The Verification and Validation Strategy Within the Second Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP 2)

The Wind Forecast Improvement Project 2 (WFIP2), in the complex terrain of the Columbia Gorge, focuses on a set of weather phenomena that poses particular challenges for wind and wind power forecasting. It further aims to understand and improve the skill of weather forecast models, particularly the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR), in complex terrain. The project also includes an extensive field campaign in the Columbia River Gorge, during which data from many different instruments were collected. WFIP2 is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Scientists from four U.S. national laboratories, NOAA, Vaisala, and universities contribute to the project with wide and varied interests and skill sets. Therefore, coordinated verification & validation (V&V) efforts across these members allows for the development of a clear picture of model improvements and scientific findings within WFIP2. The WFIP2 V&V team is tasked with providing tools, methods, and guidance to enable repeatable, metrics-based assessment of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and associated modeling suites for analysis and forecasting of mesoscale weather phenomena that are important for wind energy in the Columbia River Gorge and other parts of the continental United States. This report summarizes what has been worked on and accomplished within the duration of the WFIP2 project, 4 years, by the V&V team.