Task Order #1

Statement of Work

for

 

ÒTraining, Research and Operational Implementation of WRF 3D-VarÓ

 

to the agreement

between

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

And

Institute of Urban Meteorology at the Beijing Meteorological Bureau

 

 

 

1. Introduction

 

The purpose of this Task Order Agreement is to provide a framework for the partiesÕ collaboration on the research development and applications of mesoscale data assimilation systems, under the existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UNCAR) and Beijing Meteorological Bureau (BMB). This Task Order covers a 36-months period and is incorporated into Task Order No. 1, under Agreement No. BMB2005-117 by reference. when the contract becomes effective. The Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology Division of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR/MMM) will conduct the technical work on behalf of UCAR. The Institute of Urban Meteorology (IUM) will conduct the technical work on behalf of BMB.

 

The NCAR/MMM has developed a three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) system based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The WRF 3DVAR system has been implemented successfully for operational use at the United States (U.S.) Air Force Weather Agency and the Korea Meteorological Administration. In addition, the WRF 3DVAR system has been applied to a wide range of data assimilation research problems, including the assimilation of Doppler radar data, the ground-based GPS water vapor data, and satellite measurements. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau desires the use of the WRF 3DVAR system for its operational and research application. Through this Task Order, UCAR will provide support to BMB for the research, development, training and operational applications of the WRF 3DVAR system.


2. Specific Tasks

 

Under this Task Order agreement, BMB staff will take the primary responsibility for the implementation and adaptation of the WRF 3DVAR system for research and operational applications at BMB. NCAR/MMM staff will provide necessary technical consulting support to assist BMB in performing these tasks. Specifically, the tasks to be performed by BMB and NCAR/MMM are described as the following:

 

a. Task 1: System design and initial tests

 

 

Under this task, NCAR/MMM will provide a web address to BMB that will provide them access to the WRF 3DVAR system, test cases, and WRF 3DVAR documentations. NCAR/MMM will provide technical advice on the use of the latest version of the WRF 3DVAR system. BMB staff will prepare a document on the system design. BMB will perform the test of WRF 3DVAR using the NCAR provided test cases as well as a local case over China. 

 

Period: Year 1, month 1 – 3.

Resources required: BMB: 6 man-month, NCAR: 0.5 man-month

 

Deliverables:

  1. 1.     A document on the system design (BMB & NCAR).
    1. 2.     WRF model and 3DVAR code, test cases and documentation (NCAR).
      1. 3.     A BMB local data set (BMB).

        2.  

        b. Task 2: Training of BMB staff WRF 3DVAR at NCAR

         

        BMB will send two staff to NCAR, each lasting for 6 months to collaborate with NCAR/MMM staff on data assimilation research. NCAR/MMM will provide up to two man-months of NCAR staff time for the training of BMB staff. As part of the WRF 3DVAR training, BMB staff will work on a Chinese case that are of interest to BMB. BMB staff will perform assimilation of local data sets from China, under the guidance of NCAR staff.

         

        Period: Year 1, Month 4 – 9

        Resources required: BMB: 12 man-month, NCAR: 1.5 man-month

         

        Deliverables:

        1. 1.     Modified code (BMB & NCAR).
          1. 2.     Revised document on the system design (NCAR & BMB).
            1. 3.     A report on assimilation of BMB local data (BMB & NCAR).

              2.  

              c. Task 3: Implementation of the WRF 3DVAR system on BMBÕs computing environment

               

              BMB staff will install the latest version of the WRF 3DVAR system on the BMB computing platform. The system should be able to assimilate local data sets available to BMB, including the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data and ground-based GPS water vapor data. NCAR/MMM will provide technical assistance for the implementation of the WRF 3DVAR system on BMBÕs computers.

               

              Period: Year 1, Month 10 – 12

              Resources required: BMB: 6 man-month, NCAR: 1 man-month

               

              Deliverables:

              1. 1.     A WRF based data assimilation system capable of assimilating BMB local data (BMB).
                1. 2.     A report on AWS data study (NCAR & BMB).
                  1. 3.     A report on assimilation of ground-based GPS water vapor data (BMB&NCAR).A report on ground-based GPS water vapor data study (BMB&NCAR).

                    2.  

                     

                     


                    d. Task 4: Testing and improving the computational performance of WRF 3DVAR system

                     

                    BMB will perform testing of the WRF 3DVAR system, under the general guidance of NCAR/MMM staff. BMB staff will devote efforts to improving the computational performance of the WRF 3DVAR system to the extent possible, with the technical consultation of NCAR/MMM staff.

                     

                    Period: Year 2, Month 1-2

                     

                    Resources required: BMB: 4 man-months, NCAR: 0.5 man-month

                     

                    Deliverables:

                    1.     A short report on the computational performance. (BMB)

                     

                    e. Task 5: Evaluating and enhancing the meteorological performance of the WRF 3DVAR system

                     

                    BMB staff will perform calculation of back ground error statistics necessary for the operational use of the WRF 3DVAR system. BMB staff will assess the quality of the WRF 3DVAR analysis and the meteorological performance of the WRF 3DVAR system, under the general guidance of NCAR/MMM staff. BMB will also perform tuning of the WRF 3DVAR system, including background error covariances and other components of the WRF 3DVAR system, in order to enhance the meteorological performance of the system. NCAR/MMM staff will provide the technical consultation on these tasks.

                     

                    Period: Year 2, Month 3-6

                     

                    Resources required: BMB 8 man-months, NCAR: 1 man-month

                     

                    Deliverables:

                    1. 1.     A report on the implementation of WRF data assimilation system (NCAR & BMB).

                      2.  

                      f. Task 6: Monitoring of pre-operational runs and case studies

                       

                      BMB staff will monitor the performance of the WRF 3DVAR system in a six-month pre-operational testing. BMB staff will identify problems of WRF 3DVAR system. NCAR/MMM staff will work with BMB staff on resolving issues identified during the pre-operational testing.

                       

                      Period: Year 2, Month 7-12

                       

                      Resources required: BMB: 12 man-month, NCAR: 1.5 man-month

                       

                      Deliverables:

                      1. A report on the pre-operational trials (BMB & NCAR)

                       

                      g. Task 7: Monitoring of operational use of WRF 3DVAR at BMB, and additional case studies

                       

                      BMB staff will monitor the performance of the WRF 3DVAR system in the BMB operational environment, collect the necessary performance statistics, and analyze the results, under the general guidance of NCAR/MMM staff. Based on these results, additional updating and tuning of the WRF 3DVAR system will be performed by BMB staff under the guidance of NCAR/MMM staff. NCAR staff will collaborate with BMB staff on cases studies that are important to BMBÕs operation.

                       

                      Period: Year 3, Month 1 – 12

                       

                      Resources required: 24 man-month, NCAR: 3 man-month

                       

                      Deliverables:

                      1.     A report on the operational performance (BMB & NCAR)

                      2.     A report on case studies (BMB & NCAR)

                      3.     A WRF3DVAR system which could be used to support the BMB meteorological service during Beijing 2008 Olympics (NCAR&BMB).The WRF3DVAR system should meet the B08FDP requirements(NCAR&BMB)