The Northwest Regional Modeling Consortium (NWRMC) operates a high-resolution environmental prediction system over the Pacific Northwest and is sponsored by a consortium of local, state, Federal, academic and international agencies. In the early 1990's agencies in the Pacific Northwest recognized the need for detailed weather information or forecasts and that by combining resources and talent they could accomplish what was impossible to do alone.
The activities of the consortium include:
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The creation of one of the highest resolution operational weather prediction systems in the U.S at the University of Washington built initially around the Penn. State/NCAR mesoscale model (MM5) and now running the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model.
- The purchase and maintenance of a 915-mhz radar wind profiler with RASS temperature sounding capability that is located at the NOAA Sand Point facility in Seattle.
- The gathering of real-time observational data from operational networks in the Northwest to create a detailed description of atmospheric conditions over the region.
- Running regional air quality and distributed hydrological forecast models coupled with the WRF.
- The production of smoke, ventilation, and fire control guidance driven by WRF output.
Membership is comprised of State and Local Air Quality Agencies from WA, ID, OR and British Columbia, electrical utilities, National Weather Service, US Forest Service, University of Washington and Washington State University, and US Environmental Protection Agency.
Source: Pacific Northwest Environmental Forecasts and Observations. 2013. Home Page. Accessed on 9 September 2013. Available at http://www.atmos.washington.edu
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