Shorter contribution The contribution of locally generated MTSat-1R atmospheric motion vectors to operational meteorology in the Australian region

Summary and conclusions The local estimation of real time operational MTSAT 1R AMVs and their impact on operational regional NWP has been described. Experiments using these data in a real time NWP trial have been summarized. Their benefit to current operational regional NWP, when used with a control employing NMOC’s full op-erational data base (including JMA AMVs), has been recorded. These results were consistant with past trials with GMS-5 and GOES-9 and have resulted in a rein-troduction of local vectors into operations. This trial has been followed by new studies of the impact of 6-hourly visible image based AMVs and hourly AMVs in the current operational systems and a study of the use of continuous (at least hourly) AMVs in the next generation 4-D VAR United Kingdom Me-teorological Office Unified Model based system. Looking ahead, the continuing trend to space based observations with higher spatial, temporal and spectral resolution should enable improved estimation of at-mospheric motion and result in quantitative benefit to