The Operational CMC–MRB Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) Model. Part I: Design Considerations and Formulation

Abstract
An integrated forecasting and data assimilation system has been and is continuing to be developed by the Meteorological Research Branch (MRB) in partnership with the Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) of Environment Canada. Part I of this two-part paper motivates the development of the new system, summarizes various considerations taken into its design, and describes its main characteristics.