Meteorological research and development
At the Meteorology research unit, we are just over forty researchers and specialists with expertise spanning meteorology, theoretical physics and atmospheric chemistry to mathematics and computer science.
We work with observational data, meteorological analyses, and the development of numerical models for regional weather forecasts in the Nordic region, as well as remote sensing, climate analysis, and air quality from urban to global scales. This work is based on knowledge in classical computational systems, numerical modelling, and process understanding, and is guided by a strong commitment to scientific excellence.
Our research and development enhance the scientific basis of numerical models, refine the representation of physical processes in the atmosphere and near the land surface, increase model resolution, and integrate data from new sources. We continuously advance our activities through developments in high-resolution simulations, data assimilation, and digital twins. At the same time, we explore and integrate AI and machine learning methods in areas and processes where they add value.
Our specialists have deep knowledge of various observation techniques and the use of such data, including radar and satellite systems. Our collective expertise contributes to expanding the use of remote sensing data both in model development and in a wide range of meteorological and climatological analyses.
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Our research areas give focus and in-depth knowledge
The five research areas focus around questions that bring great benefit to SMHI's operations and society at large:
Atmospheric chemistry and air pollution models
Focus on atmospheric physical and chemical processes
Climate monitoring and research using remote sensing
More climate knowledge from satellite and radar
Nowcasting and remote sensing
New types of data to short-term forecasts
Atmospheric and surface processes
Research for more accurate forecasts
Urban climate and air quality
Heat and air quality in cities
BRIGHT – Advancing knowledge and tools for the adaptation of Swedish cities to heat
Project BRIGHT aims to contribute with new knowledge, optimized methods, enhanced tools and user tailored data that enable Swedish municipalities to better adapt to climate change, with a focus on heat waves. A prototype visualisation platform will be developed that integrates knowledge from high resolution modeling da...
CARRA2 – A new generation Copernicus pan-Arctic regional climate reanalysis
In 2021 Copernicus Climate Change Service released the dataset CARRA1, with a 30-year reanalysis of the Arctic climate (1991-2021). The CARRA dataset is now updated monthly, providing new data with three or fewer months latency. The second phase of the project has started, which will extend the dataset to cover the per...Exploring the transformative potential of climate services
In the research project “Exploring the Transformative Potential of Climate Services,” SMHI researchers will collaborate with a group of researchers from Tema M - Environmental Change and Media and Information Technology at Linköping University to address the future of climate services.GlobAerBiom – Global biomass-burning aerosols and their aging processes: Insights from the modern era satellites
Biomass burning has major impacts on health, climate and society globally. Using satellite data, researchers will now investigate how aerosols from forest and agricultural fires are dispersed and aged in the atmosphere.Satellite-Driven Predictions and Projections of Scandinavian Heatwaves (ScanHeat)
Heatwaves in Scandinavia are becoming more frequent and intense, posing increasing risks to health, ecosystems, infrastructure, and key economic sectors such as agriculture and forestry. The ScanHeat project aims to improve both future climate projections and seasonal forecasts of Scandinavian heatwaves by combining sa...
A important part of our daily work is the development of numerical computational models. We are engaged in research and development to continuously improve these systems through higher resolution, more advanced process descriptions and new data sources.
All of us at the meteorological research unit
The unit is led by Jorge Amorim, together with Patrick Samuelsson and Cecilia Bennet.
We publish our research results in international peer-reviewed journals and in SMHI reports. The two most recent publications from SMHI's meteorological research are:
Improving Land Surface Emissivity for Better Simulation of Microwave Radiances over Northern Latitudes
Swapan Mallick, Stephanie Guedj, Magnus Lindskog
Lessons Learned from the Updated GEWEX Cloud Assessment Database (vol 45, pg 1999, 2024)
Claudia J. Stubenrauch, Stefan Kinne, Giulio Mandorli, William B. Rossow, David M. Winker, Steven A. Ackerman, Helene Chepfer, Larry Di Girolamo, Anne Garnier, Andrew Heidinger, Karl-Göran Karlsson, Kerry Meyer, Patrick Minnis, Steven Platnick, Martin Stengel, Szedung Sun-Mack, Paolo Veglio, Andi Walther, Xia Cai, Alisa H. Young, Guangyu Zhao
New look on interactions between clouds and transpiration by trees in European forests
New research shows a clear link between different cloud types and the transpiration in European forests. An international team of researchers has estimated how changes in cloudiness affect the amount of moisture released by trees into the atmosphere – something that also influences Earth’s water cycle.
Modelling study shows benefits of reduced ammonia emissions
There are clear benefits for both health and the environment from reducing ammonia emissions. In a modelling study, researchers have estimated the effects of reducing emissions of ammonia and nitrogen oxides, respectively. The results clearly show that reducing ammonia emissions yields the greatest impact, although it ...
New scientific paper on Sweden’s satellite-based wildfire detection system
For several years, Sweden has used satellites to detect wildfires. Already in the first season, the satellites delivered societal benefits by detecting fires before alerts were raised through other means. A new scientific paper now describes how the system currently operates and how it can be developed further with a n...