E., Klocke D., Philippe Lopez, Tony McNally, Persson A., Fernando Prates, Nils Wedi (November 2012) A case study of occasional poor medium-range forecasts for Europe, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 131, pp. 16-24. DOI: 10.21957/ocaqy91i
- Massimo Bonavita, L. Isaksen, E. V. Hólm (January 2012) On the use of EDA background error variances in the ECMWF 4D-Var, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 664, pp. 31. DOI: 10.21957/3msfrh5zm
- Massimo Bonavita, L. Isaksen, Elias Hólm (November 2012) Use of EDA-based background error variance in 4D-Var, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 130, pp. 24-30. DOI: 10.21957/l6qjgvsb
- 2011
- Shutts G., Martin Leutbecher, Antje Weisheimer, Timothy Stockdale, L. Isaksen, Massimo Bonavita (November 2011) Representing model uncertainty: stochastic parametrizations at ECMWF, ECMWF Newsletter, issue 129, pp. 19-24. DOI: 10.21957/fbqmkhv7
- 2010
- Mark John Rodwell, T. Jung, Peter Bechtold, P. Berrisford, Niels Bormann, Carla Cardinali, Laura Ferranti, Timothy Hewson, Franco Molteni, Nils Wedi, Magdalena A. Balmaseda, Gianpaolo Balsamo, Massimo Bonavita, Roberto Buizza, Mohamed Dahoui, Anotonio Garcia-Mendez, Martin Leutbecher, Philippe Lopez, Y. Trémolet, Frederic Vitart (October 2010) Developments in diagnostics research, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 637, pp. 49. DOI: 10.21957/tnuoos42a
- L. Isaksen, Massimo Bonavita, Roberto Buizza, Mike Fisher, J. Haseler, Martin Leutbecher, Laure Raynaud (December 2010) Ensemble of data assimilations at ECMWF, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 636, pp. 45. DOI: 10.21957/obke4k60
- Massimo Bonavita, L. Raynaud, L. Isaksen (July 2010) Estimating background-error variances with the ECMWF Ensemble of Data Assimilations system: the effect of ensemble size and day-to-day variability, ECMWF Technical Memoranda n. 632, pp. 24. DOI: 10.21957/61uesrjik