NOAA/GSD/FAB -- LAPS

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The Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) has been developed by FAB for the purpose of data assimilation, nowcasting, and model initialization. It has a wide variety of (~150) group and individual users. This includes federal and state agencies (e.g. NWS, USAF), private sector, academia (e.g. Univ of HI), and international (e.g. Taiwan CWB). LAPS blends a wide variety of global, national, and local datasets (e.g. METARs and mesonets) into analyzed grids. LAPS analyses are used to initialize mesoscale forecast models (e.g. WRF, MM5, RAMS). It utilizes large-scale numerical weather prediction models as backgrounds for both analyses and prediction, and has adjustable horizontal, vertical, and temporal resolution. LAPS is highly portable and runs on inexpensive hardware - desktop to laptop.

The data from local mesonetworks of surface observing systems, Doppler radars, satellites, wind and temperature (RASS) profilers (404 and boundary-layer 915 MHz), radiometric profilers, as well as aircraft are typically incorporated every hour into a three-dimensional grid covering a 1040km by 1240km area. LAPS has analysis and prediction components. The analysis component has three options, "traditional" LAPS, Space-Time Mesoscale Analysis System (STMAS), and Gridded Statistical Interpolation (GSI). The prediction component is being configured using the RAMS, MM5, WRF, and ETA models. Any or all of these models, usually being initialized with LAPS analyses, are run to provide short-term forecasts. We produce ensemble forecasts using multiple models and initialization methods, with verification. We have several online LAPS presentations.

The following LAPS products are online:

Analyses for Colorado and other domains
Forecasts for Colorado and other domains
On-the-Fly Analyses/Forecasts
Verification: Ensemble, PADS , NPVU

Figure: Current 24-hour cloud forecast loop from LAPS using MM5 as the forecast model.
Hydrometeor species are color coded. Graphics produced using Vis5D. (Click on the image for a more detailed view)

LAPS is run in real-time at GSD for a domain centered on the Denver, CO Weather Forecast Office. Analysis and forecast output is often shown at the daily weather briefings. LAPS is an integral part of the Hydrometeorological Testbed, and was used in support of the recent IHOP experiment. We are modeling and studying a recent tornado in Windsor, CO .

LAPS has been ported to many locations, including academic institutions such as Univ. of Oklahoma ("OLAPS"), Univ. of North Dakota, and Univ. of Hawaii's Mauna Kea Weather Center. LAPS is running on-site at each National Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO) as an integral part of AWIPS (the main computer system that weather forecasters use). We are also running the system externally to AWIPS at WFOs in Seattle, Atlanta (Olympics), Lubbock, Fairbanks, Sterling, Monterey, Reno, and Davenport. Our software is being ported and/or being run at ESRL to support various US government agencies such as Atlantic Oceanographic and Meterological Laboratory, Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) at the U.S. Space Centers, National Ocean Service, U.S. Forest Service, as well as state and local government agencies like the California Dept. of Water Resources. We also work with international government weather bureaus in countries such as China, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, and Korea.

By Year: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
By Topic
LAPS & STMAS Journal Articles (inside & outside of FAB)
Other Publications