An Overview of NRL’s Mesoscale Modeling System and Research

James D. Doyle
NRL

Abstract:

An overview of recent developments in NRL's mesoscale modeling and research group will be presented. Topics briefly presented will include an update on the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS®) and COAMPS research and development topics including: a) a 3-way coupled version of COAMPS to represent the atmosphere-ocean circulation-ocean wave interactions using the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF), b) a mesoscale coupled ensemble capability to provide probabilistic mesoscale guidance, c) a high-resolution tropical cyclone model capability (COAMPS-TC) designed to provide track, structure and intensity forecasts and application as part of the Hurricane Forecast Intensity Project (HFIP), d) new advancements in the representation of boundary layer and microphysical processes targeted for high-resolution modeling, e) embedded sub-models for land surface, urban, and aerosol processes, and f) advanced adjoint and EnKF tools for mesoscale predictability and data assimilation. An overview will be provided of the COAMPS applications as part of the recent major field programs T-PARC/TCS-08 and VOCALS and participation in the HFIP multi-model ensemble. A discussion of the future plans for the Navy's mesoscale modeling system will be presented including a summary of the recent development of a new nonhydrostatic dynamical core.