Next-Generation Global and Mesoscale Atmospheric Models

The long-term goal of this research is to construct a unified global and mesoscale nonhydrostatic numerical weather prediction (NWP) models for the U.S. Navy using new numerical methods specifically designed for modern computer architectures; this unified model is called the Nonhydrostatic Unified Model of the Atmosphere or NUMA. To take full advantage of distributedmemory computers, the global domains of these new models are partitioned into local sub-domains, or elements, that can then be solved independently on multiple processors. The numerical methods used on these sub-domains are local, high-order accurate, fully conservative, highly efficient, and geometrically flexible. Using these ideas we are developing global and mesoscale nonhydrostatic atmospheric models that will improve on the operational models currently used by all U.S. agencies including the U.S. Navy.