South Korea has formally launched the Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems as a dedicated organization for numerical weather-model research and development.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the institute will focus on model development, new forecasting technologies, wider use of numerical models, international research cooperation and specialist training. The new body is intended to turn 15 years of Korean numerical-model research into a permanent research system rather than a sequence of time-limited projects.
Research is being tied more closely to forecasting
The KMA also wants a tighter loop between research and operational forecasting. Model improvements developed by the institute are expected to move into weather services, while forecasting needs from the field should feed back into research priorities.
International specialists from organizations including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Australia's Bureau of Meteorology attended the launch. The institute's performance will ultimately be judged by whether the research produces more reliable forecasts and a stronger domestic base of modeling expertise.