NEMS GFS Aerosol Component
Welcome to the operational web site of the NEMS GFS Aerosol Component (NGAC) in NCEP
NEMS GFS Aerosol Component (NGAC) is a global aerosol forecast system where NCEP has adopted NASA GOCART model in NEMS GFS for forecasting dust, sulfate, sea salt, and carbonaceous aerosols.
Development and planned operational implementation of the NGAC represents a successful three-year "research to operations" project sponsored by NASA Applied Science Program, Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA), and NOAA National Weather Service (NWS).
Brief NGAC Facts
- The first operational global NEMS implementation at NCEP
- The first interactive atmosphere-aerosol forecast system at NCEP
- Model configuration:
- Forecat Model: NCEP's NEMS GFS, Global Forecast System (GFS) based on NOAA Environmental Modeling System (NEMS)
- Aerosol Module: NASA's GOCART, Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport Model
- A common modeling framework using Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)
- T126 L64, 120-hr forecast once per day (00 UTC)
- Phased Implementation:
- Dust-only guidance to be established in Q4 FY12 (operational since Sept 2012)
- Full-package aerosol forecast after real-time global smoke emissions are available and tested (NCEP-NESDIS-GSFC collaborations funded by JCSDA)
Future operational benefits associated with NGAC
Enables future operational global short-range (e.g., 5-day) aerosol prediction
Provides global aerosol information required for various applications (e.g., satellite radiance data assimilation, satellite retrievals, SST analysis, UV-index forecasts)
Provides a first step toward an operational aerosol data assimilation capability at NCEP
Allows NOAA to explore aerosol-chemistry-climate interaction in the operational Climate Forecast System (CFS)--- Note that GFS is a candidate for the AGCM component of the next version of the CFS.
Provides lateral aerosol boundary conditions for regional aerosol forecast system
Documentations
- To download a presentation on NGAC overview, click here
- To download a documentation on NGAC products and how to access them, click here
- To view the log on NGAC revision, click here