Acquisition, description and evaluation of atmospheric model products for the coastal mixing and optics experiments

Abstract

Numerical weather forecasting model products were acquired for use in the Coastal Mixing and Optics (CMO) Experiment to augment in situ observations of meteorological parameters (e.g., wind speed and direction, air temperature and relative humidity) at a moored array of buoys in the Middle Atlantic Bight. In this report, the Eta and Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) regional models are described and the two methods of acquisition via the Internet, the Internet Data Distribution (IDD) system and file transfer (FTP) from the NOAA Information Center's data server, are discussed. Processing and archival of the model data are also addressed. Data from the CMO central mooring and six National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoys in the Middle Atlantic bight were used to evaluate the accuracy of the model products. Comparisons between model and in situ wind speed, wind direction, barometrc pressure, air temperature and sea surface temperature were possible for all seven of the buoys. Since no moisture measurement was made from the NDBC buoys, comparisons of relative and specific humidity were only possible at the CMO buoy. Sensible and latent heat fluxes and global (net) radiation from the models were compared to estimates of heat fluxes and net radiation from the CMO central buoy.