Editorial Type:
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Article Type:
Research Article

ACCESS-C: Australian Convective-Scale NWP with Hourly 4D-Var Data Assimilation

Susan Rennie aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Shaun Cooper aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Peter Steinle aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Gary Dietachmayer aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Monika Krysta aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Charmaine Franklin aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Chris Bridge aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Matthew Marshall aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Yi Xiao aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Dean Sgarbossa aAustralian Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Online Publication:
15 Jul 2022
Print Publication:
01 Jul 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/WAF-D-21-0183.1
Page(s):
1287–1303
Restricted access

Abstract

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology recently upgraded its convection-allowing numerical weather prediction system, known as the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS-C). ACCESS-C includes seven domains covering major population centers, nested inside the Bureau’s global NWP system. The upgrade included the introduction of data assimilation, with hourly cycling 4D-Var. With a much newer version of the Unified Model to provide the forecast, a range of storm attribute diagnostics to improve forecasting of severe weather events could be introduced. This paper details the configuration of the new version of ACCESS-C. Some verification compared with its predecessor (a downscaling system of comparable resolution) is presented. Of greater note is an exploration of the differences in the model characteristics between the new and old systems, which will affect how users interpret the outputs.

© 2022 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Susan Rennie, susan.rennie@bom.gov.au

Abstract

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology recently upgraded its convection-allowing numerical weather prediction system, known as the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS-C). ACCESS-C includes seven domains covering major population centers, nested inside the Bureau’s global NWP system. The upgrade included the introduction of data assimilation, with hourly cycling 4D-Var. With a much newer version of the Unified Model to provide the forecast, a range of storm attribute diagnostics to improve forecasting of severe weather events could be introduced. This paper details the configuration of the new version of ACCESS-C. Some verification compared with its predecessor (a downscaling system of comparable resolution) is presented. Of greater note is an exploration of the differences in the model characteristics between the new and old systems, which will affect how users interpret the outputs.

© 2022 American Meteorological Society. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses).

Corresponding author: Susan Rennie, susan.rennie@bom.gov.au
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