The international research programme HIRLAM (HIgh Resolution Limited Area Model) is a research cooperation of European meteorological institutes. The aim of the HIRLAM programme is to develop and maintain a numerical short-range weather forecasting system for operational use by the participating meteorological institutes. The programme was initiated in 1985 and has gone through numerous phases in the past two decades. Since 1 January 2006, the programme has entered a new phase, HIRLAM-A (see the HIRLAM-A Memorandum of Understanding).
The HIRLAM Consortium
The HIRLAM consortium consists of the institutes listed in the table. HIRLAM has two acceding members as listed in the table (for procedure, responsibilities and rights see Annex 2 of the minutes 3rd HIRLAM-A Council meeting, 25 June 2007).
In addition, there is a research cooperation with the ALADIN consortium on Numerical Weather Prediction (see the ALADIN-HIRLAM Cooperation Agreement).
Scientific goals of HIRLAM-A
The main goals of HIRLAM-A are threefold:
- Development of an operationally suitable mesoscale model at a target horizontal resolution of 2.5 km (HARMONIE).
- Continued development of the synoptic scale (5 - 15 km horizontal resolution) HIRLAM model.
- Development of an operationally suitable short-range multi-model limited area ensemble prediction system, suitable specifically for severe weather (GLAMEPS).
The research done to achieve these objectives is described in more detail in the scientific plan (HIRLAM-A most recent science plan) and the work plans for each year of the HIRLAM-A period (HIRLAM-A most recent Workplan).
Steering bodies
The HIRLAM programme is controlled by the HIRLAM council, which consists of the directors of the participating institutes. The programme is managed by the management group.
The management group is advised by a Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, the HAC.
All steering documents can be found at HIRLAM steering documents.
About HIRLAM
HIRLAM members develop together with ALADIN a state-of-the-art Numerical Weather Prediction system for the mesoscale, called HARMONIE. Also the synoptic scale model HIRLAM which is currently running operationally at all HIRLAM centers is kept up-to-date. 
