Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Encyclopedia
Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Norwegian Meteorologisk institutt) is the Norwegian
national institute for weather forecasts.
The three main offices are located in Oslo
, Bergen
and Tromsø
. The Institute has around 500 employees and keeps around 650 paid observers of various kinds around the country. The Institute operated the last remaining weather ship in the world, M/S "Polarfront", located in the North Atlantic, until it was discontinued due to budgetary issues January 1, 2010 and replaced with existing satellite and buoy
data.
The institute produces operational weather forecasts using the Unified Model
software for Numerical Weather Prediction
assisted by human forecasters.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute was founded in 1866 with the help of Norwegian astronomer and meteorologist Henrik Mohn
who served as director until 1913. He is credited with founding meteorological research in Norway.
The Institute represents Norway in international organizations like the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
(ECMWF), and EUMETSAT (Europe
an organization for satellite
cooperation). Additionally the Institute is a partner to a number of international research and monitoring projects like the North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System
a.o.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
national institute for weather forecasts.
The three main offices are located in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
and Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
. The Institute has around 500 employees and keeps around 650 paid observers of various kinds around the country. The Institute operated the last remaining weather ship in the world, M/S "Polarfront", located in the North Atlantic, until it was discontinued due to budgetary issues January 1, 2010 and replaced with existing satellite and buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
data.
The institute produces operational weather forecasts using the Unified Model
Unified Model
The Unified Model is a Numerical Weather Prediction and climate modeling software suite originally developed by the United Kingdom Met Office, and now both used and further developed by many weather-forecasting agencies around the world...
software for Numerical Weather Prediction
Numerical weather prediction
Numerical weather prediction uses mathematical models of the atmosphere and oceans to predict the weather based on current weather conditions. Though first attempted in the 1920s, it was not until the advent of computer simulation in the 1950s that numerical weather predictions produced realistic...
assisted by human forecasters.
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute was founded in 1866 with the help of Norwegian astronomer and meteorologist Henrik Mohn
Henrik Mohn
Henrik Mohn was a Norwegian astronomer and meteorologist. Although he enrolled in theology studies after finishing school, he is credited with founding meteorological research in Norway, being a professor at the Royal Frederick University and director of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute from...
who served as director until 1913. He is credited with founding meteorological research in Norway.
The Institute represents Norway in international organizations like the World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
(WMO), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is an independent intergovernmental organisation supported by 19 European Member States and 15 Co-operating States...
(ECMWF), and EUMETSAT (Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an organization for satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
cooperation). Additionally the Institute is a partner to a number of international research and monitoring projects like the North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System
North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System
The North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System monitors real-time sea levels for the North Sea area. NOOS is operated by partners from the nine countries bordering the extended North Sea and European North West Shelf; Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden,...
a.o.
Directors of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute
- Henrik MohnHenrik MohnHenrik Mohn was a Norwegian astronomer and meteorologist. Although he enrolled in theology studies after finishing school, he is credited with founding meteorological research in Norway, being a professor at the Royal Frederick University and director of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute from...
(1866–1913) - Aksel Steen (1914–1915)
- Hans Theodor Hesselberg (1915–1955)
- Ragnar FjørtoftRagnar Fjørtoft-Further reading:...
(1955–1978) - Kaare Langlo (1978–1983)
- Arne Grammeltvedt (1984–1998)
- Anton Eliassen (1998–)