Based on the experience of previous research into mesoscale modeling in polar regions by the Polar Meteorology Group of the Byrd Polar Research Center at The Ohio State University, the Pennsylvania State University (PSU)-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5) has been modified for use in polar regions (referred to as the Polar MM5).

The Polar MM5 is currently being used for synoptic and climate scale studies in the data sparse high latitudes. It is also being used to re-create the paleoclimate conditions over the Laurentide Ice Sheet, which covered most of North America about 20,000 years ago, prior to its retreat to what is present-day Greenland. The model is also used by forecasters as part of the National Science Foundation sponsored Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS; link provided below) to meet the operational and logistic needs of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Under a collaborative project with the Polar Meteorology Group, AMPS simulations are performed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research twice per day (00Z and 12Z initializations), and cover progressively finer domains ranging from 90-km (covering most of the Southern Hemisphere) to 3-km (covering the region immediately surrounding McMurdo Station, the base of USAP operations).

Subsection of a cloud liquid water forecast image from the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) run on August 2, 2006.

Related Links

Byrd Polar Research Center at The Ohio State University

MM5 Polar Working Group

AMPS Prediction Page