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Welcome to the WRF Developmental Testbed Center

The WRF (Weather Research & Forecasting Model) Developmental Testbed Center (DTC) is a facility where the NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction) research and operational communities interact to accelerate testing and evaluation of new models and techniques for research applications and operational implementation, without interfering with current operations.

Why do we need a DTC?

Currently, the transfer of new NWP science and technology from research into operations is inefficient. This is primarily due to all research being conducted at operational centers and/or their associated research organizations, which does not take advantage of the considerable talent elsewhere in the research community. There are few opportunities in the NWP research community to collaborate in an operations-like environment; and, there is nowhere that these communities can join to perform extensive rigorous model testing, using a coming model and operational data stream, without disrupting operations.

DTC's Goals are to:

• link research and operational communities
• speed transition of research results into operations
• accelerate improvement in weather forecasts
• develop and test promising new NWP techniques
• provide an opportunity for NWP community to perform cycled or real-time tests of model and data assimilation systems
  

Basic Structure of the DTC

The WRF DTC will be a distributed facility with a part located in Boulder, CO (Central DTC), and with components at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR DTC) and the Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL). A second part will be located at NRL in Monterey, CA (NRL DTC).

The Long-term Plan Phased Implementation Strategy

Phase 1:

• (FY03-FY05) Implement a minimal Central DTC:
  – Limited Staff at NCAR and FSL
  – Emphasis on a visitor program,
  – Conduct tests similar to those currently underway
• Conduct a series of real-time experiments with forecaster participation (Hi-Res large domain, corresponding ensemble)
• Portal development – Develop and implement the distributed DTC concept

Phase 2:

• FY06-FY07 Fully Functional DTC:
  – Gradual ramp-up to full staff,
  – Entire WRF model maintained for and made available to the community
  – Transparent use of the distributed computing resources
  – Full and competitive visitor program
  – DTC fully responsive to the WRF Research Applications and Operational
  Requirements Board

Phase 3:

• FY08-FY09 Unified Modeling in the DTC:
  – Ocean Modeling, Global modeling
  

Extending the DTC beyond a NOAA/NCAR partnership

• DTC was initially set up to support the transition of new NWP technology to the operational forecast centers - emphasis on NCEP but also AFWA and FNMOC
• The primary focus should always be cycled, real-time or systematic retrospective testing of NWP technology. However:
  – Could include hybrid systems of which NWP is a component – Could include other programs or agencies
• The DTC can offer:
  – Expertise with all components of the WRF system
  – Ability to assemble considerable computer resources for systematic and real-time testing
  – A team that can set up or assist in setting up the testing system and monitor the testing as it progresses
• We will need resources above those already in existence if DTC expands beyond the NOAA/NCAR partnership:
  – Existing resources are committed to NOAA and community projects related to operational NWP

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