RRTM (Stand-Alone Model)   /    RRTMG (GCM Applications) 

RRTM retains the highest accuracy relative to line-by-line results for single column calculations, while RRTMG provides improved efficiency with minimal loss of accuracy for GCM applications. RTE+RRTMGP is a completely rewritten and modern code based on updated spectroscopy.  

Annual mean top of the atmosphere longwave cloud forcing for the ECMWF forecast model without RRTMG/McICA (top left contour) and with RRTMG/McICA (top right contour), CERES observations (center contours) and differences between the models and measurement (bottom contours). Line plots show zonal mean longwave cloud forcing (top), and longitude plots averaged over the extra tropics (center) and the tropics (bottom) for each model (black) and the observation (red) (from Morcrette et al., 2008). 



RRTMG Global and Regional Model Applications
  • ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), Reading, UK
    • Integrated Forecast System (IFS), ERA40 Reanalysis
      Began operational use of LW on 27 June 2000 (version prior to LW_v2.0),
      Began operational use of LW and SW with McICA on 5 June 2007,
      Upgrade to v4.84 in progress as of April 2010
  • MPI (Max Planck Institute), Hamburg, Germany
    • ECHAM5
      Began operational use of LW in 2002 (prior to LW_v2.0 from ECMWF),
      Upgrade to v4.84 in progress as of April 2010
  • NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction)
    • Global Forecast System (GFS)
      Began operational use of RRTMG_LW at 12Z on 28 August 2003,
      Began operational use of RRTMG_SW at 12Z on 27 July 2010
    • Climate Forecast System (CFS)
      Began operational use of LW in 2004,
      Update to include SW and newer LW expected in September 2010
    • North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM)
      Began operational use of LW and SW in August 2014
    • Rapid Refresh Forecast Model (RAP)
      Began operational use of LW and SW in 2014
    • High-Resolution Rapid Refresh Model (HRRR)
      Began operational use of LW and SW in April 2014
    • Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF)
      Began operational use of LW and SW in HWRF_v3.7 in 2015
  • NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research)
    • Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF-ARW)
      Released as LW and SW radiation option in WRF_v3.1 in April 2009
    • Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5)
      CAM5 released with RRTMG/McICA (LW and SW) on 25 June 2010
    • Community Earth System Model (CESM1)
      CESM1 released with RRTMG/McICA (LW and SW) on 25 June 2010
  • NASA/GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center)
    • Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-5) Data Assimilation System
      Implementation and testing of LW_v4.83 and SW_v3.8 began in 2009
  • LMD (Laboratory for Dynamical Meteorology), France
    • LMDZ climate model
      Began operational use of LW in 2008-09 (prior to LW_v2.0 from ECMWF).
  • CMA (China Meteorological Administration), China
    • Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES)
      Implemented LW_v4.71 and SW_v3.8 in 2014
  • Meteo-France (French National Meteorological Service), France
    • Meso-NH (Non-hydrostatic Meso-scale atmospheric model)
      Included LW as radiation option in 2009 (prior to LW_v2.0 from ECMWF)
  • KMA (Korea Meteorological Administration), Korea
    • Korean Integrated Model (KIM)
      Implemented LW and SW in KIM_v3.0 in 2018


RRTM/RRTMG Copyright and Disclaimer
    Copyright © 2002-2019, Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. (AER, Inc.). This software
    may be used, copied, or redistributed as long as it is not sold and this copyright notice is reproduced
    on each copy made. This model is provided as is without any express or implied warranties.

Atmospheric and Environmental Research