FYI--
-------- Original Message --------
NCEP Model Evaluation Subscribers,
The Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) has proposed an upgrade to
the Global Forecast System (GFS).
The model changes include:
1. Assimilation of new observation data sources, including
Tropical storm pseudo sea-level pressure obs
NOAA-19 HIRS/4 and AMSU-A brightness temperature obs, with
monitoring of NOAA-19 MHS data (no assimilation - instrument
failing)
NOAA-18 SBUV/2 and AURA OMI ozone obs, with monitoring of NOAA-19
SBUV/2 and METOP-2 GOME-2 (no assimilation)
RARS 1B data
EUMETSAT-9 atmospheric motion vectors
2. Implementing improved techniques in the GSI analysis, including
Use of uniform thinning mesh for brightness temperature data
Improvements to assimilation of GPS RO data (QC, retune obs
errors)
Addition of dry mass pressure constant
Update of background error covariance
Merging of GMAO and EMC codes
3. Improvements to the Global Forecast Model, including
Restructuring of the Global Model code
Code unification between GFS and GEFS
Consolidation of Global Post codes used in GFS and GDAS
Upgrade to ESMF 3.1.0rp2
Modification of low cloud definition
Output additional parameters for TIGGE and ICAO
Introduction of more accurate algorithm for several diagnostic
variables
Output additional hourly files to 12 hrs for RTMA Guam
Output additional 3-hourly files to 60 hrs for GOCART
*Near real time parallel data*
Beginning Friday, November 6, 2009, a consistent parallel feed of data
will be available at:
FTP:
ftp://ftp.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/gfs/para
<ftp://ftp.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/gfs/para>
HTTP:
http://www.ftp.ncep.noaa.gov/data/nccf/com/gfs/para
<http://www.ftp.ncep.noaa.gov/data/nccf/com/gfs/para>
We will make the model output available for 30 days starting Friday, 6
November so that end-users of the GFS data can verify that no unforeseen
changes have been introduced.
Any comments on this proposed change will be appreciated. Any feedback
you wish to provide during the evaluation period should be emailed to
NCEP.List.ModelEvalFeedback@xxxxxxxx prior to 7 December, 2009. Please
note the quick turn around time on this evaluation. We are briefing Dr.
Uccellini on 14 December, 2009 and are aiming for implementation of the
GFS upgrade on 15 December, 2009. We ask that those of you who choose
to participate in the evaluation please prepare your evaluation packages
as early as possible in order for us to meet our briefing and
implementation dates.
The Environmental Modeling Center, EMC, has a publicly available website
which can provide users with more information concerning the GFS:
http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/gmb/treadon/experiments/pru12a/vsdb/
Thanks
Chris Caruso Magee