Slayt 1 - RTC, Regional Training Centre - Turkey

Model ComponentsDynamics:In NWP, dynamic processes refer to atmospheric processes that most often involve the forcing or movement of air, suchas advection, pressure gradient forces, and adiabatic heating and cooling. These processes are described by a set ofhorizontal and vertical momentum, mass conservation, and thermodynamic equations within the forecast model.Assimilation:An assimilation system is a complex procedure in which observed meteorological parameters are converted to forecastvariables and blended with short-range forecasts from an earlier model run to produce the initial conditions used to starta new forecast. The assimilation system tries to find the initial fields of the forecast variables that will optimize theaccuracy of the forecast based on the available data.Numerics:Model numerics refers toModel characteristics such as the mathematical formulation used to solve the model forecast equationsHow data is representedModel resolutionComputational domainCoordinate systemThese all affect the handling of dynamics and how consistently the initial conditions and physical processes arerepresented.Forecast Model:The forecast model contains all of the components needed to compute the current state and three-dimensionalevolution of basic weather variables. The components include the numerics, assimilation system, and treatment ofatmospheric dynamics and physical processes.Computer Resources:The capacity and speed of the computing resources available to run a forecast model govern the amount and complexityof the data and forecast model components used. Thus, computer resources can be a significant limitation to NWP.Quality Control and Analysis:Through a series of checks and tests, data are quality controlled to ensure the viability of the information input into theforecast model. This helps to ensure that inaccurate data are adjusted or removed before going into the analysis. Thejudgments of trained meteorologists are a critical part of the process.Data:Data are collected to describe the initial state of the atmosphere. Data sources include observations from satellites,profilers, surface stations, aircraft, upper-air soundings, and radar.