Meteorological Research Branch (MRB)

The Four Main Meteorological Issues:

The goal of the Meteorological Research Branch (MRB) is to provide the Meteorological Service of Canada with the 'science' that is needed to improve weather and environmental predictions. This 'science' includes understanding atmospheric processes, and developing sophisticated numerical systems (models) and remote-sensing technologies (such as Doppler Radar) for weather prediction. The ability to detect severe weather and to accurately predict it will reduce costly impacts on society and limit the risks to human life.

Pat King, research meteorologist, studies severe weather, using satellite and radar data, to improve severe weather warning capabilities.

The Meteorological Research Branch Consists of Three Divisions:

Data Assimilation and Satellite Meteorology
Monitors meteorological conditions using satellites and develops techniques for assimilating ground based and remotely sensed meteorological data into numerical models.
Numerical Prediction Research Division
Develops and improves weather prediction models that are run on the Meteorological Service of Canada's supercomputer.
Cloud Physics Research Division
Studies atmospheric processes including aircraft icing, cloud chemistry & physics, and fog/cloud water collection in arid areas. The Cloud Physics Division of Meteorological Research Branch (MRB) co-ordinates with the Institute for Aerospace Research (IAR) of the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada to run the Environmental Research Aircraft Facility (ERAF). The NRC provides MRB with up to 6 months of access to a Twin Otter and Convair 580, to service the Atmospheric and Climate Science Directorate's (ACSD) airborne research needs. The cloud physics division also operates and conducts research at the King Doppler Weather Radar Research Facility located near King City, Ontario.

On the left is a 96-hour supercomputer model prediction of outgoing infrared flux, and on the right is the actual observed outgoing infrared flux. Our ability to predict outgoing infrared flux is important to our understanding of the energy balance in the atmosphere to better predict weather processes.