An example of WRF simulated hourly precipitation and near-surface wind with 2-km km grids.
The goal of this project is to improve and modernize the numerical weather prediction capability for Saudi Arabia Meteorological Service. The project will also conduct feasibility study for predicting dust storms in the region and provide training on numerical weather prediction. The model system research and development is a component of the overall project, sponsored by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), Saudi Arabia, through NOAA corporative agreement with UCAR. The other components include the implementation of the NCAR/RAL Joint Numerical Testbed (JNT) Model Evaluation Tools (MET) for real-time model evaluation, development of forecast display system, and providing hands-on forecaster training programs.
Description
This project involves the development and deployment of a specialized operational WRF modeling system to improve the weather prediction of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The one of the project core tasks is to research and develop an advanced modeling system that is based on a suit of NCAR mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) technologies including WRF-ARW (Weather Research and Forecasting – Advanced Research WRF core) model, RTFDDA (Real-Time Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation and forecasting system) and WRF-3DVAR (Three-Dimensional Variational data assimilation). This system, referred as to “RTF3H” (Real-time RTFDDA-3DVAR Hybrid), will replace the baseline default WRF system, hereafter “DWRF”, currently in operations at PME Headquarters (HQ), aiming to provide improved data assimilation and forecasting capability and accuracy for KSA. NCAR/RAL and PME also plan for a long-term collaboration for modernization of the PME NWP capabilities and services with the NCAR ensemble RTFDDA modeling technologies and joint development of the next-generation 4-dimensional relaxation ensemble Kalman filter FDDA and forecasting technologies. NCAR/RAL National Security Application Program leads in the development of these advanced mesoscale data assimilation schemes and forecasting systems for diverse weather-critical applications.
