NCEP Synergy Meeting Highlights: April 26, 2010

 

This meeting was led by David Novak (HPC) and attended by Chris Caruso Magee (NCO); Becky Cosgrove (NCO); John Ward (EMC); Mary Hart (EMC); Vera Gerald (EMC); Jamese Sims (EMC); Bill Bua (UCAR/COMET); Stephen Jascourt (UCAR/COMET); Jason Levit (AWC); Steve Weiss (SPC); Andy Dean (SPC); Keith Brill (HPC); Richard Pasch (TPC); Mike Brennan (TPC); Kathy Gilbert (MDL); Andy Edman (WR); Dave Myrick (WR); Pete Browning (CR); Jack Settelmaier (SR); and Jeff Waldstreicher (ER)

 

1. NCO (Chris Caruso Magee)

 

GFS

A significant update to the GFS is planned for June 22, 2010 (see section 2a below).  A 30 day NCO parallel evaluation will begin in early May, after downstream codes have been set up to accommodate the GFS changes. The TIN has been posted at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin10-15gfs.txt

 

Global Multi-grid Wave Model

Implementation is planned for May 11, 2010.

See: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin10-13aaa_wave_model.txt

 

HWRF

RFCs have been submitted for changes in the HWRF. These changes include HWRF being coupled with the POM (Princeton’s Ocean Model). The HWRF implementation is expected June 1, 2010.

 

GFDL

Details of GFDL changes are being develop and are expected to be tested during May.

 

Air Quality

A NCO parallel of new air quality products for Hawaii has started and is under evaluation.

 

RFCs have been submitted for Air Quality products for Alaska.  Implementation is planned for early Fall.

 

Hysplit Dust

Testing continues for the Hysplit Dust model.

 

 

For the latest schedule updates see: http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/changes/

 

 

2. NOTES FROM EMC

2a. Global Climate and Weather Modeling Branch (GCWMB) (John Ward)

 

GFS

The 30 day parallel evaluation of the next major GFS implementation is imminent. This implementation is planned for June 22, 2010 and includes:

-improvements to the shallow and deep convection parameterizations.

-increase in resolution (to T574 64L or ~27 km grid spacing).

-replacement of shortwave radiation from NASA based version with random cloud overlap to AER based RRTM with maximum/random cloud overlap.

-inclusion of vertical advection of moisture, ozone and cloud condensate based on positive definite advection scheme.

-changes are also made to boundary layer scheme and gravity wave drag.

-3 hourly data will extend to F192

-High resolution data will extend from F180 to F192.

-Maximum wind gusts variable added.

 

EMC has a web page which compares real-time forecasts between the operational GFS and the parallel GFS is at:

http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/gmb/STATS_vsdb/    (selected from "GFS Weather Fcst Maps" on the left panel). Note that these web comparisons are only available for the 00Z run.

 

NAEFS

Plans are continuing to add the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) ensemble to NAEFS. The addition is tentatively planed for Q1 of 2011.

 

Pacific Region Guidance

Codes have been submitted to NCO for the downscaled numerical guidance (DNG) from the native GFS data for Guam and Hawaii. This will help support RTMA for Guam. Implementation is expected a week after the GFS implementation. A 75-day notice will be required for the Guam DNG to be distributed over the SBN, so SBN dissemination may lag implementation.

 

Climate Forecast System

Planning and testing for a major upgrade to the Climate Forecast System (CFS 2.0) is ongoing. Initial plans are for a November implementation.

 

2b. Mesoscale Modeling Branch (MMB) (No report)

 

 

2c. Marine Modeling and Analysis Branch (Vera Gerald)

The Global Multi-grid Wave Model is planned to be upgraded May 11, 2010 (see above).

 

3. FEEDBACK FROM MDL/OPERATIONAL CENTERS/REGIONS

3a. MDL (Kathy Gilbert)

RFCs have been submitted for adding ptype and snow information to MOS for extended forecast ranges in BUFR format. 

The 2.5 km GMOS data is available for evaluation (http://www.mdl.nws.noaa.gov/~mos/gmos/conus25/index.php)

 

3b. NCEP Centers and NWS Regions

 

SPC – Asked whether the HWRF/GFDL would be at convection allowing scales (~4 km) this season. The model inner nests will remain at 9 km this season. Future plans are for 3 km nests.

 

HPC – Informal evaluation of the GFS parallel via EMC webpage looks promising.

 

OPC – Looking forward to the GFS changes.

 

WR – Expressed interest in establishing operational data flows for the parallel 2.5 km Gridded MOS from MDL.

 

SR – WFOs have been instructed to install the Swan local wave model by the end of May. (The local Swan models will use the global wave watch model as boundary conditions.)

 

ER – Asked for the status of adding the NCEP High Resolution Window runs on the SBN. Becky Cosgrove will follow up with NWSH.

 

4. The next Synergy Meeting will be held at 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 24, 2010 in room 209, with remote teleconferencing capability.