A major group project has been to run MM5 and WRF for extended periods forced by global climate models in order to determine the regional implications of global warming. This figure shows the predicted change in winter surface temperatures between the 1990s and the end of the 21st century.

High-resolution MM5 and WRF simulations, down to 1.3 km grid spacing, are being used to understand the structure and origin of orographically produced weather features. This image show simulated winds exiting the Columbia Gorge, the only near sea level gap across the Cascade Mountains. Note the strong winds developing over the western exit.

An important activity of the group is to run a real-time WRF and MM5 mesoscale prediction system down to 1.3-km grid spacing. This modeling system serves as a platform for testing model improvements. This image shows a three-hour precipitation forecast from a small portion of the 4-km domain.

Another activity has been to test new observing technologies, such as pressure observations in smartphones and lightning data from the UW WWLLN network.

The group maintains two different real-time mesoscale ensemble systems for studying probabilistic weather prediction and data assimilation, including an EnKF data assimilation system. This image shows precipitation from six members of the UWME ensemble prediction system.