WRF Feature, Capabilities, Infrastructure Testing For the release, a number of existing capability options in the WRF code need to be explicitly tested to insure the continued correct working of the model for users. Among these options tested are: adaptive time step analysis nudging observational nudging DFI program NDOWN program OBSGRID sst update While the testing of some of the new physics options is done for 28 48-h time periods, all of the new physics options are run through a couple of canned cases, and verified with subjective analysis. The level of success is easier to achieve, generally producing a complete forecast that gives reasonable results. The specific new addition to the model (lightning, aerosols, ocean) is scrutinized much more closely. An important consideration for this level of testing is the interworking of schemes, from source-code incompatibility to the consequences of unphysical results. Testing for these new features includes: aerosols CLM Grell Freitas cumulus Grenier Bretherton PBL GRIMS shallow cumulus scheme lightning options 1, 2, 11 University of Miami 3d ocean model Morrison Gettleman microphysics NoahMP land surface NSSL microphysics options 19, 21 NWP diagnostics ozone options 0, 2 sea ice SKEBS (backscatter scheme) topo_wind option 2 trajectories vertical profile output In addition to modifications to the WRF code directly, the land surface community has been working to augment the available source for higher-resolution input data. These data sets are now available through the WPS system (specifically the static data for geogrid). Some of these data sets are restricted in geographical coverage (such as NLCD to North America) and some are designed for specific urban regional areas (NUDAPT-44). MODIS FPAR vegetation fraction NLCD NUDAPT-44 Clay fraction For each of the above tests (types of land data, various physics options, feature upgrades, previous capability re-assurances), a fixed set of permutations were conducted: single domain case nested case, one-way-nest, and nest-starts-later cases restart run compared output from original run to restart run to ensure they were identical As part of the assurance that the WRF code is not suffering from accidental side-effects, all of the idealized cases have been run, comparing the previous release and the current WRF 3.5 release. The cases all build, run, and produce similar results. As some of the cases use physics schemes that have been upgraded, it is not really possible to get identical results in most of these tests. This portion of the testing handles all of the lateral boundary condition options in WRF, and exercises many of the dynamics switches. The feature testing was conducted on a combination of Linux and Darwin platforms. The Darwin machine was with single processor GNU v4.4.0. The Linux machine tests were all run with MPI for both Intel V12.1.5 and PGI 12.5. Things that do not work: NSSL option 19 does not give bit for bit output when running a restart with a nest NSSL option 21 same as above SKEBS does not have a restart capability at this time new geography data with RUC input new geography data with noahmp new geography data with CLM