Abstract
A limited-area seven-layer physical-numerical model for the lower tropospheric region (surface - 1600m) is described. The grid interval, approximately 190km, is half that of the standard numerical weather-prediction grid used in the hemispheric free atmospheric operational model at the Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC). This model is an integral part of the complete AFGWC meso-scale (sub-synoptic) numerical analysis and prediction system and is used to provide greater horizontal and vertical resolution in both numerical analyses and forecasts.
Important features of this boundary-layer model include: a completely automated objective analysis of input data; the transport of heat and moisture by three-dimensional wind flow; latent heat exchange in water substance phase changes; and eddy fluxes of heat and water vapor.
Input data are conventional synoptic surface and upper air reports. Other operational AFGWC prediction models provide input in the form of horizontal wind components at the upper boundary and an estimate of cloudiness above the boundary layer. Forecasts for the lower boundary and surface layer are empirically derived. Despite some approximations which broadly simplify the real planetary boundary-layer processes, operational use for highly weather-sensitive Air Weather Service support indicates that the model is capable of producing accurate detailed forecasts for periods of up to 24h.
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A modified version of this paper was presented at the IUGG-IAMAP-AMS conference on Planetary Boundary Layers at Boulder, Colo., 18–21 March, 1970, and at the 5th annual Congress of the Canadian Meteorological Society, at Macdonald College, 12–14 May, 1971.
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Hadeen, K.D., Friend, A.L. The Air Force Global Weather Central operational boundary-layer model. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 3, 98–112 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00769110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00769110