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Aim of the Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) SAF

Introduction

The NWP SAF is one of several EUMETSAT SAFs (Satellite Application Facilities). Utilising specialist expertise from the Member States, SAFs are dedicated centres of excellence for processing satellite data and form an integral part of the distributed EUMETSAT Application Ground Segment. Further information about SAFs is available on the EUMETSAT web site.

The NWP SAF is led by the Met Office, UK, with partners ECMWF, KNMI and Météo-France. The SAF was started in February 1999 with a Development Phase which ran for five years, followed by a 3-year Initial Operational Phase. The current Continuous Development and Operations Phase runs until 2017.

The SAF for NWP interacts, where appropriate, with related work in other SAFs and in other EUMETSAT activities in order to enhance collaboration and to minimise duplication of effort.


Objectives and functions

The objectives of the NWP SAF are:

  • to improve the benefits derived by European NMSs from NWP, by developing techniques for more effective use of satellite data; and
  • to prepare for effective exploitation within NWP of data/products from satellites in the EPS and MSG programmes and related programmes of other agencies.

The main functions of the SAF are:

  • to co-ordinate user requirements for the interfaces between the data assimilation systems of European NWP centres and satellite data/products, and to evaluate priorities for meeting these requirements;
  • to develop satellite data processing modules, including: pre-processing modules, retrieval modules, assimilation modules (including so-called 'observation operators'), modules for monitoring, tuning and quality control, and modules for validation of satellite products and of observation operators; and
  • to assist with the implementation of processing modules and to provide user support.