An efficient non-hydrostatic forecast model

Summary A semi-implicit non-hydrostatic mesoscale forescasting model, which is used operationally in the United Kingdom Meteorological Office, has been reformulated using two time levels and semi-Lagrangian advection so as to permit longer timesteps. The boundaries are found to be an important influence on the model's stability and two methods of suppressing wave reflection are described with the aid of a one-dimensional experiment. The model's responses to two dimensional flow over a ridge and to three-dimensional flow over an isolated mountain are then demonstrated. The reformulated model is more efficient than the original provided a timestep at least twice as long can be used. It is also superior both in having minimal damping (except at the boundaries), and in the accuracy of the advection scheme.