European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) is an indipendent intergovernmental organization supported by 34 states.

The principal objectives of the Centre are:

1. development and operation of global models and data-assimilation systems for the dynamics, thermodynamics and composition of the Earth's fluid envelope and interacting parts of the Earth-system, with a view to:
   1. preparing forecasts by means of numerical methods;
   2. providing initial conditions for the forecasts; and
   3. contributing to monitoring the relevant parts of the Earth-system;
       
2. carrying out scientific and technical research directed towards improving the quality of these forecasts;
    
3. collection and storage of appropriate data.

In addition, the Centre:

• makes the results available to the Member States in the most appropriate form.
• assists in implementing programmes of the World Meteorological Organization; 
• provides advanced training to the scientific staff of the Member and Co-operating States in the field of numerical weather prediction; 
• makes the data in its extensive archives available to outside bodies.

Read more about ECMWF.