Models

 Global Weather Forecast Models

The basic global land surface weather forecasting models available are the followings:

• ECMWF (European Center for Medium-Term Meteorological Forecasts)
• G.F.S. (Global Forecasting System) of the US National Weather Service
• NOGAPS or NAVGEM of the US Navy
• GEM (Global Environmental Multiscale Model) of Canada
• UKMO English Meteorological Service
• GM (Global weather forecast model) German Meteorological Service
• JMA (Global weather forecast model) of the Japanese Meteorological Service
• NWS (National Weather Service USA)
• USAF (US Air Force)

ECMWF European Center for Medium Term Meteorological Forecasts 

The ECMWF (European Center for Medium-Term Meteorological Forecasting), or Integrated Forecasting System (IFS), is an independent body supported by 20 European Member States and 14 partner countries and was founded in 1975. It has one of the largest supercomputer complexes in Europe and provides results only in the national meteorological services of its Member States. It creates medium-term weather forecasts for the next 10 days, monthly and yearly, with a resolution of 16 Km. In Greece, this model is used by EMY in combination with the local COSMO model it uses.

G.F.S.World weather forecasting system 

The GFS (Global Forecasting System) is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US National Weather Service. The model provides four updated forecasts per day (0.6,12,18 UTC or GMT i.e. Greenwich Mean Time). This model generates two High Resolution results for the next 7 days and Medium Resolution for the next 16 days. and covers a period of 16 days. Certainly forecasts longer than 10 days are not considered reliable. The model is a spectral model with a horizontal resolution of about 27 km for the first 8 days. Recently there was a relative upgrade and the resolution was increased to about 13 km by 10 days. The GFS is the only global model available under US law. results for free on the internet, allowing hundreds of regional models to run around the world, for the benefit of hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

Regional or Local Weather Forecast Models

The regional weather forecast models that usually run for Greece and which better and with a higher resolution depict the regions of Greece, are the following:

• Bolam and MM5 Of the National Observatory of Athens, with a resolution of 6 - 7 Km for Greece and 2 Km for Attica
• COSMO of EMY, with a resolution of 7 Km for 36 hours
• SKIRON / ETA of ELKETHE (POSEIDON) of EMY & University of Athens, with a resolution of 10 Km for 3 days
• Aeolus (WRFARW) uses it at www.kairos.gr & www.weather.gr with a resolution of 9 km & Attica 3 KM for 3 days
• SuperForecast (brand name of windfinder) with a resolution of 12 Km for 72 hours

BOLAM - MM5 and WRF of the National Observatory of Athens & meteo

It has the highest resolution for Greece which reaches 6 Km for 6 days. It takes data from the American model GFS.

COSMO of EMY

Takes data from the European global model ECMWF, as well as from the German GM with Local model managed by EMY that receives data from the European (ECMWF) and at the same time from the German (GM) model and gives atmospheric pressure - wind speeds - temperature - humidity - cloud cover (rain / snow etc). It has a resolution of 7 Km and covers 36 hours.

SKIRON / ETA of ELKETHE (POSEIDON) of EMY & University of Athens

It takes data from the world model GFS with a resolution of 10 Km for 3 days and covers only the SE Mediterranean. Gives atmospheric pressure - wind speeds - temperature - humidity - cloud cover (rain / snow etc)

Aeolian (WRFARW)

Used by www.kairos.gr & www.weather.gr with a resolution of 9 km & Attiki 3 KM for 3 days

Windfinder SuperForecast (brand name of windfinder)

The German site Windfinder.com, has also created a regional model with the brand name SuperForecast, with a resolution of 12 Km and up to 3 days covering Europe. It is a different model from the simple forecast and can show a completely different forecast.