Abstract
We present the System for High-resolution prediction on Earth-to-Local
Domains (SHiELD), an atmosphere model coupling the nonhydrostatic FV3
Dynamical Core to a physics suite originally taken from the Global
Forecast System. SHiELD is designed to demonstrate new capabilities
within its components, explore new model applications, and to answer
scientific questions through these new functionalities. A variety of
configurations are presented, including short-to-medium-range and
subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction, global-to-regional
convective-scale hurricane and contiguous US precipitation forecasts,
and global cloud-resolving modeling. Advances within SHiELD can be
seamlessly transitioned into other Unified Forecast System (UFS) or
FV3-based models, including operational implementations of the UFS.
Continued development of SHiELD has shown improvement upon existing
models. The flagship 13-km SHiELD demonstrates steadily improved
large-scale prediction skill and precipitation prediction skill. SHiELD
and the coarser-resolution S-SHiELD demonstrate a superior diurnal cycle
compared to existing climate models; the latter also demonstrates 28
days of useful prediction skill for the Madden-Julian Oscillation. The
global-to-regional nested configurations T-SHiELD (tropical Atlantic)
and C-SHiELD (contiguous United States) shows significant improvement in
hurricane structure from a new tracer advection scheme and promise for
medium-range prediction of convective storms, respectively.