NCEP Synergy Meeting Highlights: September
28, 2009
This meeting was led by David Novak
(HPC) and attended by Chris Caruso Magee (NCO), Rebecca Cosgrove (NCO); John
Ward (EMC); Eric Rogers (EMC); Mary Hart (EMC); Chad Cary (EMC); Bill Bua
(UCAR/COMET); Steve Silberberg (AWC); Andy Dean (SPC); Mike Brennan (TPC);
Richard Pasch (TPC); Richard Knabb (CPHC); Ed Danaher (HPC); Keith Brill (HPC);
Kathy Gilbert (MDL); Carven Scott (AR); Dave
Myrick (WR); Bernard Meisner (SR), and Pete Browning (CR).
1. NCO (Chris
Caruso Magee)
SREF
A
15 day parallel evaluation has begun and will end October 16. The TIN has a
date of October 13 (see: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin09-29sref_upgrade.txt
), however, the implementation will likely be delayed to October 20.
RTOFS
A
30 day parallel evaluation is ongoing, with an expected implementation date of
October 28 See:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin09-30rtofs.txt
A
bundle of minor changes are scheduled to be implemented November 3, 2009,
including improvements to the GOES look-alike satellite product. Parallel evaluations
will not be required.
See:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin09-33nam_dgex.txt
GFS
A GFS parallel evaluation is
expected to begin shortly, with an implementation date of December 15. See:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin09-32gfs_changes.txt
GEFS (TIN released after the call)
A
Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) parallel evaluation is expected to begin
shortly, with an implementation planed for December 15. This date may slip. For
details see: http://www.weather.gov/os/notification/tin09-34gefs.txt
Based
on previously submitted requirements, NCO has been exploring an expansion of
the ECMWF deterministic and ensemble elements (atmospheric and ocean wave) provided
to NCEP centers (at 1 degree resolution). NCO has provided test data to local
and remote NCEP centers and expects to turn on the additional ECMWF data on
October 13. This data would replace current files.
2. NOTES FROM EMC
2a.
Global Climate and Weather Modeling Branch (GCWMB) (John Ward)
The
next GFS implementation will include both model, data assimilation (GSI), and
postprocessing changes (see TIN above). Testing has revealed a slight
degradation in the track forecasts from the HWRF and GFDL (which are
initialized from the GFS) with this implementation. Changes to the HWRF and
GFDL initialization schemes are being explored. An overall GFS implementation
briefing slide package will be distributed to the regions soon.
The
next GFS changes center on the shallow and deep convection parameterizations. There
is a dramatic reduction in grid point storms (colloquially known as “precip
bombs” or “grid-scale feedback”), which have plagued the GFS. There is also
marked improvement in nearly all the standard verification statistics. Reruns
of tropical cyclones during the 2008 hurricane season are ongoing. The change
would be scheduled for March 2010.
An
additional GFS implementation is planned for Q3 2010. This implementation
increases the GFS resolution (to T574 64L or ~27 km grid spacing)
A
Climate Forecast System (CFS) upgrade is expected Q4 2010. There is increased
uncertainty in this date, since reanalyses to support the upgrade have recently
ceased due to a computer shut down.
2b.
Global Ensemble Prediction System (John Ward)
The
next GEFS upgrade (see above) increases member resolution from T126 to T190,
adds a stochastic perturbation scheme, and uses 8th order horizontal
diffusion for all resolutions. Tests show improved forecast skill and
reliability. Additionally, several new variables will be included in the
“pgrba” files, including 10, 50, and 100 mb level data, surface and top of
atmosphere flux data, and soil data, and CIN.
2c.
Mesoscale Modeling Branch (MMB)(Eric Rogers)
SREF
Besides
the imminent SREF implementation (see above), an additional SREF implementation
is expected late in FY2010 to add downscaled and bias-corrected (based on the
RTMA – similar to NAEFS) sensible weather element products.
A
bundle of minor changes are scheduled to be implemented November 3, 2009,
including improvements to the GOES look-alike satellite product. See: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/notification/tin09-33nam_dgex.txt
The
next large implementation will be transitioning the WRF-NMM to the NMM-B and
embedding within the National Environmental Modeling System (NEMS) framework
sometime in FY2011. This transition allows the establishment of 4 km nests over
the CONUS, a 6 km nest over
2d.
Marine Modeling and Analysis Branch
No
report.
3. FEEDBACK FROM MDL/OPERATIONAL
CENTERS/REGIONS
3a.
MDL
Updates to the GFS MOS equations are in final
testing. The MOS will be rerun using the current parallel GFS as a final test.
The MOS update is expected in January 2010.
Gridded GFS MOS (GMOS) will be updated to add snow
and qpf for the
3b.
Nothing
to report.
4. The next Synergy Meeting will be
held at 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, October 26, 2009 in room 209, with remote
teleconferencing capability.