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Atmospheric Modeling

As the performance of computers has increased and costs have decreased, it is now possible for individual companies to run atmospheric prediction models. ENSCO runs a national scale model at a 12 km resolution and produces forecast fields tailored for our customers.

ENSCO’s expertise with modeling systems includes the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS), the ARPS Data Analysis System, Local Analysis and Prediction System, and the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. We have run these models in research mode and operationally at scales as a small as 1 km resolution. ENSCO manages its own state-of-the-science Massively Parallel Processing computer systems, which are designed to run meteorological models in an operational setting, providing forecasting and decision aids to our customers.

Technology Transition

ENSCO has been a leader in transitioning research into operations for more than 15 years. ENSCO has provided the staff for NASA’s Applied Meteorology Unit since its inception in 1991. The unique challenges of forecasting the weather for the Shuttle Launch and Landing facility at Kennedy Space Center has led the team to investigate and implement high-resolution weather prediction models. Incorporating the diverse set of weather sensors at KSC into the initialization of the model, including NEXRAD Level II data, wind profilers and wind tower data has improved the accuracy of the forecasts. These models are used daily by the forecasters at KSC as well as the National Weather Service office in Melbourne, Fla., and the Spaceflight Meteorology Group in Houston, Texas.

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