Within the CLIWA-NET project the ECMWF will act as sub-contractor of the KNMI.

ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts) is an international organisation supported by eighteen European States. The principal objectives of the Centre are:

(i) the development of numerical methods for medium-range weather forecasting, (ii) the preparation, on a regular basis, of medium-range weather forecasts for distribution to the meteorological services of the member states,

(iii) scientific and technical research directed to the improvement of these forecasts, and (iv) collection and storage of appropriate meteorological data. In addition, the Centre is involved in seasonal forecasting and ocean wave modelling using the atmospheric model coupled to an ocean circulation model and to a wave model.

ECWMF has a long experience in the development and validation of parameterisation schemes and has made extensive use of data from field campaigns to diagnose, improve and fine-tune the model (Betts et al., 1993). Recently special attention has been paid to the cloud scheme (Tiedtke, 1993; Jakob, 1999) in comparison with modern cloud profiling observations (Mace et al., 1998; Miller et al., 1999; Beesley et al., 1999). ECMWF is also active in developing (variational) data assimilation techniques to use cloud related observations (Mahfouf et al., 1998).

Relation with previous EU-projects:

• EUCREM : developing/testing parameterisations of cloud/turbulence processes using Large Eddy Simulations Cloud Resolving Models

• PROVOST : the predictability of the atmosphere on the seasonal scale

Contact person: Anton Beljaars