Sensor Point^tm Model Techonological Basis

Weather Analytics leverages the multi-billion dollar Global Data Assimilation System.

Through United Nations agreements the US and many other nations have made investments of billions of dollars over decades into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) modeling technology and its supporting infrastructure, the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS). NOAA has developed sophisticated operational regional NWP models that use GDAS data as input. Examples include the North American Mesoscale, Global Forecast System and Global Reanalysis models.

The Sensor Point model integrates NOAA’s operational model data with Weather Analytics’ customized NWP modeling technology.

Sensor Point is a one-dimensional NWP boundary layer “column model” that has been coupled with three-dimensional NWP model data to provide site-specific forecasts. Using sensor observations, site-specific column model forecasts can be calibrated for individual station sites. They can also adapt to changes in local surface conditions. Verification analyses have shown Sensor Point model data to be more accurate than both NOAA and competitor models, especially for the first 12 - 18 hours. The development of the Sensor Point model is ongoing, so its accuracy will continue to improve.