The CERISE project team came together on 2–3 November 2026 for its fourth and final General Assembly, bringing work package leads to ECMWF in Reading, UK, with project participants joining online.
The two-day hybrid meeting reviewed scientific progress in land-atmosphere coupled data assimilation (DA) and consistency between land–atmosphere DA and initialisation for seasonal prediction. Discussions on recommendations for C3S on day 2 focused on developments in land DA and coupling configurations, assessment of future reanalyses and seasonal forecasts, and new C3S land-surface products.
Scientific progress across the work packages
Patricia de Rosnay (ECMWF) opened the meeting with a welcome and introduction to the programme. The first day covered the project’s research on land and coupled data assimilation, reanalysis prototypes, seasonal forecasting and observations at the land–atmosphere interface, with time for discussion alongside the scientific updates.
Pete Weston (ECMWF) presented WP1 results on land data assimilation. Patricia de Rosnay followed with updates from WP2 on coupled data assimilation, including highlight presentations on Direct Observation Prediction and coupled land-atmosphere data assimilation progress from Ewan Pinnington (ECMWF), Christoph Herbert (ECMWF), Jostein Blyverket (Met Norway) and Jose Faúndez Alarcón (SMHI). The focus then shifted to WP4 reanalysis prototypes, with Hans Hersbach (ECMWF) presenting the global reanalysis update and Harald Schyberg (Met Norway) covering regional developments.
The programme continued with seasonal forecasting. Jean-Christophe Calvet (Météo-France) presented WP3 work on land-surface initial conditions for seasonal forecasts, followed by Núria Pérez-Zanón (BSC) with an update on the WP5 seasonal forecast demonstrators. Jeff Knight (Met Office UK) then presented WP6 progress on evaluating the demonstrators.
Joining online, Isabel Trigo (IPMA) presented WP7 progress on land–atmosphere interface observations. Rhona Phipps (ECMWF) concluded the day’s updates with WP8 project coordination, including summarising the progress in this last period.
The project team then retired to a restaurant in Reading to discuss the days events.
CERISE group photo in ECMWF Council Chamber
From scientific updates to recommendations
The second day focused on recommendations for C3S for future reanalysis and seasonal prediction systems. The programme gave teams from WP1–WP7 dedicated time to set out their recommendations, using a common set of questions to structure their contributions. General discussions provided space to consider these contributions across the work packages.
Pete Weston also introduced the Horizon Europe CHERRI project ( the follow on from the CERISE project) before the programme returned to work package recommendations for C3S.
Patricia de Rosnay led the closing session on project next steps and wrapped up the General Assembly.
By bringing scientific updates and recommendations into the same programme, the final General Assembly provided a forum to review CERISE’s work and discuss its relevance for C3S.
Our thanks go to all presenters, work package teams and participants who contributed to the meeting.
CERISE GA attendees and guest catching up over dinner.
Article written by project team and MS365 copilot.
Photos courtesy of project team.
