and the

for the same forecast increments (and both starting at the same time using the same GFS analysis fields for initialization). Note that the plotted GFS fields are those interpolated from the original GFS global fields, so some very small differences between these fields and those presented, for example, on the NCEP-GFS site are posible. Finally, note that these are not validation plots, as the GFS data plotted are forecast data: differences don't necessarily imply a *better* GFS forecast!

Plots can be seen here for 2 domains (North America, and Europe). Plots of the entire model domains with map factor contours can be seen here. The initial fields and 3.5 day forecasts (0 to 84 hour forcasts, every 12 hours) can be seen below by clicking on the appropriate links (below). For now, the plots will generally be updated daily. For interesting weather situations, they'll be updated 2x per day.

Feel free to send any comments (aaron.a.boone@gmail.com).

Key:
• Hgt = Geopotential Height (m)
• WindS = Wind speed
• WindV = Wind vectors
• Tair = Air Temperture
• AbsVort = Absolute Vorticity
• VVel = Vertical velocity defined as -omega (+ for upward motion)
• Qair = Specific Humidity
• Precip = Cummulative total (convective and stratiform) Precipitation for each forecast interval
• Convct Precip = Cummulative convective Precipitation for each forecast interval
• Convct Precip Frac = Ratio of Cummulative convective to total precipitation for each forecast interval
• Froz Precip = Cummulative Frozen total Precipitation (liquid water equivalent)
• Precipitable Water = Total vertically integrated water vapor (inches)
• Thck = Pressure thickness
• High level Clouds = Clouds above approximately 400 mb (standard atmosphere)
• Medium level Clouds = Clouds between approximately 800 and 400 mb (standard atmosphere)
• Low level Clouds = Clouds below approximately 800 mb (standard atmosphere)
• 850mb-0deg = 850mb 0 degree C isotherm
• Lowest Model Level = Currently corresponds to eta=0.997 or about 30 m above the ground (less in high altitude zones)
• Near-Surf = 2m Tair and 10m Wind speed (i.e. at the level of standard measurements)
• Evapc = Cummulative Surface evaporation (mm day-1 over forecast interval)
• TSurf = Surface temperature: combined surface vegetation and upper thin soil layer or SST (Sea Surface Temp.)
• SWdown = downwelling shortwave radiation flux at the surface (W m²)
• LWdown = downwelling longwave radiation flux at the surface (W m²)
• PBLz = Planetary Boundary Layer Depth (thickness: distance from top of PBL to surface) (m)
• TKE = Turbulent Kinetic Energy (m² s^-2)
• CAPE = Convective Available Potential Energy (J kg^-1)
• CIN = Convective Inhibition (J kg^-1)
• CMassFlx = Convective mass flux (+up): mass flux at cloud base
• SnowF = Cummulative snowfall depth (inches) for each forecast interval
• SnowDepth = Snow depth (inches) on the ground
• SWE = Snow Water Equivalent depth (mm) on the ground
• Snow Density = Bulk Snow density (kg m-3) on the ground
• Snow Saturation = snow liquid water saturation (on the ground)
• Snow Temperature = Bulk Snow Temperature (K) on the ground
• Runoff = Cummulative Total runoff (and drainage) for each forecast interval
• Soil Moisture = layer average volumetric water content (m3/m3)
• Soil Temperature = layer average soil temperature (C)
• Frozen Soil = layer average Fraction of total water content which is ice (-), ranges from 0 to 1 (totally frozen)

* NOTE on the 850 mb 0-C Isotherm - the 850 mb air temperature is replaced by the lowest level atmospheric temperature if the corresponding pressure is below 850 mb. This is more relevant in mountainous terrain.

** NOTE on the snow plots: this plot is made simply by assuming a 12-1 ratio between snow fall depth (Snowf) and the liquid water equivalent snowfall depth. It simply represents the potential depth of snowfall (precipitation thickness), and does not consider snowpack processes such as compaction or melting of snowpack (snowpack physics), nor a variable snowfall density. SnowDepth corresponds to the actual depth of the snowpack on the surface, and it changes in time owing to compaction, settling, sublimation, melting, and accumulation.

*** NOTE on the Runoff plot: it is the sum of all water leaving the soil column, and consists in sub-grid surface (fast response) Dunne runoff, deep-soil drainage, and any excess saturation. In this simple representation, it is assumed to either flow laterally to nearest river, or to flow to deeper soil reservoirs/aquifers.