850 mb Temperature
250 mb Wind
Acc Precip

The FIM Model

NOAA/ESRL scientists have developed an initial version of a new global model including use of the adaptive isentropic-sigma hybrid vertical coordinate successful with the RUC model, accurate finite-volume horizontal advection, and use of an icosahedral horizontal grid. ESRL is collaborating with NCEP/EMC on ESMF-compatibility of the FIM model, and was aided by GFDL on its initial design.

3 unique features of the FIM:

• icosahedral horizontal grid, mostly hexagons except for 12 pentagons ("I" in FIM)
• isentropic-sigma hybrid vertical coordinate, adaptive, concentrates around frontal zones, tropopause, similar to RUC model ("F" for Flow-following in FIM)
• finite-volume horizontal transport (Also under "F", for "finite-volume" in FIM)

News Items

• 17 July 2008 Regional products added for Arctic and western N. Atlantic . Also, sensible and latent heat flux products added for all global and regional plot domains.
• 2 July 2008 Regional products now available for Africa and CONUS . Other regions under development.
• 2 July 2008 Output redesign for FIM model for isobaric grids on icosahedral grid
• 4 June 2008 Error in land-surface specification corrected.
  • Drying trend in forecasts removed
  • Improved overall forecast skill
• 8 May 2008 Twice-daily forecasts now out to 168 h (7 days) since late April.
• 17 April 2008 Virtual temperature effect added to calculation of pressure gradient. Prognostic temperature variable is now virtual potential temperature. Average global precipitation and mean zonal wind at jet level increased by about 10% in spring 2008 cases. Change made on 15 April.
• 8 April 2008 Real-data FIM forecasts started in Feb 2008. Graphics here.
  • GFS initial conditions, interpolated from GFS spectral data for analysis
  • 30km horizontal resolution for FIM runs
  • 50 vertical levels
  • Use of GFS physical parameterizations (other options to be added including WRF physics options and WRF-chem as a further option)