The NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis - NOAA National ...

forecast model at a lower resolution (say T126), the skill of the forecastsbenefits from the highest possible resolution of the initial state.2. Given the pace of model and data assimilation development, we expect a newglobal reanalysis to be conducted at NCEP, once every 7 years or so. However,there is serious thought being given to immediately conduct a ‘light’ (with areduced horizontal resolution of T126) version of the reanalysis justcompleted. It would be done in a single stream to overcome the discontinuitiesfound in the CFSR for the deep ocean, deep soil and the top of the atmosphere.It is possible that this companion reanalysis will be finished in 1 year, in timefor CPC to use it when they change their climate normals to the last 30-yearperiod from 1981-2010.3. A final activity to be conducted when the Reforecast project is complete is toapply the reanalysis system, as used here, to the historical period 1948-1978.The CFSR is the successor of R2, and when extended back to 1948, will alsobe the successor of R1. It is possible this will be done in one-stream ‘light’mode.AcknowledgementsWe acknowledge the US Climate Program Office (Reanalysis Grant) for funding part ofthis project. We thank the staff of EMC, CPC, NCEP Central Operations (NCO) andNESDIS for their various contributions in completing this large endeavor in record time.We acknowledge the Geophysical Fluid Dynamical Laboratory (GFDL) for the oceanand sea ice model used in the CFSR. We thank George Vandenberghe, Carolyn Pasti,Doris Pan, Don Avart, Cameron Shelton and others for their outstanding computersupport. We acknowledge the efforts of Augustin Vintzileos (EMC) and Adrian Simmons(ECMWF) to give us the AMMA observations in time for use in the CFSR. The CFSRScience Advisory Board (chaired by Jeff Anderson) gave useful guidance at the start ofthe project. A very thorough and constructive internal review was provided by Glenn- 56 -