Atmospheric Motion Vector monitoring

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• Carrying out some bespoke investigations e.g. to investigate diurnal error characteristics (see Investigations tab).

There are two additional aims of the site:

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