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CRAS Daily Products for the Southern Oceans (lower right)

Here is today's 72-hour forecast, initialized at 12 UTC on 11 Oct 08. These forecast products are produced by the CIMSS Regional Assimilation System (CRAS) model (48km resolution). The daily 00 and 12 UTC forecast results are usually available at approximately 03:45 UTC and 15:45 UTC respectively. DISCLAIMER.

CRASNOTE:

This forecast is initialized using the 06UTC/18UTC Global Forecast System forecasts from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP).

ANTARCTIC REGION FORECAST MAPS

Fcst Sfc/500 hPa Surface Surface PBL Surface 850 hPa 700 hPa 500 hPa 300 hPa Image Image
Initial pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
06 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
12 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
18 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
24 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
36 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
48 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
60 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
72 hr pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
Loop pcp/mslp/Dz spd/dir rainrate PBL RH total PW T/wind VV/wind vort/wind spd/dir 11um 6.7um
Fcst Sfc/500 hPa Surface Surface PBL Surface 850 hPa 700 hPa 500 hPa 300 hPa Image Image

About this Forecast

The purpose of the CRAS is to test the use of satellite observations in a numerical prediction model. The quality of a numerical forecast depends on having accurate observations of the environment to define the forecast model's initial state. Here is a list of the observations that are currently used in the CRAS 12-hour spinnup forecast:
    Total precipitable water (mm) from MODIS
    Cloud-top pressure (hPa) and effective cloud amount (%) from MODIS
    Cloud-track and water vapor winds (m/s) from MODIS (soon)
    Surface temperature (C), dew points (C) and winds (m/s)
    Sea surface temperature (C) and sea ice coverage (%) from NCEP rtg analysis

The CRAS is nested within the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's (NCEP) Global Forecast System (GFS) operational forecast. The combined analysis/forecast cycle takes 300 minutes to execute. Forecast products are available approximately 6 hours after synoptic time (00UTC and 12UTC).

Publications referring to CRAS

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Please refer questions or comments to the CRASmaster at cras@ssec.wisc.edu.