NOAA/GSD/FAB -- Forecast Applications Branch

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The Forecast Application Branch performs high resolution analyses and forecasts of the weather using both locally and centrally available meteorological observations. The FAB Branch is a component of NOAA's Global System's Division.

The Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) integrates data from virtually every meteorological observation system into a very high-resolution gridded framework centered on a forecast office's domain of responsibility. Thus, 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 incorporated every hour into a three-dimensional grid covering a 1040km by 1240km area. LAPS has analysis and prediction components. 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 FSL for a domain centered on the Denver, CO Weather Forecast Office. Local implementations include our branch machine (speedy) and the AWIPS workstation. Analysis and forecast output is often shown at the daily weather briefings. LAPS is an integral part of the Water In All Phases (WIAP) project and is being used in support of the recent IHOP experiment.

LAPS has been ported to many locations, including universities such as Univ. of Oklahoma ("OLAPS"), and Univ. of North Dakota. LAPS is running on-site at each National Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO) as an integral part of AWIPS. 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 also being implemented at various U.S. government agencies such as Federal Highways Administration (MDSS), Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) at the U.S. Space Centers, National Ocean Service, U.S. Forest Service, and for international government weather bureaus such as China, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, and Korea.

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