Find in this page technical specification of the required input data and processing workflow.

Parameters

• Output type:  forecast

  • only one forecast product per centre is expected for verification - the best available one for the common inter-comparison

• Output time:00 and 12 UTC

• Output frequency: between 1 and 6 hours (including step 0 encoded as forecast type as well)

  • the model output steps should be the shortest available
• Wave parameters should be obtained from the full 2-D spectrum (we stress this fact as there seems to be some confusion about wave parameters' names and definitions even in the latest WMO GRIB2 code tables)

• Follow the links for exact GRIB2 WMO compliant definitions
• *1 valid in ECMWF's ecCodes only

Encoding

All details about the required data format can be found in the page Encoding details.

Sample data

• Providers are asked to provide full sample data from one model run containing all expected parameters, steps, forecast types etc.
• Naming convention for sample data:
  wave_<Organization_acronym>_<YYYYMMDDRR>_<prod/test>_fc.grib2
  acronym listed in the table below
  prod/test ... production or test version of the data
  fc ... forecast (step 0 should be also encoded as of forecast type)
• Merge all parameters from all steps for given model run and output type into one file:
  e.g. wave test forecasts from ECMWF on the 1st of September 2017, 12Z  => wave_ECMWF_2017090112_test_fc.grib2
• Put sample data on ecgate to a directory with reading permission
  • alternatively use any other downloadable location (e.g. google drive)

  • alternatively use this ftp:

    Log in to see ftp details

    
    

    host: ftp.ecmwf.int user: observations passwd: observations2013 directory: wave

    
    

• The naming convention for future production data might change

Production data acquisition

• The data will be pulled via ftp from an agreed server location at the data producer's site.
• The ECMWF's acquisition system will be used for handling the production data exchange.
• Participants are committed to guarantee a steady and reliable provision of their data and to communicate any relevant changes.
• The support mailing list on provider's side will be required to allow smooth communication related to common production issues in the future.

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