November 6, 2008
MEMORANDUM FOR: Distribution E
FROM: Allan Darling
Deputy Director, NCEP Central Operations (NCO)
SUBJECT: Scheduled Operational Changes and Upgrades
---- SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATIONS ----
The following items will be implemented at 12Z on Wednesday, 12 November
to introduce several changes in the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC)
modeling-assimilation system. These changes are being made to improve
model performance. For complete details of the change, please see the
Technical Information Notice (TIN) located at:
http://www.weather.gov/os/notification/tin08-77_amended_ruc_upgrades.txt
1087. RUC2_HYBFRONT - IBM Jobs ruc2a_prep_00-23. (Manikin, EMC). The RUC
analysis code is being modified to include the processing of
three-dimensional radar reflectivity mosaic data which produces a latent
heat specification to be used in the model digital filter. It is also
being modified to include an assimilation of TAMDAR and MESONET wind
data with a list of approved providers, a revision to observation and
background error for moisture data, and an improved quality control
based on mean observation-background differences for a given platform
within a RUC analysis window.
1088. RUC2_HYBCST - IBM Jobs ruc2a_fcst-00-23. (Manikin, EMC). The RUC
forecast model is updated to change the longwave radiative scheme from
Dudhia to Rapid Radiative Transfer Model (RRTM), modify the snow
component of the land-surface model to avoid excessively cold
temperatures over fresh snow at night as well as during warm advection
events over snow cover, and modify the convective scheme to reduce the
excessive generation of light precipitation areas. Code is also added to
specify three-dimensional latent heating in the diabtic digital filter
initialization code.
1089. RUC2_HYBPOST - IBM Jobs ruc2_post_00-23. (Manikin, EMC). The RUC
post processor is updated to add simulated reflectivity products and
relative humidity computed with respect to precipitable water in a
saturated column to the pressure level output files and add four new
land-surface fields (soil type, vegetation type, land/water mask, and
ice cover) to the native level output files. It is also modified to
correct the GRIB PDS (product description section) time descriptors for
very short-range precipitation forecasts.
1090. RUC2_HYBCSTPR - IBM Jobs ruc2a_prep_00-23. (Manikin, EMC). This
code which prepares the initial fields needed to run the RUC model is
updated to read the 4 new fields being added to the native level files.
1091. RUC2_READREFL - IBM Jobs ruc2_prep_00-23. (Manikin, EMC). This new
code reads in radar mosaic data and interpolates it to RUC levels so the
radar data can be passed into the analysis code.
______________________________________________
<snip>
---- OPERATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ----
1. The annual holiday moratorium on changes to the CCS Production Suite
will begin on Wednesday, 17 December 2008. With the transition to the
IBM Power6 system beginning in January 2009, the moratorium will
continue through approximately 1 April 2009.
The last date to submit Requests for Change (RFC) for minor
implementations will be Monday, 20 November. For major changes,
requiring extended parallel runs, the last day to submit RFCs will be
Wednesday, 1 October.
As usual, changes to resolve operational problems will be accepted
throughout the moratorium.
Our intention is to implement all CCS related RFCs by Tuesday, 16
December. Any outstanding CCS related RFCs remaining after that date
will be returned to the users for testing and validation on the Power 6
system. Please let us know if you have any requests which must be
implemented prior to the moratorium.
2. NCEP Central Operations (NCO) is preparing the WWB 5th floor
swing-space for NCWCP testing. The WWB swing-space will be provisioned
with a scaled-down version of the NCWCP data center. NCWCP future
tenants will use the swing-space to test operational applications and
processes in preparation for the WWB-NCWCP transition.
The overview of the schedule is:
* Nov – Dec 2008: NCO provisions WWB 5th floor swing-space with a
scaled-down version of the NCWCP data center and NCWCP LAN
* Jan – Apr 2009: NCWCP future tenants test operational applications and
processes using the WWB swing-space
* May – Sep 2009: NCO leads the IT provisioning for the NCWCP IT
infrastructure
* Sep - Dec 2009: Tenants move to NCWCP, vacate WWB
3. NCO is scheduling a 2-hour window twice a week for testing revisions
to the RFC application software. Testing will be conducted on Tuesday
and Wednesday from 0600L to 0800L beginning on Tuesday, 23 September
2008. All users should avoid using the Request for Change (RFC)
application during this time or risk the possibility of losing or
replicating data.
4. Upcoming major changes to NCEP's production suite and details on any
product or timing changes associated with upcoming implementations can
be viewed at the following website:
http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/changes/
Test data for each of these proposed changes should be available six
weeks prior to implementation. Anyone wishing to receive formal notice
of the final pre-implementation testing and the opportunity to provide
feedback on the proposed changes can subscribe to the Model Evaluation
mailing list via:
https://lstsrv.ncep.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/ncep.list.modelevalinfo