Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The Operational Mesogamma-Scale Analysis and Forecast System of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. Part I: Overview of the Modeling System, the Forecast Products, and How the Products Are Used

Yubao Liu National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Thomas T. Warner National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

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James F. Bowers U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah

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Laurie P. Carson National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Fei Chen National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Charles A. Clough U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland

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Christopher A. Davis National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Craig H. Egeland U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center, Fort Greely, Alaska

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Scott F. Halvorson U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah

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Terrence W. Huck Jr. *U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, White Sands, New Mexico

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Leo Lachapelle U.S. Army Redstone Technical Test Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

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Robert E. Malone U.S. Army Electronics Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, Arizona

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Daran L. Rife National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Rong-Shyang Sheu National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Scott P. Swerdlin National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder, Colorado

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Dean S. Weingarten U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona

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Print Publication:
01 Apr 2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JAMC1653.1
Page(s):
1077–1092
Restricted access

Abstract

Given the rapid increase in the use of operational mesoscale models to satisfy different specialized needs, it is important for the community to share ideas and solutions for meeting the many associated challenges that encompass science, technology, education, and training. As a contribution toward this objective, this paper begins a series that reports on the characteristics and performance of an operational mesogamma-scale weather analysis and forecasting system that has been developed for use by the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. During the more than five years that this four-dimensional weather system has been in use at seven U.S. Army test ranges, valuable experience has been gained about the production and effective use of high-resolution model products for satisfying a variety of needs. This paper serves as a foundation for the rest of the papers in the series by describing the operational requirements for the system, the data assimilation and forecasting system characteristics, and the forecaster training that is required for the finescale products to be used effectively.

Corresponding author address: Yubao Liu, NCAR/RAL, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000. Email: yliu@ucar.edu

Abstract

Given the rapid increase in the use of operational mesoscale models to satisfy different specialized needs, it is important for the community to share ideas and solutions for meeting the many associated challenges that encompass science, technology, education, and training. As a contribution toward this objective, this paper begins a series that reports on the characteristics and performance of an operational mesogamma-scale weather analysis and forecasting system that has been developed for use by the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. During the more than five years that this four-dimensional weather system has been in use at seven U.S. Army test ranges, valuable experience has been gained about the production and effective use of high-resolution model products for satisfying a variety of needs. This paper serves as a foundation for the rest of the papers in the series by describing the operational requirements for the system, the data assimilation and forecasting system characteristics, and the forecaster training that is required for the finescale products to be used effectively.

Corresponding author address: Yubao Liu, NCAR/RAL, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000. Email: yliu@ucar.edu

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