An FSL-RUC/RR proposal for the Analysis of Record
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Stan Benjamin, Dezso Devenyi, Steve Weygandt, John Brown
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The FSL RUC group proposes an alternative for producing
hourly Analyses of Record over the CONUS region.
We propose using the current RUC (or future Rapid Refresh)
analysis as the background for the AoR, and then downscaling
based on orography, land use, and physical principles.
A final step in
our proposal would to use the downscaled analysis as
a background for a fine-scale analysis using all available
observations.  This last step analysis would be at a 1-2km
scale, adequate to capture details revealed by the observations.
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This method for the AoR would have the following advantages:
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- an extension of existing and planned NCEP operational products
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- much less expensive for computer power than full-model-downscaling
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- can produce hourly AoRs within 1 hour of valid time
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- builds on development and testing on assimilation of full
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METAR/surface observations in RUC, to be added to GSI
for future Rapid Refresh and other NCEP models.
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- builds on collaborative GSI development with NCEP (FSL
emphasis on high-frequency assimilation of surface observations).
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- applicable to Eta/WRF-North American model input as well as
RUC/WRF-Rapid Refresh input.
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