There are rapidly growing volumes of operational meteorological data resulting from NWS modernization initiatives. Moreover, data fusion and assimilation systems used in the initialization of NCEP prognostic models are continuously producing nationwide analysis on an hourly basis at 40 km (or less) and 40 layer (or more) resolutions. These very large files are becoming more widely distributed and used outside of the national environmental prediction centers. Created for use as "real time " products, both the raw data sets and especially the gridded analyses have considerable value for various non-traditional users, especially in the air quality community. Gridded data are required as input for hindcasting weather episodes using regional prognostic models. In addition, there is a move to run point source dispersion models (for permitting of new pollution sources) using interpolated NCEP gridded data rather than observations from more distant surface and upper air stations
EDIS will archive virtually all North American operational data, including GOES, and NCEP gridded analyses (RUC, eta). The archive will be continuously updated (with automated catalog generation) using satellite and Internet data access. It will be backward extended using previously archived data (including reanalyzed gridded analyses). The various data sets can also be read and displayed using an interactive 3-D software system (PC/NT based) called the Environmental WorkBench. Users will be able to request gridded data sets for specific time periods, spatial domains, grid point structure and projections formatted for ease of import into model initialization schemes or photochemical grid models. The original gridded analysis can be used as is or can be combined with supplemental data, such as from regional air quality network. The re analysis system uses ADAS (the ARPS Data Analysis System) and a new objective analysis scheme, the natural neighbor scheme using the Voronoi tessellation. The initial focus of EDIS will be on serving the needs of the air pollution modeling community, but can easily be expanded to serving other disciplines, including forensic meteorology.