A model with spectral representation in the horizontal and Arakawa quadratic conserving finite differencing in the vertical is formulated. The model includes a moisture cycle consisting of large-scale condensation processes, as well as a convective parameterization. Interactions with the underlying oceans include evaporation and sensible heating. Orography and surface friction are modeled and a semi-implicit time integration is employed. Experiments with global and hemispheric forecasts are described and evaluated. Abstract A model with spectral representation in the horizontal and Arakawa quadratic conserving finite differencing in the vertical is formulated. The model includes a moisture cycle consisting of large-scale condensation processes, as well as a convective parameterization. Interactions with the underlying oceans include evaporation and sensible heating. Orography and surface friction are modeled and a semi-implicit time integration is employed. Experiments with global and hemispheric forecasts are described and evaluated.