FV3 and the Next Generation Global Prediction System

The non-hydrostatic finite volume dynamical core (FV3) at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) is a competitor for NOAA's Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS). This project is part of the NWS Research to Operations (R20) initiative and will replace the current Global Forecast System (GFS). The new system will improve forecasting skill and extend it beyond 8-10 days and it will be used operationally by the NWS for the next several decades. In Phase I of the NGGPS project, six dynamical cores were rigorously tested for suitability. Idealized testing and computational and scalability testing were performed as well as some three day, 3-km resolution forecasts. The high resolution forecast of Hurricane Sandy (2012) from the GFDL cloud-resolving model using the FV3 dynamical core reveals fine detail in the hurricane structure, well supported by observations. The FV3 results from Phase I will be presented with focus on the simulation of Hurricane Sandy.