The Recherche en Prévision Numérique (RPN), Meteorological Research Branch (MRB), and the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) are continuing the development and implementation of an environmental forecasting system based on the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model. The GEM model is currently operational for the global data assimilation cycle and medium-range forecasting, the regional data assimilation spin-up cycle and short-range forecasting. Furthermore mesoscale forecasts are produced overnight and are available to the operational forecasters. A growing number of meteorological applications are now either based on or use the GEM model.

We will first present a brief overview of the current GEM, including physical parametrization. We will also mention different research topics in mesoscale modeling, in hydrology coupling and stratospheric ozone analysis. We also discuss for the sake of completeness the data assimilation system and the CMC forecast system based on GEM. Finally, we will sketch our plans for the future.