Project MODES is the first ERC grant in Slovenia and it contributes to the advancement and recognition of meteorology research in Slovenia. Its P.I. is prof. Nedjeljka Žagar. This project deals with the atmospheric balance and predictability in terms of the energy percentage which is associated with various types of motions, balanced (Rossby type) motions and inertio-gravity motions. The project will quantify balance in the atmosphere based on reanalysis datasets and ensemble forecasting systems and use the results as a starting point for climate model assessment for their ability to represent the present climate and possible changes of balance in model simulations of future climate scenarios. Results will allow dynamical classification of climate models based on their balance properties. The project is also presented in the ERC newsletter: http://erc.europa.eu/erc-stories/better-chance-predicting-weather.
D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects
The programme group is responsible for the entire university level education in meteorology and astrophysics in Slovenia. This sums up to some 20 courses at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and at other faculties of the University of Ljubljana. Considering that these lectures are given by just 4 teachers of our programme group, and that many courses, despite their optional nature, have over 50 students, it is clear that our programme group has an exceptional teaching load. So it is clear that a continuing support from the Slovenian research agency via its visiting professor scheme is essential. In 2012 we were therefore able to ask our visitors from Sweden, Italy, France and US to take part of the teaching load. We are also taking care of the upgrades of the research equipment available to our students. In 2012 an astronomical spectrograph at the Astronomical observatory Golovec to measure radial velocities has been upgraded.
D.10 Educational activities
Several expert opinions and professional studies for commercial and state companies and offices are done by our group each year. In 2012 these included studies related to the largest power plant and to the most important producer of cement in Slovenia. We were also preparing court expert opinions related to light pollution and professional accidents. We authored or coauthored a number of professional publications, including a review of the system for evaluation of ozone and particle content in the atmosphere (COBISS.SI-ID 284841, 2398820), influence of natural meteorological conditions on air pollution (COBISS.SI-ID 288937), and modeling the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere (COBISS.SI-ID 289193).
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
The programme group is very active in science outreach and in communicating scientific results to the general public. We do: (1) our own daily weather forecast calculated with increased spatial resolution and a detailed forecast of air quality, both published on our webpage meteo.fmf.uni-lj.si/, (2) daily astronomical news digest (www.portalvvesolje.si/) and translation of astronomy picture of the day (apod.fmf.uni-lj.si), (3) monthly public lectures for the general public within a lecture series entitled "A journey through the Universe (www.portalvvesolje.si -) dogodki), (4) open days and nights on the occasions of season changes at the Astronomical observatory Golovec (astro.fmf.uni-lj.si), (5) preparation and organization of the monthly radio broadcast "Frequency X" with an astronomical topic, which airs on the 2nd programme of the national radio (Val 202, www.val202.si/frekvencax/), (6) contribution to educational and news programmes of the national TV (Ugriznimo znanost, Odmevi, 24 ur, etc.), (7) translation and publication of astronomical and meteorological learning materials and professional publications (COBISS.SI-ID 288937 in 289193) and of the yearly astronomical ephemeris Naše nebo (Our sky, COBISS.SI-ID 33758464).
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
Our members initiated and are leading the competition on knowledge of astronomy in primary and secondary schools which is conducted under the auspices of the Society of mathematicians, physicists and astronomers of Slovenia (www.dmfa.si). The competition was initiated during the International Year of Astronomy (2009) by our member Andreja Gomboc, and in the current academic year 2012/13 we organized it for the 4th time. The number of school pupils and contributing schools has been steadily increasing. There were 2560 primary school pupils competing in 2012 (a 77% increase compared to 2009) and 297 seconday school pupils (3-times the 2009 number), so the overall number of participating pupils increased by 85% in just 4 years. The number of participating schools increased from 129 in 2009 to 201 in 2012. A larger population allowed us to have a separate competition for primary school pupils attending the 7th, 8th and 9th year of classes. This proved to be the right decision as we were able to allow for a different level of (notably mathematical) knowledge of these age groups. A larger number of participants is accompanied also by a decidedly higher astronomical knowledge level they possess. This can be attributed to serious and enthusiastic work of their teachers and our team. The best attendants of the state-level competition in astronomy from the year 2011/12 have been able to participate to a school on astronomy and astrophysics organized by our group. So the award winners were able to get a first-hand experience on research work in astronomy and, most importantly, they were attending lectures on Venera's Solar transit, measurement of distances in the Solar system, stellar structure, cepheids, cosmology, optics, and on high energy astrophysics. In the evenings and nights they were observing with (school level) telescopes, showing a great deal of enthusiasm. Increased level of knowledge of the participants resulted in the decision that the best secondary school pupils will attend the International astronomical and astrophysical olympiad to be held from July 27 to August 5 2013 in Volos in Greece. This will be the first Slovenian participation to this type of event. Note that in just four years and starting from scratch (there is no tradition of astronomy competitions in Slovenia, contrary to some neighbouring countries) the number of participants is approaching 3000 per year, and the number of participating primary and secondary schools is just over 200. Moreover, the level of knowledge reached the level appropriate for a Slovenian participation to an international olympic competition. We find these results very satisfactory.
D.10 Educational activities