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Writer's pictureDr. Scott Dennstaedt

The GFS model is getting an upgrade

Updated: Jun 12, 2019

NOAA/NWS selected the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) finite volume cubed-sphere (FV3) dynamical core as the NWS Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS).  The current operational GFS, which has a spectral dynamical core, will be replaced by the proposed GFS with FV3 dynamical core and improved physics parameterizations in the second quarter of 2019.


The proposed GFS version maintains a horizontal resolution of 13 km and has 64 levels in the vertical extending up to 0.2 mb.  It uses the same physics package as the current operational GFS except for:


-Replacing Zhao-Carr microphysics with the more advanced GFDL microphysics

-Updating parameterization of ozone photochemistry with additional production and loss terms

-Introducing parameterization of middle atmospheric water vapor photochemistry

-Revising bare soil evaporation scheme


The data assimilation system will be updated to include:


- Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) moisture channels


- Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) all-sky radiances


- Fix for an issue with the Near Sea Surface Temperature (NSST) in the Florida Strait


- Upgrade to the use of Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) radiances


- NOAA-20 CrIS and ATMS data


- Megha-Tropiques SAPHIR data


- Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) data from MetOp-B


Most pilots are weatherwise, but some are otherwise™


Scott Dennstaedt

Weather Systems Engineer

CFI & former NWS meteorologist

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