At the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Latvia (UL), the implementation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service National Collaboration Programme (CAMS NCP) in Latvia has been launched. This initiative is part of the European Commission’s Copernicus Earth Observation component of the EU Space Programme, which aims to provide high-quality atmospheric observation and forecast data to support decision-making across the environment, health, energy, and climate sectors.
The project will be implemented over three years, from 2026 to 2028, by an interdisciplinary team from the FST UL, led by researcher Olga Sozinova from the Department of Geography. The team includes leading researchers from the Institute of Numerical Modelling and the Departments of Environmental Science, Geology, and Physics. The project partner is the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
Within the project, applications for the use of CAMS products will be developed in Latvia. One direction is the use of CAMS data in renewable energy, particularly for solar energy forecasting, which is essential for developing the energy market and achieving climate-neutrality goals. Another direction is improving air quality forecasts using high-resolution modelling for the territory of Latvia. This will enable more accurate prediction of pollution episodes and provide significant support for public health protection and the implementation of environmental policy. The project also includes demonstrations of CAMS data use in other sectors, as well as cooperation with various state institutions and municipalities.
An important component of the project is knowledge transfer and public outreach. New study courses on the use of Copernicus data will be developed at the University of Latvia, and seminars will be organised for different user groups, from students to public administration and municipal specialists.
The implementation of the CAMS National Collaboration Programme will strengthen the role of the University of Latvia in climate and environmental research, promoting new practical solutions for sustainable development.
Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s space programme. The ECMWF has been appointed by the European Commission, with funding from the EU, to operate the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and the Copernicus Climate Change Service on its behalf.
