Initial Validation of the New ECMWF Cubic Octahedral Nature Run (ECO1280)

The new ECMWF Cubic Octahedral (O1280) grid Nature Run (ECO1280) has been generated with the March-November 2016 operational configuration of the Integrated Forecasting System (IFS), (IFS cycle 43r1). This configuration has T1279 spectral resolution, 9-km horizontal resolution, and 137 vertical levels. The ECO1280 extends for 14-months from a starting date of 30 September 2015. This initialization date for was chosen to coincide with the intensification of Hurricane Joaquin, guaranteeing that Joaquin would be captured in the ECO1280 to support its validation. Validation of ECO1280 for hurricane Joaquin will be presented. Results comparing the NR with both satellite and dropsonde observations of Hurricane Joaquin show that the ECO1280 reasonably captures the structure of the cyclone. Additionally, track and intensity are shown to be reasonable when compared to the ‘best track’ information archived on the NOAA National Hurricane Center’s online repository of Tropical Cyclone Reports.

Use and Access. The ECO1280 may be used for any research purpose. Interested researchers should acquire the ECO1280 by contacting CIRA/CSU to describe planned usage and to obtain data access instructions. Resulting publications or presentations must acknowledge ECMWF and CIRA/CSU. Consult the ECO1280 website (https://www.cira.colostate.edu/imagery-data/ecmwf-nature-run/) for details.