Enabling Open Access to High-Resolution Global Models Running in Real-time Research Mode

The Forecast Improvement Group (FIG) of the AMS formulated seven recommendations, which they consider will provide a path for significant and continually improved weather forecasts to end users in the U.S. Recommendation number 4 states: “Support active collaboration between public, private, and academic sectors with models particularly in their final stages of development.” The High Impact Weather Prediction Project, funded by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 commonly known as “Sandy Supplemental funding”, is an innovative, collaborative research project, designed to accelerate development of high-resolution global models. Toward this goal, HIWPP included an Open Data Initiative to implement a strategy as put forth by the AMS FIG. The Open Data Initiative was conceived to test the feasibility and efficacy of involving the broader weather community in evaluation of weather models in late stages of development. Here, we review the technology developed and employed to support the open access to large volumes of high-resolution model data, issues that arose, and what was learned from this effort.