The Royal Meteorological Society’s Conference on Weather Forecasting and Climate Change

3 - 6 September
Heriot Watt University
Edinburgh

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Every two years the Royal Meteorological Society holds its science conference on weather forecasting and climate change. The conference brings together the UK’s leading weather and climate scientists, with scientists from some 13 other countries, to discuss the latest developments across the field of meteorology.

Professor Paul Hardaker, the Chief Executive of the Society said, “The UK is one of the world’s leaders in both its work in weather forecasting and in climate predictions. The Society’s conference never fails to provide an exciting opportunity for scientists to come together and to share their latest research. I am sure recent flooding events and the continuing advances in climate science will mean that this conference will be no exception.”

The conference will have talks on:

• Advances in forecasting and use of weather observations, particularly relevant to the prediction of severe weather and heavy rainfall leading to flooding.
• Developments in our understanding of the physics, chemistry and composition of the atmosphere, reducing the uncertainty in weather and climate predictions.
• The latest developments in climate science, the impacts of a changing climate and the major science questions and challenges post the IPCC report.

Professor Hardaker said, “This year presents a very exciting and timely science programme. I am particularly looking forward to the two scheduled debates at the conference on Climate Engineering and the development and value of Seasonal Forecasts for the UK.”

The event will take place in the Conference Centre at Heriot-Watt University between Monday 3 September and Thursday 6 September 2007. Full details of the conference programme are available at ‘http://www.rmets.org/conf2007/’ or directly from the Society.

Notes and contact details:

1. The Royal Meteorological Society is the UK’s Professional Body and Learned Society for weather and climate. The Society is a registered charity, based in Reading, UK.

• The President of the Society is Professor Geraint Vaughan, from the University of Manchester, the Chief Executive of the Society is Professor Paul Hardaker and the Head of Communications is Ms Virginia Robins.

• The Society is contactable via email at ‘chiefexec@rmets.org’ or via 0118 956 8500, and its website can be found at ‘www.rmets.org’.

• The Society’s conference is a biennial event that brings together the UK’s leading scientists working in the field of weather prediction and climate change. The conference also has a number of invited international experts from across the wider meteorological community.

The conference also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the death of Alexander Buchan, one of the leading meteorologists of his time, who for 47 years was the Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological Society. He is accredited as being the first to use a map of weather patterns to produce weather forecasts, but perhaps is most famous for his Buchan Spells, which talk of the occurrence of warm and cold spells in the weather at certain times of the year.

For press enquiries:

• Paul Hardaker: Chief Executive 0118 956 8500
• Fiona Hewer: Interim Head of Meteorology 0118 956 8500