Seamless Modelling

Seamless modelling is an approach to Earth system prediction in which a consistent modelling framework is used across a broad range of applications, from short-range weather forecasting to long-term climate projection.

Where possible, the same underlying equations of motion (known as the dynamical core) and the same representations of physical processes, such as clouds, radiation, and turbulence (known as parameterisations), are used across different model configurations. This allows scientific improvements made for one application area to benefit others and helps maintain consistency between forecasting and climate simulations.

Since the 1990’s the Met Office strategy has been to develop a single model family used for prediction across a range of timescales. This common model-family approach supports consistency across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. The image below shows Met Office prediction and projection systems configured for applications on different scales, ranging from a few days to hundreds of years.

Fig. 1 Spatial and temporal scales of Met Office prediction and projection systems.

The seamless modelling approach, first introduced with the Unified Model, is used for LFRic Atmosphere, the atmospheric model of Momentum: The Unified Earth Environment Prediction Framework.