I. Activities Consistent with NCAR's Research Emphases in FY99
The MMM Division directly contributes to several of the six main themes or research emphases presented in the 1998-2003 Cooperative Agreement between UCAR and NSF. These six research emphases are (1) Fundamental Research, (2) Understanding and Predicting the Earth System, (3) Advanced Scientific Facilities, (4) Human Dimensions and Societal Impacts, (5) Education and Training, and (6) Applications and Technology/Information Transfer. Descriptions of MMM's contributions to (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) are outlined below.
1. Fundamental Research
In FY 99, MMM made advancements in two specific areas: Precipitation Physics and Dynamical and Turbulent Systems.
A. Precipitation Physics
Weather and climate models depend sensitively on the way they represent precipitation processes. NCAR and MMM has a long history in fundamental studies of the physics of precipitation through a combination of laboratory, computer-model, and field studies. Specific activities noted below are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
B. Dynamical and Turbulent Systems
Large-scale weather disturbances, cumulus clouds, and eddies in the boundary layer are all manifestations of turbulent fluctuations existing in a mean flow. Hence, MMM has a fundamental interest in the physics of turbulent motions on a range of scales. In this regard, tools used in this research by the division include: (i) a model of large-scale (essentially two-dimensional) quasigeostrophic turbulence, (ii) a cloud-resolving model of the tropical atmosphere, and (iii) large-eddy simulations of the planetary boundary layer. Specific activities noted below are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
2. Understanding and Predicting the Earth System
In FY 99, MMM made advancements in three specific areas: Predicting the Weather on Short Time and Space Scales, Separating Natural Variability and Anthropogenic Climate Change, and Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality.
A. Predicting the Weather on Short Time and Space Scales
One of MMM's major goals is to improve the ability to forecast precipitation over times ranging from a few hours to a few days. This includes basic research into the life cycles of precipitation systems, and theoretical research into the development of weather forecasting systems. Specific activities noted below are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
B. Separating Natural Variability and Anthropogenic Climate Change
Another major goal of MMM's is to improve the ability to predict the collective effects of processes with small space and time scales on the Earth's climate, which in turn can be used to parameterize these effects in climate models. MMM's approach is to use process-resolving models together with analysis of long-term data sets to check the model's validity and then develop parameterizations. The two major areas of attention concern precipitating tropical convection and boundary-layer processes over land and sea. Specific activities noted below are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
C. Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality
MMM has a small but significant effort concerned with gaseous and aqueous chemistry, chemical-species transport, and dynamics affecting transport and chemistry at cloud scale. Specific activities noted below are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
3. Advanced Scientific Facilities
MMM made advancements in one specific area: Community Models, featuring the MM5 and WRF models.
A. Community Models
The Pennsylvania State University/NCAR Mesoscale Model Version 5 (MM5) is a limited-area, hydrostatic or nonhydrostatic, terrain-following sigma-coordinate model designed to simulate or predict mesoscale and regional-scale atmospheric circulation. User support is provided to the broad community for the MM5 and MM5 adjoint models including workshops and tutorials.
The goal of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is to develop a new community model to advance the understanding and prediction of mesoscale weather and promote closer ties between research and operations. The WRF project began as a collaborative effort among MMM, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL/NOAA), and the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS/University of Oklahoma). Participation has broadened recently to include the USAF, GFDL, NRL, NASA, and EPA.
Specific MM5 and WRF activities are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
4. Education and Training
In addition to the tutorials provided for the MM5 Model, several MMM staff and visitors contribute to educational outreach activities hosted by other UCAR and NCAR programs. Included in these are the ASP Summer Colloquium, SOARS, and LEARN. Individual contributions are described later in this Annual Scientific Report (click on the key words).
5. Applications and Technology/Information Transfer
MMM contributes to the information and technology transfer activities conducted at NCAR through public-domain access of both the MM5 and the WRF models. Both are freely distributed to the research community.
