| Welcome to Met Office research and development |
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The Met Office's research and development activities aim to improve
the accuracy of our forecast services and the efficiency with which
they can be produced. This enables our customers to benefit from the
progressive international advancement of weather forecasting techniques.
The main focus for delivery of improvements is through improving our
Unified Model system.
The Met Office is involved in many areas of research and development
in the fields of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and observations.
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| Scientific and Technical Review |
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Each year, the Met Office publishes a report detailing the progress and achievements
of the research and development section.
Read the Scientific and Technical reviews
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| Numerical weather prediction |
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Numerical weather prediction is the process of obtaining an
objective forecast of the future state of the atmosphere by running
a computer model. As the computer model is improved then the
accuracy of the weather forecasts that are issued increases.
There are groups working on improving the numerical methods
used, on data analysis and assimilation techniques, on
how observations are best used and on the various uses of
satellite data.
More about numerical weather prediction
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The Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, which is part of the Met Office,
provides the United Kingdom with an up-to-date expert assessment of natural and man-made
changes in global and regional climate. This is done by developing
and using models of the atmosphere, ocean and other climate system
components, and by monitoring observed climate variability and change.
More about the Hadley Centre
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Although it is generally not possible to predict individual
weather events more than several days in advance, it is
possible to provide useful information about conditions
averaged over weeks to months and averaged over large areas:
for example, the chance of above average winter rainfall over
western Europe, or the likelihood of an El Niņo event in the
Pacific.
More about seasonal forecasting
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Many of the physical processes that occur within the atmosphere are
at a scale too small to be directly resolved by weather forecasting
or climate models. Therefore, numerical representations of these processes
must be developed but first the processes themselves need to be fully
understood. This understanding may be achieved by observational studies,
theoretical formulations and stand-alone, very-high-resolution numerical
models.
More about atmospheric processes
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In the field of oceanography, the Met Office develops ocean
models for operational ocean forecasting, seasonal forecasting
and climate prediction. We are also involved in the development
of marine meteorological and oceanographic observations.
More about oceanography
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The Met Office is involved in several international projects,
each having the common objectives of sharing information
and obtaining better understanding of the atmosphere.
More about international projects
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The stratosphere extends from about 10 km to 50 km above the Earth's
surface. One important feature of the stratosphere is the ozone layer,
which protects the earth by absorbing much of the ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun. Research in this area investigates processes that are
occurring in this part of the atmosphere and also numerical modelling
techniques.
More about the stratosphere
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