Development of an Unified Atmospheric Model (NUMA)

Abstract : We are interested in constructing numerical methods for constructing non-hydrostatic mesoscale and global atmospheric models (for NWP applications); this is a unified model. The reason for this is economics - one (production) model is cheaper to support. Currently, in the U.S. there is a movement to construct one NWP model (NWS, Navy, and Air Force). This National Board (NUOPC=National Unified Operational Prediction Capability) aims to develop a new model that is: 1. Highly scalable on current and future computer architectures 2. Global model that is valid at the meso-scale (i.e., non-hydrostatic) 3. Applicable to medium-range NWP 4. Applicable to decadal time-scales The following talk outlines a model development effort to meet these needs.