Operational history

17/07/06 12Z Version 3.7 of the model is once again being used for the operational run. The change also includes re-incorporation of the configuration changes originally made during January of 2006.

06/04/06 00Z Due to some output results suggesting changes made in the configuration of the model may not have produced the desired improvement, model configuration was returned to the previous pre-January configuration.

30/01/06 12Z The surface scheme was changed from the Five-Layer Soil model to the more advanced Noah Land-Surface Model.

24/01/06 12Z Changes were made in the parameterizations used in MM5, based on recommendations given by NCAR. Cumulus parameterization (ICUPA) was changed from Anthes-Kuo and Grell in domains 1 and 2 respectively, to Kain-Fritsch in both domains. The radiation scheme (FRAD) was changed from the “cloud-radiation” scheme to the new “RRTM longwave” scheme.

01/01/06 00Z Latest model version, V3.7, was implemented in operational runs. Changes also include a complete upgrade of the MM5toGrADS program, consequently correcting the erroneous processing of vertical wind results.

28/07/05 00Z Terrain files changed to include negative topography.

30/08/04 00Z Terrain file changed both in NCEP and UKMO based runs. Terrain file for 60 and 20 km domains were constructed with datasets with resolution of 10 and 5 minutes respectively.

08/08/04 12Z Output in a new pressure level, 925 mb, is being created and sent to the IMS, for both UKMO and NCEP based runs.

03/06/04 00Z Additional correction to the PV calculation.

01/06/04 12Z Potential vorticity calculation error has been detected and corrected. The values are now 3.73 times higher than before.

28/03/04 12Z Rain values below 1e-4 cm, changed to be zero in output grads files.

10/03/04 12Z Two of the four simulation runs have been discontinued. Now only NCEP based operational run (without data assimilation) and UKMO based operational run (with –12 hour forecast as first guess and data assimilation) will be run.

04/03/04 12Z Operational NCEP based run was changed to use the recommended one-way configuration with NESTDOWN, instead of the “two-way, no feedback” or “two-way, 1-point feedback with smoother-desmoother” options previously used.

05/01/04 12Z Two additional levels of the MM5 output are now sent to the IMS: 150 mb and 100 mb. In total 12 levels are sent.

05/08/03 12Z Time step changed in all models from 180 seconds to 150 seconds (coarse grid) and from 60 seconds to 50 seconds (fine grid), because of further instability of all runs.

20/07/03 00Z Operational NCEP based run was upgraded from version 3-4 to 3-5. IFEED flag was changed from 0 to 3. Other than that, the configuration of the run has stayed the same, but in extreme cases 3-5 has proved to be more stable.

20/07/03 12Z Upgraded NCEP based operational run (V3-5 without assimilation) is now being sent to IMS, instead of the NCEP based V3-4 without assimilation. NCEP based V3-4 runs, without assimilation, will no longer be available.

13/07/03 00Z Web presentation corrected to present the new IPV and Montgomery potential (MSF) maps.

08/07/03 12Z Isentropic levels used to produce IPV and MSF maps changed, to suit seasonal warm up. The maps are now produced at levels 320K and 330K (instead of 310K and 300K).

06/07/03 12Z Cumulus parameterization changed to Anthes-Kuo scheme in runs not using data assimilation (V3-4 UKMO and NCEP) due to failures of these runs when using Betts-Miller scheme.

28/05/03 12Z Assimilation data ingest program (in V3-5 NCEP and UKMO) changed to receive new data format for radiosondes (since 05/05/03 12Z no radiosonde data was used in the models because of the data format change).

19/11/02 12Z NCEP based forecasts will be using for initial and boundary conditions data with horizontal resolution of 1deg. and a vertical resolution of 23 levels instead of 1.25 deg. and 13 levels data used up to now.

11/11/02 00Z UKMO-based forecast (-12hrs and assimilation) is now presented on the web at http://earth.nasa.proj.ac.il/mm5ukmo/current/. The site can be accessed with username and password only.

01/09/02 12Z Rain values below 1e-5 cm, changed to be zero in output grads files, to facilitate the presentation of the model in the IMS.

28/08/02 12Z Maximum error for buddy test for sea level pressure in LITTLE_R (V3-5 UKMO-based and NCEP-based) changed from 800Pa to 400Pa.

08/08/02 12Z Surface observations and radiosonde data files, are now received an hour earlier - at 5:10 and 17:10 local summer time (4:10 and 16:10 winter time), to enable the UKMO –12hrs run to start earlier. As a consequence the files contain a little less data than before for 00Z and 12Z. UKMO-based –12hrs run now finishes at about 6:30 local summertime.

04/08/02 12Z New V3-5 UKMO-based run has been created using –12hrs data and data assimilation with LITTLE_R and NESTDOWN. This will now be the version sent to the IMS instead of the previous V3-4 UKMO run.

04/08/02 12Z V3-4 UKMO run returned to its previous no-data-assimilation configuration.

04/08/02 12Z Cumulus parameterization changed to Anthes-Kuo scheme in runs using data assimilation (V3-5 UKMO and NCEP) due to failures of these runs when using Betts-Miller scheme.

31/07/02 12Z Correction of latitude, longitude and terrain elevation for Israeli stations based on the information provided by IMS.

30/07/02 12Z Change in the use of Israeli stations data, based on Y. Mishaeli’s recommendation (IMS). Non-automatic stations will be used for SLP data only. Automatic stations, considered to be more accurate, will be used for RH, temperature and wind information.

14/07/02 RH data at 2 m from NCEP (previously extrapolated from 1000mb) has been added to the initial and boundary data used for operational NCEP-based runs.

14/07/02 Scripts changed to take NCEP SST from new location at ftp://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/

09/07/02 New perl script incorporated in UKMO-based run, to retrieve UKMO files directly from IMS instead of via NASA node.

09/07/02 UKMO-based run (V3-4) has been changed and is now based on -12hrs UKMO first guess data + assimilation of observations. This allows the run to start earlier, and it now finishes at about 7:30 local summertime.

24/06/02 NCEP SST file (gdas1.ThhZ.sstgrb) will no longer be available at ftp://140.90.88.142/ncep/FNL/fnl.yymmdd/. It can now be retrieved from: ftp://tgftp.nws.noaa.gov/SL.us008001/ST.opnl/MT.fnl_CY.hh/RD.yyyymmdd/PT.grid_DF.gr1/. The file name has changed as well, and is now: fh.00hh_tl.press_gr.sstgrb.

14/05/02 Web presentation corrected to present the new IPV and Montgomery potential (MSF) maps.

24/04/02 New NCEP-based run has been created using V3-5 and data assimilation with LITTLE_R and NESTDOWN.

15/04/02 Isentropic levels used to produce IPV and MSF maps changed, to suit seasonal warm up. The maps are now produced at levels 320K and 330K (instead of 310K and 300K).

17/03/02 Parameters in INTERPF namelist changed back to previous configuration due to problems in operational runs. TLP=50, TSO=275, TISO=0.

06/03/02 Change in IPV and Montgomery stream function (MSF) maps produced. 300K IPV and MSF maps incorporated along with the 310K IPV and MSF maps that are already produced. 325K IPV map canceled.

03/03/02 12Z Dew point information for all stations (Israeli & International) added to the surface observations data file, sent to TAU. Previously RH information was sent, but only for Israeli stations.

28/02/02 12Z Change of cumulus parameterization for the 60km grids to Betts-Miller scheme.

28/02/02 12Z Change in the tuning parameters in the INTERPF part of models. TLP=45, TS0=285, TISO=220.

28/02/02 12Z Top changed in UKMO operational run to 50mb.

11/02/02 Output grads file now contains vertical velocity, pressure at surface, integrated cloud water, perceptible water and integrated rainwater.

11/02/02 UKMO run changed to use NCEP SST data instead of UKMO SST.

10/02/02 12Z Interpolation of additional p-levels in REGRID (regridder) canceled. Only original NCEP or UKMO p-levels used.

03/02/02 MM5V2 runs canceled. Grads files for archiving (at NASA node) will be taken from the MM5V3-4 run (NCEP initialized).

30/01/02 Surface observations and radiosonde data is regularly received, twice a day, through the IMS, at 5:10 and 17:10 local winter-time (6:10 and 18:10 summer time).

16/01/02 Montgomery potential, IPV and pressure fields at 310K and IPV field at 325K are produced and sent to IMS.

15/01/02 PV calculation corrected and is now available in operational output.

09/01/02 12Z Vertical resolution changed from 27 layers to 36 layers. Top raised from 100mb to 70mb.

08/01/02 12Z Eilon time series added – LAT 33.05 LON 35.2.

31/12/01 12Z Two model versions are sent to IMS - UKMO and NCEP initiated.

28/12/01 INTERPB Beta version changed to 3.1 version.

26/12/01 Temperature at 2 meters was added to the model output sent to IMS.

09/12/01 Time series gifs available at IMS.

14/11/01 12Z Scripts changed to retrieve NCEP data from new location.

06/11/01 AVN and SST NCEP files, used as initial and boundary data in the model runs, are no longer available at server ftp://140.90.6.103, which has been closed. All files have been moved to a new location: ftp://140.90.88.142. The new location was unknown to us until 13/11/01.

30/10/01 12Z NCEP AVN data provides now an additional p-level: 600mb (This level will not be used by the TAU-MM5 models until the elimination of added levels in regridder – 10/2/02).

28/10/01 Forecast of cloudiness added to the IMS output files.

03/06/01 Time series added to the web presentation.