The Navy Operational Global and Regional Atmospheric Prediction Systems at the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center

Abstract

At the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center, two computer models, the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System, NOGAPS, and the Navy Operational Regional Atmospheric Prediction System, NORAPS, generate a twice-daily suite of atmospheric analyses and forecasts. NOGAPS is the driving force behind many of the center's products and has become a complex, highly structured system designed to run automatically. The execution of NOGAPS and NORAPS within the operational schedule is described. The systems consist of 1) automated data processing and quality control, 2) a multivariate optimum interpolation analysis, 3) initialization and forecast, and 4) output. The data-processing step is shared between the two systems.