Conference Topics

Conference Theme

Forecasting the weather - ensemble techniques in probabilistic weather prediction

Ensemble weather prediction systems are widely used today providing the means for a better representation of uncertainties in both the initial conditions and the forecast models.

The challenges are to develop further a wider range of probabilistic forecast products, and to support customers in using uncertainty information to manage weather-related risks effectively. Special emphasis will be given to forecasts of high-impact weather events.

ECAM: applied meteorology

The ECAM-sessions will cover the different perspectives of forecasters, developers and users. Probabilistic forecasts require both new products and new ways to communicate probabilistic information to the public and customers; customer requirements will be discussed under all topics. The development of high resolution guidance will be discussed with respect to the difficulty forecasters face in translating this abundant information into forecast products. Customer requirements for extreme weather forecasts will focus on areas such as aviation, energy, transportation and agriculture.

The atmospheric system and its interactions

The ASI session programme is intended for papers addressing our understanding, observing and modelling of atmospheric processes and the water cycle, including feedback mechanisms and integrative studies. The ASI session papers thus mostly describe scientific activities upstream of thoses addressed in the NWP and ECAM programme. The sessions also provide plenty of hooks for related sciences and applications: hydrology, agrometeorology, air quality, oceanography, etc.

Communication and education

The CE programme welcomes discussions on the provision of meteorological and climate information to society: the media, the interactions, the impacts. The conference will provide a platform to exchange experience on far-reaching issues such as the development of adaptation strategies on regional, national and international levels, communication within and through all types of media, customer orientation of meteorological and climate information, practices and advances in education of atmospheric sciences as well as biometeorology and the role of meteorology in the education process.

Numerical weather prediction

The emphasis of the NWP programme will be on development and operational use of numerical models:

  • Studies on efficient and robust numerical schemes for super-computers, modelling of processes relevant to weather forecasting, data assimilation algorithms and the use of  observations, probabilistic techniques,
  • Operational interpretation and use of NWP output, including automatic interpretation algorithms and subjective interpretation by forecasters.

NWP activities include both research and operational aspects. The operational aspects involve the forecaster, and increasingly specific users dedicated to one application. Following the theme of the EMS&ECAM 2011, particular focus will be on ensemble techniques and probabilistic use of NWP.

NWP topics rely on the availability of observations, understanding of atmospheric processes and modelling activities addressed in other parts of the programme, in particular ASI sessions.

Climate

The CL session programme focusses on the broad range of climatological issues concerning society and ecosystems: climate and climate change as resource and chance - climate and climate change as risk and danger. The key task of climatologists still remains to quantify and analyse the climate from the past and into the future, however demands have expanded to questions on user needs, climate management and climate policies. Therefore Climate Services is the leading thread of the CL programme. It will cover all appropriate methods and tools to meet the requirements of 21st century's climate challenges.