Vitart et al. (2025) Introduction: why subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction?

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-14
• Authors: Frédéric Vitart, Andrew W. Robertson
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-31538-1.00013-0

Research Groups

• European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Reading, United Kingdom
• Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR), Columbia Climate School, Columbia University, Palisades, NY, United States

Short Summary

This introductory chapter defines subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction as the timescale beyond 2 weeks but less than a season, emphasizing its role in bridging the historical divide between weather and climate forecasting for a seamless prediction approach.

Objective

• To introduce and define the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction timescale, highlighting its importance in fostering a "seamless" approach to weather and climate prediction.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Conceptual overview of phenomena across a continuum of global weather and climate scales.
• Temporal Scale: Focus on the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) range (beyond 2 weeks but less than a season), within the broader context of subdaily to decadal timescales.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Discusses the general use of similar numerical tools for weather and climate prediction, distinguishing between empirical/statistical and numerical weather/climate prediction. Mentions the concept of a single model for seamless prediction.
• Data sources: Not specified in this introductory chapter.

Main Results

• Defines Subseasonal-to-Seasonal (S2S) prediction as the timescale beyond 2 weeks but less than a season.
• Identifies a historical separation between weather and climate prediction, now converging due to the recognition of a continuous spectrum of time and space scales.
• Establishes S2S prediction as a crucial component for achieving "seamless" weather/climate prediction.

Contributions

• Provides a foundational definition and context for the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction field.
• Articulates the significance of S2S prediction in bridging the traditional divide between weather and climate forecasting communities and methodologies.

Funding

• Not specified in this introductory chapter.

Citation

@article{Vitart2025Introduction,
  author = {Vitart, Frédéric and Robertson, Andrew W.},
  title = {Introduction: why subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction?},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-31538-1.00013-0},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-31538-1.00013-0}
}