Rapid Update Cycle: Difference between revisions
GabeIglesia (talk | contribs) m Bolded the abbreviation, per MOS |
tweak |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{refimprove|date=May 2014}} |
|||
The ''' |
The '''Rapid Update Cycle''' ('''RUC''') was an atmospheric prediction system that consisted primarily of a numerical [[Numerical weather prediction}forecast]] [[mathematical model|model]] and an analysis system to initialize the model.[[Image:Ruc212hrfcst-8-26-08.png|thumb|Graphical 12-hour forecast output from RUC2]] |
||
The RUC was designed to provide accurate short-range (0- to 12-hr, later expanded to 18-hr in 2010) numerical forecast guidance for weather-sensitive users, such as those in the aviation community. Significant [[weather forecasting]] problems that occur in the 0- to 12-hr range include severe weather in all seasons (for example, [[tornado]]es, |
The RUC was designed to provide accurate short-range (0- to 12-hr, later expanded to 18-hr in 2010) numerical forecast guidance for [[weather]]-sensitive users, such as those in the aviation community. Significant [[weather forecasting]] problems that occur in the 0- to 12-hr range include severe weather in all seasons (for example, [[tornado]]es, [[thunderstorm]]s, [[snow]], and [[ice storm]]s) and hazards to aviation (for example, [[clear air turbulence]], icing, and [[downburst]]s). |
||
The RUC ran at the highest frequency of any forecast model at the [[National Centers for Environmental Prediction]] (NCEP), assimilating recent observations to provide very high frequency updates of current conditions and short-range forecasts. This update frequency |
The RUC ran at the highest frequency of any forecast model at the [[National Centers for Environmental Prediction]] (NCEP), assimilating recent observations to provide very high frequency updates of current conditions and short-range forecasts. This update frequency was only once an hour (the standard interval for [[Automated airport weather station|ASOS]] observation reporting), and with computational limitations and the time required to assimilate all of the data, there is approximately a one hour delay in producing the forecasts. Because of this, it was common practice to use a one-hour forecast from the RUC as a current analysis, as the one-hour forecast would come out only a few minutes before the time it is forecasting for. There is also little possibility for error in a one-hour forecast, meaning that the RUC's one-hour forecast would not usually vary greatly from the actual state of the atmosphere at that particular point in time. |
||
The RUC was decommissioned on May 1, 2012; it was replaced by the [[Rapid Refresh]] (RR or RAP) model, based on the [[Weather Research and Forecasting model|WRF]]. Like the RUC, the Rapid Refresh model also runs hourly out to 18 hours on a 13 |
The RUC was decommissioned on May 1, 2012; it was replaced by the [[Rapid Refresh]] (RR or RAP) model, based on the [[Weather Research and Forecasting model|WRF]]. Like the RUC, the Rapid Refresh model also runs hourly out to 18 hours on a {{convert|13|km|mi|abbr=on}} grid spacing, but also covers a wider area. An experimental High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) ran by the [[Earth System Research Laboratory]] (ESRL) offers {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} resolution at 15 minute intervals<ref>[http://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/ Rapid Refresh information page]. NOAA. Retrieved 2010-05-15.</ref> A backup version of the RUC continued to run until that too was stopped on May 15, 2013, thus formally bringing an end to the model. |
||
== References == |
== References == |
||
| Line 17: | Line 18: | ||
[[Category:Weather prediction]] |
[[Category:Weather prediction]] |
||
[[Category:Numerical climate and weather models]] |
[[Category:Numerical climate and weather models]] |
||
{{climate-stub}} |
|||
Revision as of 19:36, 31 May 2014
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2014) |
The Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) was an atmospheric prediction system that consisted primarily of a numerical [[Numerical weather prediction}forecast]] model and an analysis system to initialize the model.
The RUC was designed to provide accurate short-range (0- to 12-hr, later expanded to 18-hr in 2010) numerical forecast guidance for weather-sensitive users, such as those in the aviation community. Significant weather forecasting problems that occur in the 0- to 12-hr range include severe weather in all seasons (for example, tornadoes, thunderstorms, snow, and ice storms) and hazards to aviation (for example, clear air turbulence, icing, and downbursts).
The RUC ran at the highest frequency of any forecast model at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), assimilating recent observations to provide very high frequency updates of current conditions and short-range forecasts. This update frequency was only once an hour (the standard interval for ASOS observation reporting), and with computational limitations and the time required to assimilate all of the data, there is approximately a one hour delay in producing the forecasts. Because of this, it was common practice to use a one-hour forecast from the RUC as a current analysis, as the one-hour forecast would come out only a few minutes before the time it is forecasting for. There is also little possibility for error in a one-hour forecast, meaning that the RUC's one-hour forecast would not usually vary greatly from the actual state of the atmosphere at that particular point in time.
The RUC was decommissioned on May 1, 2012; it was replaced by the Rapid Refresh (RR or RAP) model, based on the WRF. Like the RUC, the Rapid Refresh model also runs hourly out to 18 hours on a 13 km (8.1 mi) grid spacing, but also covers a wider area. An experimental High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) ran by the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) offers 3 km (1.9 mi) resolution at 15 minute intervals[1] A backup version of the RUC continued to run until that too was stopped on May 15, 2013, thus formally bringing an end to the model.
References
- ^ Rapid Refresh information page. NOAA. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
External links
- NCEP RUC Homepage – Includes forecast output images and descriptions of the diagnostic variables available from the model output.