 Later models used more complete equations for atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics . In 1959 , Karl @-@ Heinz <unk> produced the first reasonable primitive equation forecast , 37 years after Richardson 's failed attempt . <unk> did so by removing small oscillations from the numerical model during initialization . In 1966 , West Germany and the United States began producing operational forecasts based on primitive @-@ equation models , followed by the United Kingdom in 1972 and Australia in 1977 . Later additions to primitive equation models allowed additional insight into different weather phenomena . In the United States , solar radiation effects were added to the primitive equation model in 1967 ; moisture effects and latent heat were added in 1968 ; and feedback effects from rain on convection were incorporated in 1971 . Three years later , the first global forecast model was introduced . Sea ice began to be initialized in forecast models in 1971 . Efforts to involve sea surface temperature in model initialization began in 1972 due to its role in modulating weather in higher latitudes of the Pacific . 
