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.
News
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.