UFS Weather Model Image of moving Nests

Implementation and testing of stochastic perturbations within a stand-alone regional (SAR) FV3 ensemble using the Common Community Physics Package (CCPP).

Funded Projects, WPO News

The Weather Program Office is working with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University (CSU) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to advance the forecast capabilities of the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) through the testing and implementation of stochastic physics configurations. Researchers are testing various configurations…

UFS Satellite Image

Implementing a state-of-the-science fire behavior model in the UFS

Funded Projects

The Weather Program Office is working with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to incorporate a state-of-the-science fire behavior model (WRF-FIRE) that accounts for fire-atmosphere feedbacks into the Unified Forecast System (UFS). The fire behavior model will largely increase the UFS’s potential to carry out fundamental fire research, provide predictions of the fire evolution,…

UFS Weather Model Image of moving Nests

 Enhancing high resolution forecasting capability of RRFS-CMAQ

Funded Projects

The Weather Program Office is working with Northeastern University and George Mason University to enhance the high resolution forecasting capability of the National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC) based on the inline Rapid-Refresh Forecast System (RRFS)- Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model system by developing high resolution (3-km) anthropogenic emissions based on the US national emissions…

Vertically Integrated Smoke over the US Graphic

Beyond the “Big-Leaf” Model at NOAA

Funded Projects

Use of Novel Satellite Data and In-Canopy Processes to Improve U.S. Air Quality Predictions. PI Name & Contact: Patrick Campbell (pcampbe8@gmu.edu; patrick.c.campbell@noaa.gov). The Weather Program Office is working with George Mason University to advance the next-generation Rapid-Refresh Forecast System (RRFS)-Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model beyond its “Big-Leaf” canopy approximation by using forest canopy processes…

Man maintains scientific instrument on the plains

Unlocking a Treasure Trove of Aircraft Data

Funded Projects, WPO News

Research reveals direct measurements of wind and temperature from aircraft provide the highest valued inputs into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models compared to weather balloon radiosondes, satellites, and ground-based, weather observing stations. However, aircraft data has its shortcomings including data spareness, clustering around major airports, and relatively high latency, which constrains its full potential to…

Forecasters in room looking at weather radar on multiple monitors

The 2023 Spring Experiment

Funded Projects

At the height of the spring severe weather season, the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed hosts multiple real-time, forecasting, and warning experiments to evaluate the operational utility of new science, technology, and products. NOAA NSSL, the NOAA National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center  and the NOAA NWS Norman Forecast Office lead the effort. The Spring Experiments are a unique opportunity…

Ice storm damage in central Oklahoma. Image Credit NOAA NSSL & Casey Tarp.

The 2022-23 Winter Weather Experiment

Funded Projects

In support of the ongoing mission to improve National Weather Service (NWS) products and services for winter weather, the Hydrometeorology Testbed (HMT) within the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) will conduct 12th annual Winter Weather Experiment (WWE) during the 2022-2023 winter season. The WWE provides an immersive collaborative research to operations (R2O) experience bringing together members…

woman with teal umbrella walking down a snowy street.

Advancing Probabilistic Prediction of High-Impact Winter Storms through Ensemble NWP and Post-Processing

Funded Projects

The Weather Program Office is working with the University of Utah to improve snowstorm prediction capabilities for forecasts 48 hours to 7 days in advance using techniques and advanced ensemble numerical modeling. Researchers are developing and testing new snow-to-liquid-ratio (SLR) algorithms to improve snowfall forecasts derived from numerical modeling systems, and evaluating and improving methods…

Bill Lapenta

Researchers and Forecasters Team Up to Improve Forecasts in the New Hurricane and Ocean Testbed

Funded Projects, WPO News

After a year and a half of concerted effort between NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC), Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), and other NOAA offices, including the Weather Program Office, the Hurricane and Ocean Testbed (HOT) has been successfully re-named (from the Joint Hurricane Testbed) and re-launched in the newly designed William M. Lapenta Laboratory, named in…