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NWP SAF AMV Monitoring

Introduction Monthly
Monitoring 		Analysis
Reports 		Investigations NWP Real-time
Monitoring 		Action List

Introduction

The main aim of the NWP SAF AMV (atmospheric motion vector) monitoring site is to improve our understanding of AMV error characteristics in order to enable improvements to the AMV derivation and their treatment in NWP models.

This is achieved by:

  1. Providing a 3-year rolling archive of O-B monthly monitoring plots displaying differences between AMVs (O) and NWP model background winds (B) valid at the same location and time (see Monthly Monitoring tab). Plots are provided for the Met Office and ECMWF in the same format to enable easy comparisons. Both the AMVs and the model forecast contribute to the differences observed in the plots. Differences between centres suggest model-dependent problems whereas similarities suggest either problems with the AMVs or problems shared by the NWP models.
  2. Producing analysis reports every 2 years to coincide with the International Winds Workshops (see Analysis Reports tab). These are detailed studies reviewing (i) the quality of new datasets and (ii) features observed in the O-B monitoring. Details are included of possible causes of the O-B features and, where relevant, actions that may help to alleviate the problems.
  3. Carrying out some bespoke investigations e.g. to investigate diurnal error characteristics (see Investigations tab).

There are two additional aims of the site:

  1. To provide background information on how AMVs are used in NWP (see NWP tab). As part of this the site hosts information on how AMVs are assimilated at different NWP centres.
  2. To provide links for those interested in near real-time monitoring issues (see Real-time Monitoring tab).

Contact

Please use the NWP SAF Feedback Form if you have comments or suggestions about this product, or if you would like your NWP centre to contribute to future versions.

The AMV monitoring report is issued under the auspices of the NWP SAF, a EUMETSAT-funded project that exists to coordinate research and development efforts among the SAF partners to improve the interface between satellite data and NWP for the benefit of EUMETSAT member states. The host centre for the NWP SAF is the Met Office, and its partners are ECMWF, KNMI and Météo-France.