Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
WRF model allows researchers to produce simulations reflecting either real
data (observations, analyses) or idealized atmospheric conditions. WRF model
provides operationally forecasting, flexible and computationally efficient platform,
offering advances in physics, numerics, and data assimilation contributed by many
research community developers. WRF model is currently used at National Centers
for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the AFWA, and other centers.
2.2.1 Development of WRF Model
WRF model has a large worldwide community of users (over 20,000 in over 130
countries), and workshops and tutorials are held each year at NCAR. There are two
dynamical core versions of WRF model, each with its own web page. The
Advanced Research WRF (ARW) is supported to the community by the NCAR
Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division.
2
The WRF-NMM (NMM) is
supported to the community by the Developmental Test bed Center (DTC).
3
The
development of WRF model with ARW dynamic core is shown in Table
2.1
.
The ARW model represents the latest developments following a particular
modeling approach that uses time-splitting techniques to efficiently integrate the
fully compressible nonhydrostatic equations of motion. The ARW is suitable for
use in a broad range of applications across scales ranging from meters to thousands
of kilometers. The main application includes idealized simulations (e.g., LES,
convection, baroclinic waves), parameterization research, data assimilation
research, forecast research, and real-time NWP. Besides, hurricane research,
regional climate research, coupled-model application as well as teaching.
The Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division of NCAR is currently
maintaining and supporting a subset of the overall WRF code. The WRF modeling
system software in the public domain is freely available for community use. The
WRF modeling system consists of four important major programs, which are WRF
Preprocessing System (WPS), WRF-DA, ARW solver, and the post-processing
and visualization tools.
2.2.2 Application of WRF Model
WRF model is mainly applied to the weather and climate research when horizontal
resolution is 1-10 km. It can also be applied to numerical simulation, physical
parameterizations research, data assimilation, numerical ideal test and provide
meteorological field for air quality model.
2
For detailed information:
http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users
.
3
For detailed information:
http://www.dtcenter.org/wrf-nmm/users
.
