Keeping users in the loop: Outreach activities for ECMWF IFS and AIFS forecast model updates

ECMWF develops and maintains operational forecasting systems, which include the physics-based Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) and the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting Systems (AIFS Single and AIFS Ensemble). These models are upgraded periodically, delivering significant scientific and technical improvements, however these changes pose challenges for users who need to understand the implications to their workflows and applications and make required modifications.

Outreach activities combine structured documentation, targeted email notifications of key upgrade milestones, and LinkedIn and the ECMWF forum posts to reach wider audiences and gather feedback. These channels are complemented by series of webinars and presentations at the annual Using ECMWF's Forecasts (UEF) meeting, where technical and scientific upgrades are presented and discussed with users.

This presentation will describe ECMWF’s outreach activities around IFS and AIFS model upgrades, which are designed to support a diverse user community, including researchers, operational forecasters and developers of AI driven applications, among others. Lessons learned and key challenges will be presented, these include addressing the needs and expectations of diverse audiences with different levels of expertise, synchronising communication with operational timelines and maintaining consistent narratives across platforms, ensuring that key information is accessible without overwhelming users.