Programme for the development of weather and climate numerical modelling systems in South Africa

Abstract

Weather and climate numerical models have been in use in South Africa for many decades, both in operational and research mode.1 All the models currently in use for operational purposes in the country were developed in developed countries. South African scientists started participating in the development or improvement of weather and climate numerical models in 2002, after being inactive in the area for over a decade.2 The regeneration of model development activities started at the University of Pretoria through a Water Research Commission funded project in which a dynamical core of a non-hydrostatic sigma coordinate model (NSM) was developed from scratch.3 These activities served to encourage others in the country to also contribute in the model development space. The NSM was later extended to include moisture and microphysics schemes at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with the University of Pretoria.4,5 This model is currently only available for use in research mode; however, the underlying dynamics are similar to those used in an operational model used at CSIR.