RUC - NOAA/FSL

The Rapid Update Cycle (RUC)
A NOAA operational weather prediction system comprised primarily of
A numerical forecast model and
An analysis system to initialize that model.

Research counterpart to the RUC = MAPS

Developed to serve users needing frequently updated short-range weather forecasts, including those in the US aviation community.

RUC journal articles available in Feb 2004 Monthly Weather Review.
Mesoscale Weather Prediction with the RUC Hybrid Isentropic Terrain-Following Coordinate Model. pages 473-494. [FSL PDF version]
An Hourly Assimilation-Forecast Cycle: The RUC. pages 495-518. [FSL PDF version]
RUC operational analysis changed to 3-d variational (3DVAR) analysis at 1200 UTC Tue 27 May 2003. More information and a Technical Procedures Bulletin

National and regional ( NW , SW , N Central , S Central , Great Lakes , NE , SE) .
FSL versions: Forecasts out to 24 h ( FSL RUC ) or 48 h ( dev RUC ) updated every 3 h, hourly forecasts out to 6 h.
NCEP operational version Forecasts out to 12 h updated every 3 h, hourly forecasts out to 3 h.
RUC20 Technical Procedures Bulletin A 30-page document with detailed information on the RUC20.

The RAP Branch focuses on the development of the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) - running operationally at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) The Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System (MAPS) refers to previous development versions of the RUC.

The key features of RUC/MAPS include:

high-frequency (every 1h) short-range weather model forecasts (out to 12+ h) in support of aviation and other mesoscale weather forecast users
high-frequency (every 1h) 3-d objective analyses over the contiguous United States, assimilating the following types of observations:
- GOES high-density visible and IR cloud drift winds
a hybrid isentropic-sigma vertical coordinate.

Other RUC/MAPS Information, Real-Time and Archived Data

Access to operational RUC20 grids from NCEP
Access to real-time RUC grids from the TG server at NWS
Access to archived (not real time) RUC GRIB data from DOE/ARM Program
Access to archived RUC GRIB data from NCDC
RUC grid files - Information on contents
RUC20 GRIB table
RUC analysis obs and background error specifications

Model topography
20-km topography map -- 20km RUC
Download RUC fixed fields (ASCII) and software

20-km, 40-km and 60-km topography or latitude/longitude
20km land-use, look-up table for roughness length, albedo, emissivity
software to convert from RUC native coordinates/variables to isobaric coordinates/variables

Other places to get a piece of the operational RUC

RUC Meteograms from NCEP/EMC
NCEP web page w/RUC output for convective forecasting.
NCEP/NCO web page w/RUC fields.
Soaring forecasts using experimental RUC data from BLIPMAP - Jack Glendening
Storm Prediction Center composite map using RUC data -- can overlay different fields in a Java script
Comprehensive RUC Graphics from NCAR/RAP/Greg Thompson, including cloud depictions
Aviation grids of winds, icing, and turbulence using RUC from ADDS at Aviation Weather Center
RUC Meteograms/soundings/maps from NOAA Air Resources Lab
RUC products from College of Dupage
Storm Prediction Center experimental fire weather product using RUC data - look at bottom of page
RUC Graphics from Unisys
Univ. Utah RUC analyses and forecasts

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Prepared by Stan Benjamin, images by Kevin Brundage, Stan.Benjamin@noaa.gov, 303-497-6387

Please credit the NOAA Forecast Systems Laboratory, RUC development group, if you wish to use any pictures from this web site.

Last modified Tuesday, 28-Sep-2004 03:51:48 UTC