Weather Research and Forecasting model

Weather Research and Forecasting model
Name	Weather Research and Forecasting model
Developer	National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Air Force, Naval Research Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, Federal Aviation Administration, and others
Released	0 2000
Programming language	Fortran, C
Operating system	Linux, Unix, macOS
Genre	Numerical weather prediction
License	GNU General Public License

Weather Research and Forecasting model. The Weather Research and Forecasting model is a sophisticated numerical weather prediction system designed for both atmospheric research and operational forecasting. Developed through a multi-agency partnership, it serves as a successor to models like the MM5 and has become a community standard worldwide. Its flexible architecture allows for applications ranging from large-scale climate studies to high-resolution simulations of tornadoes and hurricanes.

Overview

The Weather Research and Forecasting model is a fully compressible, non-hydrostatic mesoscale model with a terrain-following vertical coordinate. It is widely used for advancing the understanding of atmospheric processes and improving forecasts of high-impact weather events. Core applications include real-time numerical weather prediction, atmospheric research, and idealized simulations for studying phenomena like supercell thunderstorms. Its development and maintenance are overseen by a broad consortium including the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Development and history

The model's development began in the late 1990s as a collaborative effort to create a next-generation mesoscale forecast model that would unify research and operational communities. Key institutions involved from the outset included the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and the United States Air Force. The first public release occurred around 2000, intended to replace older systems like the MM5. Subsequent development has been guided by the WRF Development Team, with major contributions from agencies like the Naval Research Laboratory and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Model structure and components

The system features a modular software architecture organized around a central dynamics solver, known as the Advanced Research WRF core. Key components include several physics parameterization schemes for processes like cumulus convection, microphysics, and planetary boundary layer turbulence. The model also incorporates various land surface model options, such as the Noah model, and supports sophisticated data assimilation techniques like the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation system. Its preprocessing system, WPS, handles inputs from global models like the Global Forecast System and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts datasets.

Applications and usage

The model is employed for a vast array of meteorological applications, including operational forecasting at centers like the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and research into specific phenomena such as tropical cyclone intensity and orographic precipitation. It is instrumental in air quality modeling when coupled with chemistry packages like WRF-Chem, and is used for renewable energy resource assessment for wind power and solar power. Universities and research institutes worldwide, including the University of Oklahoma and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, utilize it for both education and pioneering atmospheric science.

Operational implementation

Operationally, the model is run at various national weather services and military agencies. In the United States, configurations like the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh and the North American Mesoscale model are core operational systems at the National Weather Service. Internationally, it is implemented by meteorological agencies such as India Meteorological Department and the Korean Meteorological Administration. These operational suites often run on high-performance computing systems at facilities like the National Center for Atmospheric Research's Wyoming Supercomputing Center and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Model evaluation and community

Model performance is rigorously evaluated through programs like the Development Testbed Center and intercomparison projects coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization. A strong, open-source user community contributes to its development through workshops, such as the annual WRF Users' Workshop, and via online forums. The model's code is managed through a repository, with governance involving steering committees from major partner agencies including the United States Air Force and the Naval Research Laboratory. This collaborative framework ensures continuous improvement and adaptation to new computing architectures.

Category:Atmospheric dynamics Category:Numerical climate and weather models Category:Free science software