The FLENUMOCEANCEN surface analysis model produces hemispheric and regional analyses of sea-level pressure, wind, and sea-surface temperature on grids. For example, a hemispheric analysis is produced on a 63 by 63 grid, and a regional analysis uses a 125 by 125 grid.

Grids come in various shapes and sizes. The grid-point spacing for hemispheric products is equivalent to approximately 320 kilometers, whereas that for regional products is equivalent to 20 to 80 kilometers. The grids used in regional analysis are known as fine-mesh grids. All computer calculations are performed at the grid points, and normally, the closer the grid-point spacing, the more accurate the analysis, depending on the accuracy of the input data.

Each grid-point is assigned a value of the parameter being analyzed. For example, in a sea level pressure (SLP) analysis, each grid point is assigned an SLP. The value assigned to a grid point may be based on past history, current observations, gradient extrapolation, and/or any combination of these three variables. This process is part of the analysis technique used by the model.

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