Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

ECMWF as the Entrusted entity for the Copernicus climate change service (C3S) invites tenders for a service related to the development of an ensemble of data assimilation for the ocean in support of climate services development, specifically the initialization of the ECMWF seasonal forecasts, and as part of a coupled ocean-atmosphere global reanalysis. The development within this tender will advance the ocean data assimilation capabilities used in the initialization of seasonal forecasts and generation of coupled Earth system reanalyses. Both seasonal forecast and Earth system reanalyses are key elements of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Specific targets of the tender work are the better utilization of the Earth system observations by provision of more accurate reanalyses, and provision of reliable uncertainty estimates. The implemented developments are expected to be used in the production of the next generation of C3S’s Reanalysis system (ERA6) which will be conducted using a coupled data assimilation methodology (at outer-loop level) to provide a monitoring capability for the Earth system, including atmosphere, land, ocean, sea-ice and ocean waves, and to be ready for production towards mid 2021. The developments will also contribute to the production of ocean initial conditions for the next ECMWF seasonal forecasting system SEAS6, by preparing ocean initial conditions spanning several decades, with corresponding uncertainty estimates. The ocean data assimilation will be based on the NEMO ocean model, on the NEMOVAR data assimilation system and it will use the (C++ based) Object-oriented prediction system (OOPS) infrastructure. The successful Tenderer shall: — adopt working standards and procedures that conform to those at ECMWF and C3S in particular, — use the ECMWF IFS code management system, — perform, where required, impact experiments using ECMWF’s High-Performance Computer, — work closely together with ECMWF expert team, — carry out working visits to ECMWF on a regular basis, as required for advancing the project. Activities shall be performed in the context of a Framework Agreement with annual service contracts (maximum duration of 26 months and an end date not later than 31.12.2020). The kick-off of the first service contract is expected to take place in November 2018.