Global Forecasting Centre for Southern Africa
long-range forecasts for southern Africa
Terms of Reference for the voluntary consortium of producers of long range climate forecasts
Terms of Reference (ToR):
- ToR 1: To facilitate cooperation between the centres within southern
Africa that run an operational global scale long-range forecasting (LRF
- from 30 days up to 2 years) system.
All centres within southern Africa that have the ability to run operational
forecast systems of global fields are invited to be part of the Global
Forecasting Centre of Southern Africa (GFCSA).
- ToR 2: To produce global forecasts from dynamical forecasting
systems.
Members of the GFCSA must agree to an operational schedule that will
determine when the global products are to be made available and commit
to the schedule. Full global gridded forecast products from dynamical
models based on physical processes are to be made accessible
to all members.
- ToR 3: To establish a web based environment for non commercial product
dissemination.
From this environment a Regional Climate Centre (RCC) or a National
Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) can retrieve complete global
data sets or interactively defined regional sets over areas of interest
for non commercial purposes. All public products will carry a statement
noting the product is not for commercial use and a copyright statement.
An independent URL will mirror links to, and/or host, the global forecast
products for mutual benefit of members and other approved institutions
with access controls. Data will be made available in common format of exchange
(currently GRIB) and/or maps with documentation including standard verification
statistics.
- ToR 4: The consortium will be managed by a committee.
The committee. will comprise of one representative from each member
institute who is active in global climate modelling.
- ToR 5: To compile archived hindcasts
This will be in a form that is as close as possible to an agreed real-time
operational forecasts system in terms of resolution, ensemble size, seasons
and selected parameters, as defined by the committee.
- ToR 6: To apply standard verification tools
This will, as a minimum, be the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Standard Verification System (SVS) for LRF, with any additional measures
as determined by the committee.
- ToR 7: To assist in training and capacity building for
LRF
The GFCSA will not conduct training courses. However, members are encouraged
to participate in, and facilitate, such activities. In particular, training
courses in the use and interpretation of global forecast products are of
strategic importance.
- ToR 8: To actively pursue the development and improvement of global
scale LRF techniques.
Members should be actively involved in relevant aspects of research
focused on developing and refining techniques for global LRF and verification.
All centres within southern Africa that have the ability to run operational forecast systems of global fields are invited to be part of the Global Forecasting Centre of Southern Africa (GFCSA).
Members of the GFCSA must agree to an operational schedule that will
determine when the global products are to be made available and commit
to the schedule. Full global gridded forecast products from dynamical
models based on physical processes are to be made accessible
to all members.
From this environment a Regional Climate Centre (RCC) or a National
Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) can retrieve complete global
data sets or interactively defined regional sets over areas of interest
for non commercial purposes. All public products will carry a statement
noting the product is not for commercial use and a copyright statement.
An independent URL will mirror links to, and/or host, the global forecast
products for mutual benefit of members and other approved institutions
with access controls. Data will be made available in common format of exchange
(currently GRIB) and/or maps with documentation including standard verification
statistics.
The committee. will comprise of one representative from each member
institute who is active in global climate modelling.
This will be in a form that is as close as possible to an agreed real-time
operational forecasts system in terms of resolution, ensemble size, seasons
and selected parameters, as defined by the committee.
This will, as a minimum, be the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Standard Verification System (SVS) for LRF, with any additional measures
as determined by the committee.
The GFCSA will not conduct training courses. However, members are encouraged
to participate in, and facilitate, such activities. In particular, training
courses in the use and interpretation of global forecast products are of
strategic importance.
Members should be actively involved in relevant aspects of research
focused on developing and refining techniques for global LRF and verification.
