Summer 2020 Newsletter published
The summer 2020 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.
News
Fellowship terms end for ECMWF’s first three Fellows
Prof. Tilmann Gneiting, Prof. Rupert Klein and Prof. Tim Palmer were appointed in July 2014. Their expertise and engagement have brought major benefits in areas including forecast calibration, numerical methods, and the use of reduced numerical precision within weather forecast simulations.
Silvio Cau elected as ECMWF’s new Council President
At its June meeting, ECMWF’s Council elected Gen. Isp. G.A. Silvio Cau as its President. The Council also noted expressions of interest from ten countries to host an additional ECMWF facility.
IFS upgrade greatly improves forecasts in the stratosphere
A wide-ranging upgrade of ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System (IFS), implemented on 30 June 2020, improves global weather forecasts and substantially improves analyses and forecasts in the stratosphere.
Annual Report 2019 now available online
The ECMWF Annual Report 2019 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.
How to track changes in atmospheric composition across the globe
ECMWF scientist Mark Parrington studied physics to find out how the world works. Today he applies the skills he has acquired to tracking changes in atmospheric composition and communicating his findings to the public.
Using ECMWF’s Forecasts 2020: embracing the virtual challenge
ECMWF virtually met its data, product and service users during this year’s Using ECMWF’s Forecasts event (UEF 2020) from 1 to 4 June 2020. The online meeting attracted 227 people from 43 countries
Coordinated response mitigates loss of aircraft-based weather data
A coordinated response involving EUMETNET, national meteorological services and private companies is helping to mitigate any adverse effects of the continued loss of aircraft-based observations on weather forecasts.
Webinars to explain how June’s IFS upgrade improves forecasts
ECMWF upgrades its forecasting system on a regular basis, and one such upgrade is planned for 30 June 2020. Director of Forecasts Florian Pappenberger will explain how the changes improve forecasts in two webinars on 27 and 28 May 2020.
Progress towards using visible light satellite data in weather prediction
ECMWF scientists have made progress in using visible light satellite data to estimate the concentration of small particles suspended in the atmosphere. Their work could pave the way for the fuller use of such data in numerical weather prediction.