SAFARI 2000 ETA Atmospheric Model Data, Wet and Dry Seasons 2000

The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) has developed a step-mountain eta coordinate model generally known as the ETA Model.This NCEP ETA data assimilation and prediction system (see Mesinger et al., 1988; Black, 1994) has been used by the South African Weather Bureau/Service (SAWS) to provide operational regional forecast guidance since November 1993.

SAWS used this model to produce the basic meteorological data for the SAFARI project. The SAWS ETA model is a hydrostatic model with a horizontal grid spacing of approximately 48 km and 38 vertical levels, with layer depths that range from 20 m in the planetary boundary layer to 2 km at 50 mb. There have been several major ETA Model upgrades at SAWS: in March 1996, August 1998, November 1999, and August 2001.