Arakawa grids

The Arakawa grid system depicts different ways to represent and compute orthogonal physical quantities (especially velocity- and mass-related quantities) on rectangular grids used for Earth system models for meteorology and oceanography.

For example, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model uses the Arakawa Staggered C-Grid in its atmospheric calculations when using the ARW core.

The "staggered" Arakawa B-grid separates the evaluation of the two sets of quantities.

(Note that the picture is incorrect; Arakawa C staggering has the velocities perpendicular to the cell faces.)

The Arakawa E-grid is "staggered," but also rotated 45° relative to the other grid orientations.