Description
This book provides an overview of the early years of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and reviews the work of the institute over the past 30 years, describing along the way the European approach to medium-range weather forecasting. Its combination of historical view and scientific insight is unique. Dr. James Austin Woods (PhD Meteorology Penn State University 1970 and 1972) joined ECMWF in 1978 from the Irish Meteorological Service as Head of Meteorological Operations and became Assistant Director in 1984. In 2004 he retired, at the age of 63. Foreword from the President of the ECMWF Council Foreword from the Director ECMWF Foreword from the President of Committee of COST Senior Officials Preface Contents Acknowledgements 1 The First Director 2 The Beginnings: the Political Background 3 Meteorological Developments 1967 to 1971 4 The Project Study 5 The Convention 6 In the United Kingdom 7 1974 to 1980 – The Formative Years 8 The Analysis System, from 0I to 4D- Var 9 The Medium-Range Model 10 Ensemble Prediction – Forecasting the Error 11 Seasonal Prediction 12 Wave Prediction 13 Data from on High 14 Re-analysis – Towards a new ERA 15 Archives and Graphics: Towards MARS, MAGICS and Metview 16 The Computer System: CDC, Cray, Fujitsu, IBM 17 Communicating the Forecasts: Mail and 50 Baud to RMDCN 18 Commercial Issues 19 The Staff 20 And the outlook is. . . Annex 1 Directors Annex 2 The Council and its Committees Annex 3 List of Abbreviations
