Data Analysis and Modeling to Support NOWCAST and Forecast Activities at the Fallon Naval Air Station

The main objectives of the study are: 1) To develop and test a mesoscale forecasting system with subkilometer horizontal resolution to support the NOWCAST system at the Fallon Naval Air Station (NAS); 2) To improve the accuracy of the forecasts and nowcasts by assimilating asynchronous data into the forecasting system; 3) To provide short-term predictions of cloud structure that are essential to Navy operations in the vicinity of stratus and fog decks located in irregular terrain; and 4) To develop methods of mesoscale ensemble forecasting to improve the applicability of the forecasts and nowcasts.