This 4-day intensive course on advanced data-assimilation methods will be given by members of the Data Assimilation Research Centre and the National Centre for Earth Observation. The course will provide an introduction to all data-assimilation methods used in numerical weather prediction, including the latest developments. All methods will be derived from a common framework to provide an overview of the assumptions and hence applicability of the different methods. The course also provides hands-on computer practicals to see the methods in action and gain a better understanding of their working. For those unfamiliar with data assimilation, or those who are keen to develop a deeper understanding of data assimilation methods, this course is a solid preparation for the main Data Assimilation ECMWF course held on 12-16 March 2018.

An overview of the subjects covered is given below, including some supplementary material covering the basic mathematics. A map of Reading, Whiteknights campus can be found here.

• Introduction to Data Assimilation
• Co-variances
• Computer practical covariances
• Variational Methods: Theory and practical issues
• Computer practicals Variational methods
• Ensemble Kalman Filter Methods: Theory and practical issues
• Computer practicals Ensemble Kalman filters
• Non-linear data assimilation and Particle Filters: Theory and practical issues
• Computer practicals Particle filters
• Hybrid Methods: Theory and practical issues
• Computer practicals Hybrid methods
• When to use which method

Timetable (pdf)
Maths primer (pdf)
Useful linear algebra (pdf)
Notation (docx)
List of suggested references (pdf)

Information

The course is a combination of lectures and computer practicals.

Click on the links to download material.

Some material may be amended up to the time of the lectures.

Handouts will be provided by the lecturers.

Palmer 108, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map
09:00 – 09:30	Registration with coffee/tea
09:30 – 10:30	Introduction to data assimilation (latest pdf)	Javier Amezcua
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee/tea
Palmer G06, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map)
11:00 – 12:30	Variational data assimilation methods (latest pdf)	Ross Bannister
12:30 – 13:00	Lunch

13:00 – 14:00	Variational data assimilation – practical issues (part 1, latest pdf; part 2, latest pdf)	Ross Bannister
14:00 – 14:30	Coffee/tea
14:30 – 17:00	Variational data assimilation – practicals (pdf)	Ross Bannister et al.
17:00	Drinks and canapes

Agriculture GL22, building 59 (grid D6) on campus map
09:00 – 10:00	Ensemble Kalman Filter theory (pdf)	Sanita Vetra-Carvalho
10:00 – 10:30	Coffee/tea
10:30 – 12:00	Ensemble Kalman Filter – practical issues (pdf)	Sanita Vetra-Carvalho
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch

Palmer G05B-PC, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map
13:00 – 13:30	EMPIRE/DAF system	Gernot Geppert
13:30 – 15:00	Ensemble Kalman Filter practicals	Sanita Vetra-Carvalho, Gernot Geppert, et al.
15:00 – 15:30	Coffee/tea
15:30 – 17:00	Ensemble Kalman Filter practicals (continued) (extra exercises in Python)	Gernot Geppert et al.

Miller 19, building 49 (grid C3) on campus map
09:00 – 10:00	Hybrid methods – theory (pdf)(pdf)	Javier Amezcua
10:00 – 10:30	Coffee/tea
10:30 – 11:30	Hybrid methods – practical issues	Javier Amezcua
11:30 – 12:00	When to use what (pdf)	Peter Jan van Leeuwen
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch

Palmer G05B-PC, building 26 (grid C3) on campus map
13:00 – 15:00	Hybrid practicals	Javier Amezcua et al.
15:00 – 15:30	Coffee/tea
15:30 – 17:00	Hybrid practicals (continued)	Javier Amezcua et al.

(Meteorology GU01, building 58 (grid D5) on campus map
09:00 – 10:00	Particle Filter theory (pdf)	Peter Jan van Leeuwen
10:00 – 10:30	Coffee/tea
10:30 – 12:00	Particle Filter – practical issues	Peter Jan van Leeuwen
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch

Meteorology GL68PC, building 58 (grid D5) on campus map – access at REAR of Meteorology building
13:00 – 14:30	Particle filter practicals	Gernot Geppert, Peter Jan van Leeuwen, et al.
14:30 – 15:00	Coffee/tea
15:00 – 16:30	Particle Filter practicals (continued)	Gernot Geppert, Peter Jan van Leeuwen, et al.
16:30 – 17:00	Certificates