FNMOC Operational Aerosol Modeling and Derived Products

Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) began operational global and regional predictions of atmospheric aerosols in 2006. Primary products focus on derived electro-optical atmospheric properties, such as visibility or extinction in wavelength bands. Global aerosol forecasts are produced from the Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS), loosely coupled to the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS). Six-hourly forecasts of sulfur dioxide, sulfate, dust, and biomass burning smoke mass concentration are produced on a one degree grid at 30 vertical levels. The Forecast of Aerosol Radiative Optical Properties (FAROP) post processor uses these mass concentrations and efficient approximations to Mie scattering theory to calculate bulk electro-optical properties of the atmosphere in sensor-specific frequency bands. This paper will focus on recent and planned upgrades to the modeling system, to include dust and smoke sources, sea salt particulate, increased resolution, and assimilation of satellite-derived aerosol optical depth. Examples of primary output products will include dust storm and biomass burning examples. Post-processing applications that use the primary products for sensor performance and calibration will also be shown.