Summary
| Also known as
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| Model type
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Modular
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| Model part of larger framework
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| Note on status model
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| Date note status model
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Technical specs
| Supported platforms
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Linux, Mac OS
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| Other platform
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Darwin
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| Programming language
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Fortran90, C
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| Other program language
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Fortran95, Perl
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| Code optimized
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Parallel
Computing"Parallel </br>Computing" is not in the list (Single Processor, Multiple Processors) of allowed values for the "Code optimized" property.
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| Multiple processors implemented
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| Nr of distributed processors
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| Nr of shared processors
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| Start year development
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1998
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| Does model development still take place?
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Yes
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| If above answer is no, provide end year model development
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| Code development status
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| When did you indicate the 'code development status'?
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| Model availability
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As code
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Source code availability
(Or provide future intension)
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Through web repository
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| Source web address
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http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users/download/get_source.html
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| Source csdms web address
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| Program license type
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Other
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| Program license type other
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WRF was developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) which is operated by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). NCAR and UCAR make no proprietary claims, either statutory or otherwise, to this version and release of WRF and consider WRF to be in the public domain for use by any person or entity for any purpose without any fee or charge. UCAR requests that any WRF user include this notice on any partial or full copies of WRF. WRF is provided on an "AS IS" basis and any warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of non-infringement, originality, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are disclaimed. In no event shall UCAR be liable for any damages, whatsoever, whether direct, indirect, consequential or special, that arise out of or in connection with the access, use or performance of WRF, including infringement actions. WRF® is a registered trademark of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).
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| Memory requirements
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--
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| Typical run time
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--
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In/Output
| Describe input parameters
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--
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| Input format
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| Other input format
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| Describe output parameters
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--
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| Output format
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| Other output format
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| Pre-processing software needed?
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Yes
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| Describe pre-processing software
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The WRF Preprocessing System (WPS) is a set of three programs whose collective role is to prepare input to the real program for real-data simulations. Each of the programs performs one stage of the preparation: geogrid defines model domains and interpolates static geographical data to the grids; ungrib extracts meteorological fields from GRIB-formatted files; and metgrid horizontally interpolates the meteorological fields extracted by ungrib to the model grids defined by geogrid. (See also: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users/docs/user_guide_V3/users_guide_chap3.htm)
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| Post-processing software needed?
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Yes
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| Describe post-processing software
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WRF post-processing utilities: NCL, Vis5D, GrADS, RIP4, ARWpost, WPP, VAPOR (See: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users/docs/user_guide_V3/users_guide_chap2.htm)
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| Visualization software needed?
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No
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| If above answer is yes
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| Other visualization software
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Is within the model
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Process
| Describe processes represented by the model
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To simulate real weather and to do simulations with coarse resolutions, a minimum set of physics components is required, namely radiation, boundary layer and land-surface parameterization, convective parameterization, subgrid eddy diffusion, and microphysics. Since the model is developed for both research and operational groups, sophisticated physics schemes and simple physics schemes are needed in the model. The objectives of the WRF physics development are to implement a basic set of physics into the WRF model and to design a user friendly physics interface. Since the WRF model is targeted at resolutions of 1-10 km, some of physics schemes might not work properly in this high resolution (e.g. cumulus parameterization). However, at this early stage of model development, only existing physics schemes are implemented, and most of them are taken from current mesoscale and cloud models. In the future, new physics schemes designed for resolutions of 1-10 km should be developed and implemented. See http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/users/docs/wrf-phy.html#physics_scheme for more information
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| Describe key physical parameters and equations
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The WRF-ARW core is based on an Eulerian solver for the fully compressible nonhydrostatic equations, cast in flux (conservative) form, using a mass (hydrostatic pressure) vertical coordinate. Prognostic variables for this solver are column mass of dry air (mu), velocities u, v and w (vertical velocity), potential temperature, and geopotential. Non-conserved variables (e.g. temperature, pressure, density) are diagnosed from the conserved prognostic variables. The solver uses a third-order Runge-Kutta time-integration scheme coupled with a split-explicit 2nd-order time integration scheme for the acoustic and gravity-wave modes. 5th-order upwind-biased advection operators are used in the fully conservative flux divergence integration; 2nd-6th order schemes are run-time selectable.
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| Describe length scale and resolution constraints
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--
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| Describe time scale and resolution constraints
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--
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| Describe any numerical limitations and issues
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--
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Testing
| Describe available calibration data sets
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--
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| Upload calibration data sets if available:
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| Describe available test data sets
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--
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| Upload test data sets if available:
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| Describe ideal data for testing
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--
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Other
| Do you have current or future plans for collaborating with other researchers?
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The effort to develop WRF has been a collaborative partnership, principally among the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL), the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), the Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Oklahoma, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). WRF allows researchers the ability to conduct simulations reflecting either real data or idealized configurations. WRF provides operational forecasting a model that is flexible and efficient computationally, while offering the advances in physics, numerics, and data assimilation contributed by the research community.
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| Comments
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WRF has a rapidly growing community of users, and workshops and tutorials are held each year at NCAR. WRF is currently in operational use at NCEP, AFWA and other centers.
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Introduction
History
Papers
Issues
Help
Input Files
Output Files
Download
Source |
