A view of the Met Office roof, looking directly up from the front of the building

How Met Office science is reviewed

Met Office science is reviewed by external independent experts in the field of climate science, meteorology, oceanography and numerical weather prediction.

The Met Office Hadley Centre Science Review Group (SRG) is held jointly with the Met Office Scientific Advisory Committee (MOSAC) which reviews Met Office Foundation, Weather and Climate Science programmes.

Met Office Scientific Advisory Committee (MOSAC)

The Met Office Scientific Advisory Committee (MOSAC) meets annually to review the Met Office's Foundation, Weather and Climate Science programmes and the integrated nature of these programmes.

MOSAC also exists to raise any scientific concerns in relation to the ability of the Met Office's research plans to meet its customer's requirements and its own strategic aims.

MOSAC roles

MOSAC has the three key roles:

  1. To provide an independent assessment of the quality and relevance of the Met Office's scientific research which underpins its weather, climate and oceanographic services.
  2. To ensure that the Met Office, through its science programmes and other activities, provides the best possible services and advice to customers.
  3. To foster productive links with the global meteorological and climate community.

In this video, hear from Dr Gilbert Brunet of the Bureau of Meteorology and the World Meteorological Organization and chair of MOSAC, as he discusses the purpose and importance of MOSAC: 

Met Office Hadley Centre Science Review Group (SRG)

The Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC) Science Review Group (SRG) brings together leading scientists from UK and international academia to carry out an independent review of the climate research carried out by the Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (MOHCCP) to advise its government customers on the quality, robustness and relevance of our science outputs.

SRG roles

At a high level the SRG has three roles:

  1. Assessing the extent to which the MOHC Climate Programme undertakes science of the appropriate quality to provide the best advice on climate science to its government customers.
  2. Assessing the relevance and impact that the Climate Programme has in providing climate science and services to support UK government policy and wider MOHC activities.
  3. Assessing the impact that the Climate Programme has on the wider UK and international community, including its relationship with UK research organisations, and the effectiveness of its communication activities.

SRG annual meeting

The annual meeting of SRG is held jointly with the Met Office Scientific Advisory Committee (MOSAC) to ensure efficient communication between the two groups.

External independent experts

SRG and MOSAC comprises external independent experts in the field of climate science, meteorology, oceanography or numerical weather prediction drawn from UK universities, and from meteorological services and climate institutions of other countries.

Calls for new SRG Chair and member

The UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are seeking a new Chair of the SRG as well as one new member. For more information and how to apply, please see this page for the Chair call, and this page for the member call.

In this video, hear from Prof Rowan Sutton, Director of the Met Office Hadley Centre and former chair of SRG, as he discusses the purpose and importance of SRG: