AIR Worldwide Releases Third Generation NWP-based European Extratropical Cyclone Model.BOSTON -- AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR) released its third generation numerical weather prediction-based (NWP NWP Numerical Weather Prediction NWP National Writing Project NWP Nationwide Permit NWP Northwest Passage NWP Netherlands Water Partnership NWP National Women's Party NWP New Wafd Party (Egypt) NWP Neighborhood Watch Program ) European Extratropical Cyclone Model today. The update further advances AIR's industry-leading application of NWP technology to enable insurers to better estimate potential losses from extreme windstorms in Europe through a new approach based on the principle of Available Potential Energy. "AIR's European Extratropical Cyclone Model is highly regarded within the European insurance community for its innovative use of numerical weather prediction Numerical weather prediction uses mathematical models of the atmosphere to predict the weather. Manipulating the huge datasets and performing the complex calculations necessary to do this on a resolution fine enough to make the results useful can require some of the most powerful technology," said Erik Ruttener, Head of Global Natural Hazards at Swiss-based reinsurer re·in·sure tr.v. re·in·sured, re·in·sur·ing, re·in·sures To insure again, especially by transferring all or part of the risk in a contract to a new contract with another insurance company. Converium. "AIR's enhancements will enable Converium to further deepen the understanding of our extratropical cyclone risk in Europe." "AIR has invested more than ten years of research and development integrating NWP technology into its catastrophe models," said Yoern Tatge, managing director of AIR Worldwide GmbH. "The latest model release leverages advancements by AIR meteorologists in the application of NWP technology to windstorm wind·storm n. A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain. windstorm A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain. models. The new techniques have been peer-reviewed by Dr. Robert Fovell of UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , a pre-eminent atmospheric scientist and a recognized expert in NWP technology." AIR meteorologists developed an original application of Available Potential Energy (APE), a well-known meteorological principle, depicting the build-up of mid-latitude energy. The relationship between APE and storm intensity was used to refine the distribution of winds within each simulated event, while maintaining the overall integrity of each extratropical Ex`tra`trop´ic`al a. 1. Beyond or outside of the tropics. system. The result is a stochastic catalog of potential storms with more realistic wind footprints. "AIR's physical-stochastic approach combines NWP and stochastic techniques in a new way," said Dr. Fovell. "The NWP component accurately constrains the stochastic while the stochastic component amply extends the physical. This unique approach results in a highly realistic view of the risk from extratropical cyclones." The model update also includes the addition of Windstorm Erwin to the historical event set. In January 2005, Erwin caused damaging winds in several Northern European countries. Denmark was hit particularly hard, partly as a result of the so-called "sting jet" phenomenon, which accelerates strong winds aloft down to the surface in the presence of convective (thunderstorm thunderstorm, violent, local atmospheric disturbance accompanied by lightning, thunder, and heavy rain, often by strong gusts of wind, and sometimes by hail. ) cells. "Extratropical cyclones are asymmetric storm systems that produce a variety of complex atmospheric phenomena including 'sting jets,'" continued Tatge. "Using a three-dimensional NWP-based simulation of the storm, the AIR model successfully captured the impact of the extreme surface winds caused by Erwin's sting jet. This further validates the realistic and accurate view of extratropical cyclone risk provided by the AIR model." AIR's third generation European Extratropical Cyclone Model is available in Version 8.0 of CLASIC/2(TM) and CATRADER(R), AIR's catastrophe risk management systems. About AIR Worldwide Corporation AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR) is a leading risk modeling company helping clients manage the financial impact of catastrophes and weather. Utilizing the latest science and technology, AIR models natural catastrophes in more than 40 countries and the risk from terrorism in the United States A common definition of terrorism is the systematic use or threatened use of violence to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, or ideological change. . Other areas of expertise include site-specific seismic engineering analysis, catastrophe bonds, and property replacement cost valuation. A member of the ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. family of companies, AIR was founded in 1987 to provide its insurance, reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract. , corporate, and government clients a complete line of risk modeling software and consulting services that produce consistent and reliable results. Headquartered in Boston, AIR has additional offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.air-worldwide.com. |
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