Model Descriptions

Related website: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/community/models.html

MM5 Model Development and User Support
The number of MM5 users continues to increase, representing nearly 800 users from over 300 institutions worldwide. Over 2400 emails from users were addressed in fiscal year 2002. Version 3.5 of the MM5 modeling system was released in December 2001, which included a new Kain-Fritsch convective scheme, a simple snow model, and an updated Reisner microphysics scheme, among other enhancements.

WRF Model Development and User Support
The beta-version (1.2) of the WRF modeling system was released in May 2002. The WRF User website continues to attract interested users, and was updated to provide current information about the modeling system. Over 500 people visited the download page this past year, with over 400 people having subscribed to the WRF users' list to date. During the past year, approximately 360 user questions sent to the "wrfhelp" email alias were answered.

Model Workshops

MM5 Workshop
The Twelfth Annual MM5 Users' Workshop was held on 24-25 June 2002 with 102 participants from 66 institutions worldwide. Fifty-seven presentations were given at the workshop, most of which are available on the MM5 home page at:
http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/mm5/workshop/workshop-papers_ws02.html

The users' workshop is a forum for bringing MM5 model developers and users together to exchange information and discuss new developments and applications of the model. The special theme for this year's workshop was "verification and evaluation of numerical prediction models." A combined session of the MM5 users workshop and the WRF workshop occurred on the last day of the MM5 session, and kicked off the WRF workshop. These joint sessions had high attendance.

WRF Workshop
The Third Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Workshop took place on 25-26 June 2002, immediately following the MM5 Users' Workshop. The workshop attracted 124 participants, 25 of whom were from foreign countries. Over half of the thirty papers presented were from outside users. Presentations from the workshop can be viewed at:
http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/workshop/workshop-2002.html

Educational Activities for Models

MM5 Tutorial
MMM continued to offer two MM5 modeling system tutorials as a service to the community. A total of 74 participants from 65 institutions attended the sessions in January and June. Jimy Dudhia, Dave Gill, Kevin Manning, Al Bourgeois, Cindy Bruyere, and Wei Wang lectured at the tutorials.

WRF tutorial
A one-and-a-half day WRF tutorial was offered on 27-28 June 2002, following the WRF Users' Workshop. A total of 80 people participated in this tutorial. Jimy Dudhia, Bill Skamarock, John Michalakes, Shu-hua Chen (UC Davis), John Smart and Paul Schultz (FSL/NOAA), Dave Gill, Cindy Bruyere, and Wei Wang lectured at this second WRF tutorial.