Model:

Updated:

4 times per day, from 06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 00:00 UTC

Greenwich Mean Time:

12:00 UTC = 13:00 CET

Resolution:

0.1° x 0.1°

Parameter:

Wind at 500 hPa

Description:

This map shows the average wind vector at 500 hPa for every modeled gridpoint (ca. 80 km). Based on the average SLP of about 1010 hPa the equivalent pressure altitude for 500 hPa would be at about 500m a.s.l. (ca. 3000 ft). This map is very useful for gliders and hang-gliders, if their airfield or starting pad is at a low altitude. (wind-converter)

HIRLAM:

HIRLAMThe international HIRLAM project is a continuing effort to develop and maintain a state of the art high resolution limited area model for operational use in the participating institutes. By 2001 HIRLAM research developments had outstripped the operational HIRLAM system at KNMI through a substantial increase in model resolution and many improvements in the model formulation.

NWP:

Numerical weather prediction uses current weather conditions as input into mathematical models of the atmosphere to predict the weather. Although the first efforts to accomplish this were done in the 1920s, it wasn't until the advent of the computer and computer simulation that it was feasible to do in real-time. Manipulating the huge datasets and performing the complex calculations necessary to do this on a resolution fine enough to make the results useful requires the use of some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. A number of forecast models, both global and regional in scale, are run to help create forecasts for nations worldwide. Use of model ensemble forecasts helps to define the forecast uncertainty and extend weather forecasting farther into the future than would otherwise be possible.

Wikipedia, Numerical weather prediction, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_weather_prediction(as of Feb. 9, 2010, 20:50 UTC).