The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) developed at Colorado State University
utilizes the full set of nonhydrostatic, Reynold's averaged primitive equations
(Tripoli and Cotton, 1986). The model solution is advanced in time using
a hybrid timestep scheme in which the momentum and scalar fields are integrated
using a second-order accurate leapfrog and forward scheme respectively. RAMS uses
the staggered C grid (Mesinger and Arakawa, 1976) adn a terrain-following
sigma-z coordinate scheme in the vertical (Gal-Chen and Somerville, 1975;
Clark, 1977; Tripoli and Cotton, 1982). Numerous options for the
boundary conditions, turbulence parameterization, radiation schemes, microphysical
parameterizations, and surface schemes are available. For a more general discussion
of the numerous options available in the model, users are referred to Pielke
et al. (1992) and Cotton et al. (2001). In addition, the RAMS code
is currently owned by ATMET (ATmospheric, Meteorological
and Environmental Technologies)
The options specific to the forecast model configuration are described below.
FORECAST MODEL CONFIGURATION
GRIDS
Number: 3
Horizntal Grid Spacing:
Grid 1: 48 km
Grid 2: 12 km
Grid 3: 3 km
Vertical Grid Spacing:
35 levels Variable spacing with finest resolution in the lowest levels
Model Top: ~19 km
