Can we use the operational MetCoOp ensemble to generate background error statistics?

In atmospheric data assimilation observation information is distributed in space and between the model state variables using statistical relationships. The currently used methodology to generate data to derive this statistics is similar to the perturbation techniques used in an ensemble. This study investigates the possibility to use data from the MetCoOp operational ensemble MEPS to derive this statistics. The impact on the derived statistics, possible problems and a view on future possibilities will be discussed.