Summary of differences between backup RUC at FSL and operational RUC running at NCEP

Updated 2 Jan 03

The following text represents a general description of the backup RUC. However, to see the latest details, some of which differ from what is stated below, take a look at the RUC backup log.

Background - FSL usually runs a few parallel cycles of RUC/MAPS at FSL, a control version consisting of extensively tested code considered ready for implementation at NCEP, and experimental versions in which new changes are tested. The RUC backup run at FSL is equivalent to the control version, and is run in a protected software and hardware environment separate from any development work.

• 20km version running at FSL as late May 2002.
• Some differences in observational data sets available. Obs counts can be monitored via the web for both the Backup RUC and NCEP RUC Cloud drift wind availability has varied between FSL and NCEP, for instance.
• SSM/I precipitable water data is not available for the backup RUC.