Presenters
Meghan Plumridge, User Services Section
Maartje Kuilman, User Services Section
Yigit Altintas, User Services Section
Milana Vučković, Partnerships and Engagement Section
Description
ECMWF’s will upgrade both its physics based Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) to the IFS Cycle 50r1, and machine learning based Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS) to the version 2.
50r1 brings major changes to the IFS model and data assimilation system, including among many others: new ocean and sea ice models based on NEMO4-SI3, new wave interaction with sea ice and ocean currents, revised wave model bathymetry and modified Stochastically Perturbed Parametrisation (SPP) configuration to reduce 10-metre wind spread in the ensemble.
AIFS v2 introduces a new wave component, improved vertical velocities, by changing parameter W from a prognostic to a diagnostic field, an improved representation of the stratosphere, with the addition of pressure level fields at 10hPa, an improved training regime and harmonisation of parameters between AIFS Single and AIFS ENS.
In this webinar Yigit Altintas and Milana Vučković will give an overview on the technical changes, explain how to get and use test data, and highlight some practical considerations linked to the implementation of the IFS Cycle 50r1, while Meghan Plumridge and Maartje Kuilman will present the same for AIFS Single v2 and AIFS Ensemble v2.
The webinar will place on Thursday, 12 March 2026; 10 AM UTC.
Webinar will be recorded and the recording will be available shortly after the webinar.