Twenty-one meteorologists from across ECMWF’s Member States have taken part in a new course designed to help them train others in the use of the Centre’s products.
High demand for ECMWF’s course on the ‘Use and Interpretation of ECMWF Products’ prompted the decision to develop a new version targeting trainers and training champions.
“The idea is to help participants spread knowledge in their organisations on how to get the most out of ECMWF products,” course organiser Anna Ghelli said.
The ‘train the trainer’ version, which took place from 1 to 5 February 2016, includes many of the course’s regular modules: there are sessions on data assimilation, forecasting extreme events, and satellite observations.
An important element is the interpretation and use of ensemble products. In ensemble forecasts, a set of predictions is made to represent the uncertainty inherent in all weather forecasting.
Practical sessions make up a large part of the course. Working in groups, participants study a real weather event and use ECMWF products to provide a forecast. They start by looking at extended-range predictions before refining their weather forecast using shorter-range products.
Some elements are unique to the ‘train the trainer’ version. They include sessions on assessing training needs and on possible learning outcomes.
One of the participants, Nataša Strelec Mahović, is the head of the Weather Analysis and Forecast Department in the Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia. In this capacity, she is also in charge of training forecasters.
“We use most of ECMWF’s products to provide the public and other users with forecasts ranging from the short range to the extended range,” Dr Strelec Mahović said.
“The training-related sessions will be useful to provide forecasters with more focussed and more formal training on ensemble products,” she added. “It emerged that all course participants are aware of the importance of using ensemble products, but there was quite a spread in how good people feel they are at using them.”
Course activities included a game on using probability in decision-making.
David Jameson is an operational meteorologist at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, employed by the UK Met Office. He chiefly uses ECMWF’s medium-range and long-range products to provide forecasts for the armed forces at the Airfield.
“The sessions on training were very useful. They highlighted current gaps in training and ways to address them,” he said. “We also played games, which we may be able to reuse in the training we provide.”
Dr Ghelli emphasized that the course had provided a good opportunity to discuss the use of ensemble-based products with meteorologists involved in training.
“The course was successful and the participants enthusiastically took part in the practical activities. As a teacher, it has been a pleasure to share my knowledge with them,” she said.
This week’s course will be followed by a regular edition of the ‘Use and Interpretation of ECMWF Products’ course, to take place from 8 to 12 February.