Use of high resolution models for operational forecasting of lee wave and rotor activity

In principle, current leading-edge numerical weather prediction (NWP) models with resolutions ~1km are capable of resolving lee wave activity, whose typical wavelength may be ~10km. Operational models, however, for purposes of numerical accuracy and stability, may be configured in such a way as to damp gravity wave motions on this scale. With the introduction into the Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) of the new ENDGame dynamical core, it is now possible, as will be shown, to simulate highly realistic lee waves without compromises to model stability or performance. Forecasters, however, are generally too time-pressed to browse model fields in order to incorporate lee wave information into forecasts, and summary diagnostics of lee wave and rotor activity derived from the model fields are needed. Possible approaches to obtaining these are discussed.