Research and Development (R&D) of the U.S. Navy’s NEPTUNE Capability

Background
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), part of the U.S. Navy, is focused on conducting basic and applied research to enhance scientific understanding of atmospheric processes that affect fleet operations.

The NRL's Marine Meteorology Division (MMD) aims to develop automated systems for analyzing and predicting these processes. This contract with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is intended to support the development of the Navy's Next-Generation Environmental Prediction system, known as NEPTUNE, which utilizes a nonhydrostatic engine.

Work Details
The contractor will provide unclassified support in developing and upgrading various NEPTUNE-related projects. Key tasks include:

1) Development and upgrade of NEPTUNE dynamic core infrastructure, including keeping the Cylc suite updated, maintaining models, developing a build system, optimizing performance on HPC systems, and integrating with data assimilation systems.

2) Research and development of the Common Community Physics Package (CCPP) for NEPTUNE, including evaluating real data tests, documenting system strengths and weaknesses, tuning physics for improved forecasts, and implementing CCPP into NEPTUNE.

3) Development of advanced data assimilation capabilities using JEDI, ensuring quality control in the data assimilation system, and adapting to changes in global observing systems.

4) Upgrading METplus for verification and validation of NEPTUNE projects.

5) Collection of special observations needed for various NEPTUNE projects using NCAR EOL’s observational enterprise.

6) Evaluating technological advances for High-Performance Computing (HPC) and software engineering to NRL, including developing training modules for sailors and organizing workshops.

Place of Performance
The work will be performed at the Naval Research Laboratory located at 7 Grace Hopper Ave, Monterey, CA 93943.