RTOFS upgrade to v2.3 (GFSv16.2.2 operations)

[KateFriedman-NOAA]

Description

The RTOFS, an upstream dependency of the GFS in operations, is upgrading from v2.2 to v2.3. An associated change to versions/runs.ver to update the rtofs_ver setting is needed in the GFS. This results in a small update in operations to GFSv16.2.2.

The GFS will be run alongside the updated RTOFS in para testing on WCOSS2 to check for impacts before implementation. Only expected impacts to the GFS (science-wise) is to the wave suite (results change). Since waves are a one-way coupling currently, no impact is expected to the atmosphere in the gdas/gfs suites.

FYI @DanIredell-NOAA @JessicaMeixner-NOAA

Requirements

• [x] RTOFS upgrade in operations
• [x] Update rtofs_ver in versions/run.ver from "v2.2" to "v2.3"
• [x] Add release notes
• [x] Merge release/gfs.v16.2.2 into operations branch
• [x] Tag NCO-v16.2.2
• [x] Release and announce to users

Acceptance Criteria (Definition of Done)

The GFS uses rtofs/v2.3 com output.

Dependencies

RTOFS upgrade.

[KateFriedman-NOAA]

Created branch release/gfs.v16.2.2 for this small update to versions/run.ver and adding release notes.

[KateFriedman-NOAA]

From the July 15th 2022 RFC memo:

RFC 9745 - RTOFS v2.3.0 - On WCOSS2, move the new version of RTOFS
(Real-Time Ocean Forecast System) to the production ecflow space, turn on the
EVAL flag, run in parallel with the current ops version, and disseminate EVAL
data. A separate RFC will be submitted to implement the new version to replace
the current ops one. The release of the Global RTOFS v2.3.0 accounts for bug
fixes, bias corrections, and changes in data inputs for operation. The operational
initialization scheme for RTOFS creates an initialization shock, spurious waves,
and systematic errors in the prediction of the ocean state in the equatorial ocean.
A technical correction is proposed that nearly eliminates these systematic errors.
To be implemented on July 18 at 1400Z.

[KateFriedman-NOAA]

From the July 29th RFC memo:

RFC 9814 - RTOFS v2.3.0 - On WCOSS2, implement RTOFS.v2.3.0 into
production. This is the follow-up to RFC 9745 (implemented on July 18) which
initiated the evaluation test for this model upgrade. For this RFC, EVAL will be
turned off and the operational version will be replaced with v2.3.0. In addition,
downstream models (GFS, HMON, HWRF, NOSOFS, and NWPS) will be
updated to pick up the RTOFS.v2.3.0 output files. NCO/IDSB/Dataflow will
update the "prod" link for NOMADS and ftpprd to point to the new version
number. RTOFS v2.3.0 accounts for bug fixes, bias corrections, and changes in
data inputs for operations. The initialization scheme for the previous version of
RTOFS creates an initialization shock, spurious waves, and systematic errors in
the prediction of the ocean state in the equatorial ocean. The technical correction
in v2.3.0 nearly eliminates these systematic errors. To be implemented on
August 2 at 1400Z.

[KateFriedman-NOAA]

Work for this operational upgrade is now complete. Closing issue.