Roy Yaniv | +972-508476806 | Roy.yaniv@mail.huji.ac.il

Manufacturer and model:
ICON NWP Model - The ICON (Icosahedral Non-hydrostatic) model is a comprehensive
numerical weather and climate model developed by the German Weather Service

General Information:
The ICON model is notable for its use of an icosahedral grid system, which allows for
improved representation of complex terrain and atmospheric processes compared to
traditional grid systems. The ICON model is used for both research and operational
purposes. It can provide short-term weather forecasts as well as contribute to longer-
term climate simulations.

Key Features:

• Icosahedral Grid: ICON uses a hexagonal grid structure, which helps minimize distortions in representing the Earth's surface and atmospheric processes. This allows for more accurate simulations, especially in regions with complex topography.
• Non-hydrostatic Dynamics: The model incorporates non-hydrostatic equations, allowing it to capture a wide range of atmospheric phenomena, including convective processes, gravity waves, and other small-scale dynamics that are important for accurate weather predictions.
• Multiscale Capability: ICON is capable of simulating a broad range of spatial scales, from global to local. It can provide forecasts for various meteorological variables, including temperature, pressure, wind, and precipitation.
• Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions: ICON can be coupled with ocean models to simulate interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean. This is important for studying climate variability and phenomena like El Niño and La Niña.
• Data Assimilation: Like many modern NWP models, ICON uses data assimilation techniques to combine observational data from various sources (such as satellites, weather stations, and aircraft) with model simulations. This improves the accuracy of iinitial conditions for forecasts.

Contact person
Dr. Roy Yaniv
Roy.yaniv@mail.huji.ac.il
+972-508476806

 

A figure of the instrument