Effectiveness of Two Forecast Models for Stratiform Precipitation
Abstract
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory has developed a mesoscale weather model called the Battlescale Forecast Model (BFM). After model initialization, the BFM produces forecast variables for a 24-h period. Since the Army required a longer-term prediction, the Mesoscale Model Version 5 (MM5) gridded data are received from the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency to provide forecast information for up to a 48-h period. Due to the importance of precipitation on the tactical decision aids, as well as military operations in general, both models forecast stratiform and convective precipitation, which are made available to the user in a database and graphically. This report describes the basic meteorological theory applied to the precipitation processes and forecasts for both the BFM and MM5. The effectiveness of the BFM and MM5 precipitation output are analyzed as well. Precipitation forecasts are derived from numerical model data, such as the BFM and MM5. These data provide the forecaster and users with a detailed overview of the atmospheric conditions that might produce precipitation along with the general precipitation rates, amounts, and types. These precipitation parameters are later placed into other programs, such as the Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid, can attain this information.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA424348
Entities
People
- Jeffrey E. Passner
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory