Science for services in weather forecasting at Met Norway

Seamless prediction of the Earth system and the weather climate water ocean-environment compartments is expanding. There is a value cycle with monitoring and observation, models, forecasting, dissemination and communication, perception and interpretation, decision-making and user products, driven by research and informed by the user interaction. With it comes the delivery of tailor made and high quality weather, climate, water, ocean and environmental information. This application experience have fostered further developments, such as snow on sea ice, and services which have improved both the weather forecasts and decision-making of the end-users, e.g. on Yr, our main outlet for forecasts and open, free data. The strength of the value cycle lies in adopting translational research where scientists work in tandem with forecasters and experts in technology and communication, to allow an open travel between discovery, translation of mature research results, and their application in operational services. The Alertness project develops world-leading capacity for the delivery of reliable and accurate Arctic short-range weather forecasts and warnings for the benefit of maritime operations, business and society. Alertness is embedded in an existing value cycle structure at MET Norway. In this value cycle the development, translation and operational application of a dedicated numerical weather prediction model for the Arctic, AROME Arctic, has taken place, triggered by PPP and YOPP. The value cycle is mainly driven by the science for service work required for MET Norway to fulfil its mandate, supplemented by well-established international and national links with academia and research institutions and projects.