**Enclosed is the JHT Semi-annual Report for:**

**A PROPOSAL FOR TRANSITION OF RESEARCH TO OPERATIONS:**

## Upgrades to the Operational GFDL Hurricane Prediction System

Morris A. Bender

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

P.O. Box 308, Forrestal Campus

Princeton, NJ, 08542

Major upgrades to the GFDL Hurricane Prediction System, made possible
through JHT funding in FY03, were successfully implemented into the
operational version of the GFDL model before the start of the 2003
hurricane season. The upgraded hurricane model performed very well,
particularly for track, with skill relative to CLIPER exceeding 55% at
all time levels beyond 36h in the Atlantic. In both the Atlantic and
East Pacific basins, the GFDL model had the lowest track error of any
other dynamical model guidance, beating even the official forecast
through 48h in the Atlantic.

As outlined in the FY04 JHT proposal, further upgrades to the
operational GFDL Hurricane Prediction System have continued to be made
and tested, both in the model physics and vortex initialization. One of
the serious problems with the new model that was observed during the
past hurricane season, was that it often tended to under predict the
intensity of weak systems, particularly depressions. In many cases the
model incorrectly dissipated these storms when in reality the systems
developed. Considerable effort was made during the first half of the JHT
funded period, to try to remedy this problem by making several changes
to the model physics. Incorporating some of the proposed JHT funded
projects played a major role in helping to remedy this problem in the
improved version of the model.

Also, although not part of the specific JHT WORK PLAN a major effort was
made to improve the current axi-symetric model in the vortex
initialization. The reason for this was that in interaction with TPC
specialists and doing post-season analysis, it was found that the model
also suffered from a serious spin-down and spin-up during the first 12
hours of the forecast. One of the likely reasons was inconsistent
physics between the current axi-symmetric vortex spin up used in the
initialization, and the three-dimensional prediction model. Beginning in
September of 2003 an extensive effort was made to convert the current
operational three dimensional hurricane model to a new axi-symmetric
version. This would enable identical moist and boundary layer physics to
be used in the two models. Testing of this new axi-symmetric model was
begun in the early winter of 2003 and indicated that in some cases the
spin-up/spin-down problem was dramatically reduced. Also, the initial
intensity was often better matched to the observed initial condition. It
is anticipated that this new model will become operational in 2004
assuming the extensive testing continues to be positive.

# OUTLINE OF SPECIFIC PHYSICS IMPROVEMENTS

The parameters that define the extent of penetration of the downdrafts
through the boundary layer in the SAS scheme was extensively evaluated
for a variety of values. It was found that increasing this parameter to
.5 gave a slightly more realistic moisture field in the tropical
boundary layer, improved the pressure-wind relationship and helped in
the intensification of weak systems.

Although the actual momentum mixing in the SAS scheme was not modified,
a change has been tested, in which the effect of the momentum mixing was
reduced in the eyewall region. It was found that this helped in a better
intensification of the weak systems in most cases and greatly decreased
the number of cases where the model incorrectly forecasted storm
dissipation.

The effect of the evaporation of rain in large-scale condensation was
put into the GFDL model in early summer of 2003. Parallel testing and
reruns from the previous hurricane season indicated a positive
improvement in intensity and track, particularly in the 4-5 day period.
As a result, this change was implemented into the operational version of
the GFDL model in late July, 2003. It performed well for the remainder
of the hurricane season.

Although the testing of the Lin microphysics did not significantly
progress, the above mentioned axi-symmetric model was coded with the
capability to run with full Lin micro-physics. Once further testing of
the microphysics is resumed, this important upgrade will enable the
initial vortex to be spun-up with consistent micro-physics when used
with the version of the forecast model with the Lin microphysics.

In conjunction with NCEP scientists, a modification was made in the
large-scale condensation threshold used in the GFDL model. Testing has
indicated that this change is also improving the development of weak
systems.

All of the above-mentioned changes in the physics and vortex
initialization have been successfully incorporated into a new upgraded
version of the GFDL hurricane system. Testing has already extensively
been made on a test bed of 71 cases from the 2003 Atlantic hurricane
season. These cases include Hurricanes Isabal, Kate, Fabian and Tropical
Storm Nicolis. Preliminary test indicate that the spinup/spindown
problem has been significantly reduced in this new model, as has the
tendency to dissipate weak systems. For example, in the early forecasts
of Fabian, the operational GFDL model did not develop the storm and most
cases dissipated the storm in the first 48h. At the same time the actual
storm rapidly developed. In the new system Fabian consistently
developed, although too slowly. However, by day 5 the new model
eventually developed a formidable hurricane of Category 2 status.

Preliminary testing of this new model also indicated a small reduction
in track error at 4 and 5 days of about 5% . There was also a reduction
in the intensity error of about 10% in the first 2 days. Further testing
of this upgraded system will continue with Hurricanes Isabel and Lili
from the 2002 hurricane season. Depending on the final evaluation of
these tests results, the decision will be made to implement these
changes operationally in 2004.