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| CNRM-CERFACS | |
|---|---|
| Name | CNRM-CERFACS |
| Native name | Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques / Centre Européen de Recherche et de Formation Avancée en Calcul Scientifique |
| Established | 1984 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Location | Toulouse, France |
| Affiliations | Meteo-France, CNRS, EURO-CORDEX, ECMWF |
| Fields | Atmospheric science, climate modelling, numerical weather prediction, computational fluid dynamics |
CNRM-CERFACS is a joint French research consortium specializing in atmospheric sciences, climate modeling, numerical weather prediction, and high-performance computing located in Toulouse. It operates at the interface of national agencies and European institutions, contributing to international assessments and operational forecasting through partnerships with agencies and research centers across Europe. The institute is known for developing coupled models, participating in intercomparison projects, and delivering operational tools used by meteorological and climate services worldwide.
The origins trace to collaborations among Météo-France, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, and European computing initiatives during the 1980s, informed by developments at ECMWF, KNMI, Met Office, Deutscher Wetterdienst, and Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace. Early work paralleled efforts at GFDL, NCAR, UK Met Office Hadley Centre, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and contributed to programs like WCRP, IPCC, GCOS, and GEWEX. Over decades the center engaged with projects associated with CMIP, CORDEX, ENSEMBLES, HYMEX, and HyMeX, while interacting with agencies such as ESA, EUMETSAT, CEF, and European Commission directorates. Influential collaborations included exchanges with Princeton University, ETH Zurich, CNR, INRIA, CNES, and Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
The governance model links national laboratories and operational services, reflecting structures comparable to LSCE, IPSL, LEGOS, LOCEAN, and LMD. Scientific divisions align with groups found at Met Office Hadley Centre, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, and CNR institutes. Leadership interfaces with boards and steering committees similar to those at European Research Council, ANR, CNES, and H2020 program management. Staff include researchers with past appointments at Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sorbonne University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and ETH Zurich.
Research themes intersect with initiatives like CMIP6, CORDEX, Euro-CORDEX, Copernicus Climate Change Service, and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. Programs span atmospheric dynamics akin to studies at CNRM, ocean coupling similar to Mercator Ocean International, land-surface modeling comparable to SURFEX, and aerosol-cloud interactions as researched at LOA. Work contributes to impact assessments referenced by IPCC, UNFCCC, SADC, and WHO environmental health studies. Modeling frameworks are used in projects related to HARMONIE-AROME, ALADIN, ARPEGE, IFS, and WRF intercomparisons, connecting to observational campaigns like COPS, AMMA, Higgins, and SAFARI 2000.
Computational resources are comparable to centers such as PRACE nodes, TGCC, CINECA, and Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and integrate hardware and software stacks akin to systems at NERSC, HLRS, and Met Office supercomputers. Data archives interface with repositories like CMIP, CORDEX, ECMWF MARS, and Copernicus. Instrumentation and observational support connect to platforms including Argo, TRMM, Sentinel, AERONET, and GOSAT, and collaborate with field facilities similar to Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Puy de Dôme Observatory, Lannemezan Aerological Centre, and Izaña Observatory.
Partnerships extend to Météo-France, CNRS, ECMWF, ESA, EUMETSAT, European Commission, and national services like Met Office, KNMI, Deutscher Wetterdienst, NOAA, and DWD. Academic links include Université Toulouse III — Paul Sabatier, Université Grenoble Alpes, Sorbonne University, Université de Lorraine, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, and University of Reading. International projects involve IPCC, WCRP, ESA Climate Office, Copernicus, H2020, INTERREG, and research networks like ENES and GEO. Industry and operational collaborations involve Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, Atos, IBM, Intel, and Bull/ATOS system integrators.
Contributions include advances in coupled atmosphere-ocean models used in CMIP6 and Euro-CORDEX, development of parameterizations applied in ARPEGE and ALADIN families, and participation in intercomparison efforts with GFDL, NCAR, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Met Office Hadley Centre, and JMA. The center informed assessments for IPCC reports and operational products tied to Copernicus services. It supported field campaigns like AMMA, HYMEX, and COPS and contributed data to archives such as CMIP and CORDEX. Methodological outputs influenced numerical methods used by LSCE, IPSL, LEGOS, and LOCEAN.
Funding streams combine national research grants similar to ANR awards, institutional funding from Météo-France and CNRS, and European funding through Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Copernicus, and ECMWF contracts. Governance aligns with models used by CNRS laboratories, INRIA teams, and European research consortia funded by European Commission frameworks and overseen by advisory boards that include representatives from Météo-France, CNRS, ECMWF, EUMETSAT, and partner universities.
Category:Research institutes in France