Every day, ECMWF produces various global Analyses and Forecasts and archives them in MARS. The first ECMWF numerical model in 1979 was a grid-point model with 15 levels in the vertical and a horizontal resolution of 1.875 degrees in latitude and longitude, corresponding to a grid length of 200 kilometres. A number of major changes have occurred since ECMWF's activity started:
In Apr 2015 with cycle 41r1 the domain of the limited-area ocean wave model has been extended to the full globe, the ENS configuration has been changed and new climate files have been introduced. > Full description
In November 2013 the vertical resolution and the vertical extent used for the medium-range and monthly ensemble forecasts has changed: the number of levels of the ENS has increased from 62 to 91 with the model top raised from 5 hPa to 0.01 hPa. The MARS streams DCDA, DCWV, ENDA and EWDA were discontinued.
In June 2013 IFS cycle 38r2 introduced higher vertical resolution in the high-resolution (T1279) forecast and data assimilation of the operational runs at 00 and 12 UTC (HRES) as well as the 06 and 18 UTC cycles of the Boundary Conditions (BC) optional programme. The number of model levels increases from the current 91 levels (L91) to 137 levels (L137).
In January 2010 the horizontal resolution of the deterministic model has been increased to T1279. The resolution of the EPS went up to T639/T319 for Leg A/B, respectively.
In March 2008 VarEPS and monthly forecasting were combined into a single system. On Thursday of each week, the 00 UTC VarEPS forecast are extended from 15 to 32 days at a resolution of T255 L62 with ocean coupling introduced from day 10.
In March 2007 the operational seasonal forecasting system has been upgraded from System 2 to System 3 and integrated in the Multi-Model Seasonal Forecast stream. The resolution of the atmospheric model has been increased to T159L62.
In November 2006 the EPS has been upgraded to Variable Resolution Ensemble Prediction System (VarEPS). In particular, the forecast range was extended to 15 days using the VarEPS system with a resolution of T399 L62 for day 1 to day 10 and T255 L62 for day 11 to day 15.
In February 2006 the resolution of the deterministic model has been increased to T799 and 91 model levels. The resolution of the Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) went up to T399 and 62 model levels.
In June 2004, the Early Delivery Forecasting System was implemented, comprising two main 6-hour 4d-Var analysis and forecast cycles for 00 and 12 UTC and two additional 12-hour 4d-Var analysis and first guess forecast cycles.
In November 2000, the spectral truncation was extended to wave number 511.
In September 2000, 4d-Var cycling was increased to 12 hours. Type First Guess has been discontinued.
In October 1999, the number of levels was increased to 60.
In October 1999, the number of levels was increased to 60.
In March 1999, the number of levels was increased to 50.
In June 1998, the atmospheric model and the wave model were coupled in order to take advantage of the boundary conditions they represent to each other.
In April 1998, the spectral truncation was extended to wave-number 319.
In November 1997, 4d-Var (four-dimensional variational Analysis) became operational.
In 1992, a wave model used for ocean wave forecasting (the WAM model) became operational, followed after a few months by a Mediterranean implementation.
In December the Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) with 32 members and a resolution of T63L31 became operational.
In September 1991, a much higher resolution spectral model was put into operation. The spectral truncation was extended to wave-number 213 and the number of levels was increased to 31 (i.e. T213L31).
In May 1985, the spectral truncation was extended to wave-number 106. The number of levels was increased to 19 in 1986.
In April 1983, the grid-point model was replaced by a T63 spectral model (i.e. a spectral representation in the horizontal with a triangular truncation at wave-number 63). The number of levels in the vertical was increased to 16.
In addition, various other projects run on a regular basis, such as Seasonal Forecast, Multi-Analysis Ensemble, Monthly Forecast and Sensitivity forecast, or have run in the past, for example the ECMWF reanalyses. All their outputs are available in MARS. The majority of Observations used as model input are also available in MARS.
A comprehensive list of changes in the ECMWF model can be found on our main website, giving detailed documentation on significant changes to the operational forecasting system.
Products
In order to know the data available from MARS, users need to be familiar with ECMWF's activities. The overview given below is not exhaustive. It is rather meant as an introduction to ECMWF's activities and the most common products. Users wanting to learn more are encouraged to study theUser guide to ECMWF forecast products .
The datasets pages on the main website provide a good entry point to browse the MARS content in particular for operational and reanalysis data. From there you will also find links into the MARS Catalogue, which allows you to browse the entire MARS content.
Operational data produced daily at ECMWF
Atmospheric models
Analysis:global analyses for the four main synoptic hours 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC. They are the best gridded estimate of the state of the atmosphere (best fit to observations). For each of the synoptic hours, data is produced at the following levels:
Surface fields represent the meteorology at the surface.
Model levels are used in ECMWF's forecast model to resolve the atmosphere in the vertical.
Pressure levels are interpolated by the model from its Model Levels.
Isentropic levels are either potential vorticity or potential temperature.
Forecast:global 10-day forecasts based on the 00/12 UTC Analysis (the 00 UTC run started on March 2001 as an experimental suite for severe weather prediction). Forecast products are classified in the same level types as Analysis data: Surface, Model levels, Pressure levels, and Isentropic levels. Meteorological parameters are written output for every forecast time step, 3-hourly intervals from 00 to 72 hours, and 6-hourly from 72 to 240 hours.
First guess:a forecast with base time from the previous synoptic hour and a forecast time step of (usually) 6 hours. Note that since the change to 12 hour-cycling 4d-Var in the year 2000, this type of data has been discontinued.
Initialised Analysis:the best 'balanced' gridded estimate of the state of the atmosphere (initial state of the forecast). With the implementation of the three dimensional variational Analysis (3d-Var) on January 1996, the Initialised Analysis is no longer produced, and the Analysis is the best and the best 'balanced' gridded estimate of the atmosphere.
Four-dimensional variational Analysis:analyses using observations over a time window (e.g. a 6 hour 4d-Var at cycle hh will contain observations from hh-02:59 to hh+03:00).
Errors in Analysis:the assumed uncertainty of an observation is combined with the assumed uncertainty of the First Guess, resulting in an estimate of the total uncertainty in the Analysis
Errors in First Guess:result of the uncertainty of the First Guess compared with observations
Four-dimensional variational Analysis increments:the low resolution increment which is added to the first-guess after each inner loop minimisation.
Ocean wave models
Since 1998, ECMWF's atmospheric model is coupled with a wave model.
HRES-WAM (High RESolution WAve Model) is coupled to the atmospheric model (HRES) while HRES-SAW (High RESolution Stand Alone Wave model) is run as a standalone model. HRES-SAW, formerly known as LAM WAM (Limited Area Model WAM), Mediterranean or European Wave Model, now covers the whole globe (see Cycle 41r1 upgrade).
HRES-WAM and HRES-SAW offer the same parameters globally. > more details
Ensemble Prediction System
ECMWF's Ensemble Prediction System has a coupled atmospheric and wave model. On 28 November 2006 the Variable Resolution Ensemble Prediction System (VarEPS) has been introduced by extending the forecast range from 10 to 15 days with a resolution of T399L62 for day 1 to day 10 (Leg 1) and T255L62 for day 11 to day 15 (Leg 2). On 11 March 2008 the Monthly Forecasting System, running once a week, has been integrated with the VarEPS. The new monthly forecast products were produced for the first time on 13 March 2008.
Control forecast: an unperturbed forecast at a lower resolution than the main HRES 10-day forecast. Forecast runs to 15 days, with lower resolution from truncation step 240 onwards. Data is available on Surface, Model levels, Pressure levels and Isentropic levels.
Calibration/Validation forecast: VarEPS includes two constant-resolution forecasts for calibration and validation purposes which run for both resolutions from day 1 - 15. Data is available on Surface, Model levels, Pressure levels and Isentropic levels.
Perturbed forecasts: different forecasts to 10 days with perturbed initial conditions. They are numbered from 1 to N depending on the EPS setup. Data is available on the Surface and on Pressure levels and Isentropic levels.
Initial condition perturbations: the initial conditions for the EPS are designed to represent the uncertainties inherent in the operational analysis. They are created by adding perturbations to the operational analysis which produce the fastest energy growth during the first two days of the forecast period, defined using the singular vector technique.
Forecast probabilities: a statistical distribution of the weather parameters from all ensemble members is used to produce probabilistic weather forecasts. With the introduction of VarEPS this data type has been discontinued.
Event probabilities: provide the probabilities of the occurrence of weather events at each grid point. The probabilities are calculated on the basis that each ensemble member is equally likely.
Ensemble means: are means of the ensemble forecast members.
Clusters: similar ensemble members are grouped together into clusters. The mean and standard deviation of these clusters are computed (as well as the mean and standard deviation of the overall ensemble). Five sets of clusters are computed, one for the entire European area, and four for smaller areas.
Tubes: another clustering method which averages all ensemble members which are close to the ensemble mean and excludes members which are significantly different.
Extreme Forecast Index (EFI): measures the difference between the probability distribution from the EPS and the model climate distribution.
Boundary conditions
The Boundary Condition Optional Programme (BC) was initially set up in June 2000, to provide participating Member States with boundary conditions for their limited area models: four additional 3D-Var Analysis runs for 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC with a cut-off time of 4 hours, followed by global 4-day forecasts. All analysis data but only the forecast from 00 UTC are archived.
Since 14 Mar 2006 the BC production has been merged with the main operational forecast suite. In the new configuration, only the 06 and 18 UTC runs are part of the BC suite. For 00 and 12 UTC analysis and forecast are provided by the main operational HRES runs. Now all four data assimilation cycles are based on 6h 4d-Var with a cut-off time of 4 hours.
Since 15 Nov 2011 hourly output is produced from all 4 forecast runs.
The BC analysis and forecast fields, also referred to as short cut-off, are stored temporarily in MARS as STREAM=SCDA. The hourly data for 00 and 12 UTC are archived together with the main forecast runs as STREAM=DA.
Valid BC data are available to members of the BC programme. They are also available to NMHSs of WMO, international organisations and research projects according to the rules laid out in the "Rules governing the distribution and dissemination of ECMWF real-time products". BC data are not part of the catalogue of real-time products.
Multi-Analysis Ensemble
Every day ECMWF receives Analyses from four centres, NCEP, The Met Office, Météo-France and Deutscher Wetterdienst, and runs 5 forecasts, 1 based on each different analyses plus one compound of all the analyses (consensus) including ECMWF's Analysis.
Seasonal Forecast
ECMWF started an experimental programme for seasonal prediction in 1995, which attempts to predict seasonal changes by coupling three models: atmospheric, wave and ocean models.> More information on the Seasonal Forecast
Monthly Forecast
The monthly forecast (extended-range) is an extension of the ensemble (ENS) twice a week, on Monday and Thursday, to 46 days. > More information on the Monthly Forecast
The IFS writes its data into the MOFC (1090) stream in MARS. All of the data are archived using their original model representation (Reduced Gaussian Grid or Spherical Harmonics). The outputs produced by default for monthly forecasts and stored on MARS are listed here. Upper-air fields are archived every 12 hours, whereas surface fields are archived every 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours.
Wave model monthly forecasts are stored in the stream WAMF (1095).
In order to retrieve these fields from MARS, two MARS command lines have to be added: method=1, and system=2, but may change, if the monthly forecasting system is modified. Look at the System Change Notice to see which system value is valid. For the control forecast TYPE=CF, for perturbed forecasts TYPE=FC.
Monthly forecast weekly means are calculated for all atmospheric variables and stored in the stream MOFM (1094) and type FCMEAN.
Wave model forecast means (weekly means) are calculated and stored in the stream WMFM (1096).
Monthly forecast weekly maximum (type FCMAX), minimum (type FCMIN) and standard deviation (type FCSTDEV) have also been calculated and archived for all surface fields.
The weeks are as follow:
Week 1: day 5 to day 11 (FCPERIOD=05-11) Week 2: day 12 to day 18 (FCPERIOD=12-18) Week 3: day 19 to day 25 (FCPERIOD=19-25) Week 4: day 26 to day 32 (FCPERIOD=26-32)
Here is an example of MARS retrieval for weekly means:
Ensemble means and standard deviations are archived in MARS only for a limited number of fields: temperature at 850 and 500 hPa and geopotential at 1000 and 500 hPa.
To retrieve these fields, stream=MOFC, TYPE=EM (ensemble mean) or TYPE=ES (ensemble standard deviation).
In order to avoid retrieving 51 members to create EPSgrams, several fields have been reordered, and the minimum, 25%, median, 75% and maximum of the ensemble distribution have been archived. These fields are: T850, total cloud cover, 2-metre temperature, total precipitation and 10 metre scalar wind speed.
To retrieve these fields: STREAM=MOFC, TYPE=ED, NUMBER=0 (minimum), NUMBER=12 (25%), NUMBER=25 (MEDIAN), NUMBER=37 (75%) or NUMBER=50 (MAXIMUM)
The ocean data are archived together with the atmospheric data, and are distinguished by the 'LEVTYPE' attribute, which is set to 'DEPTH' or 'DP'. Ocean variables are archived as instantaneous fields (product=inst), accumulated fields (product=tacc) or time series (product=tims). The fields are archived along horizontal (section=h), meridional (section=m) or zonal sections (section=z).
Ocean fields in the accelerated forecast:
Fluxes and ocean data created during the 12 days of ocean real-time forecast ( to create the ocean initial conditions) are stored on MARS under TYPE=OF (ocean fields) and FF (forcing fields).
A complete list of the ocean variables archived on MARS can be found here.
Upper-air fields (archived every 12 hours):
129
Geopotential
1000
925
850
700
500
-
-
200
(also MEAN of each level)
130
Temperature
1000
925
850
700
500
400
300
200
(also MEAN of each level)
138
Vorticity (relative)
1000
925
850
700
500
-
-
200
(also MEAN of each level)
155
Divergence
1000
925
850
700
500
-
-
200
(also MEAN of each level)
133
Specific humidity (gridpoint)
1000
925
850
700
500
-
-
200
(also MEAN of each level)
60
Potential vorticity on the 330K isentropic surface
MEAN
03
Potential temperature on the 2E-6 potential vorticity surface
MEAN
Surface fields:
The following surface field is archived every 3 hours (1 field):
164
Total cloud cover
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
The following surface fields are archived every 6 hours (11fields):
39
Volumetric soil water layer 1
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
49
Wind gust at 10m
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
139
Soil temp level 1
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
142
Large scale precipitation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
143
Converctive precipitation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
144
Snow fall
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
159
Boundary layer height
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
165
10 metre u wind component
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
166
10 metre v wind component
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
167
2 metre temperature
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
168
2 metre dewpoint temperature
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
The following surface field is archived every 12 hours (1 field):
151
Mean sea level pressure
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
The following surface fields are archived every 24 hours (19 fields):
40
Volumetric soil water layer 2
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
41
Volumetric soil water layer 3
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
42
Volumetric soil water layer 4
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
141
Snow depth
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
146
Surface sensible heat flux
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
147
Surface latent heat flux
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
169
Surface solar radiation downwards
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
170
Soil temp level 2
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD)
175
Surface thermal radiation downwards
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
176
Surface solar radiation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
177
Surface thermal radiation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
178
Top solar radiation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
179
Top thermal radiation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
180
East/West surface stress
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
181
North/South surface stress
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
182
Evaporation
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
189
Sunshine duration
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
201
Max 2m temperature since last postprocessing
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
202
Min 2m temperature since last postprocessing
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
The following field is archive only at step=0 and for the control forecast (type=cf):
172
Land/sea mask
The following derived fields are not archived directly, but their monthly statistics are calculated:
207
10m scalar wind speed
MEAN/MAX/MIN/SD
228
Total precipitation
MEAN/MAX/SD
Monthly archive of ocean fields:
Ocean data is output in different sections, H = horizontal, Z = zonal, M = meridional. There are also sections that include the time dimension: Z=longitude-time, M=latitude-time and V=depth-time. Each of these sections is a two-dimensional field, with a particular orientation in space and time. Each forecast ensemble member archives the output listed below. The ocean data is archived together with the atmosphere data, and is distinguished by the 'LEVTYPE' attribute, which is set to 'DEPTH' or 'DP'.
The following instantaneous fields are written every 24 hours. They should allow a rough estimate of drift in the ocean, and give a snapshot of any numerical problems.
Horizontal fields are:
Section
Code
Depth
Name
H
129
5/425
Potential temperature
H
130
5/425
Salinity
H
131
5
u-velocity
H
132
5
v-velocity
H
145
0
Sea-level
H
148
0
Mixed-layer depth
H
133
225
w-velocity
Vertical zonal sections are:
Section
Code
Latitude
Name
Z
129
0
Potential temperature
Z
130
0
Salinity
Z
131
0
u-velocity
Z
132
0
v-velocity
Z
133
0
w-velocity
Vertical meridional sections are:
Section
Code
Longitude
Name
M
129
220
Potential temperature
M
130
220
Salinity
M
131
220
u-velocity
M
132
220
v-velocity
M
133
220
w-velocity
The following accumulated fields are written once per month during the forecasts. Monthly means can be derived from them. They are the main fields for diagnosing the oceanic behaviour of the coupled model forecasts. Accumulated horizontal fields are:
Section
Code
Depth
Name
H
129
5
Potential temperature
H
130
5
Salinity
H
131
5
u-velocity
H
132
5
v-velocity
H
145
0
Sea level
H
148
0
Mixed layer depth
H
163
0
Depth of 20 deg isotherm
H
164
0
T averaged over upper 300m
H
175
0
S averaged over upper 300m
H
153
0
Zonal wind stress
H
154
0
Meridional wind stress
H
156
0
Net surface heat flux
H
157
0
Absorbed solar radiation
H
158
0
Precipitation - Evaporation
Accumulated vertical zonal sections are:
Section
Code
Latitude
Name
Z
129
0
Potential temperature
Z
130
0
Salinity
Z
131
0
u-velocity
Z
133
0
w-velocity
Accumulated vertical meridional sections are:
Section
Code
Longitude
Name
M
129
60E/90E/165E/180/140W/95W/30W/10W
Potential temperature
M
130
60E/90E/165E/180/140W/95W/30W/10W
Salinity
M
131
60E/165E/140W/30W
u-velocity
M
132
60E/165E/140W/30W
v-velocity
M
133
60E/165E/140W/30W
w-velocity
M
138
60E/165E/140W/30W
Potential density
Several so-called time series fields are also produced. These allow detailed examination of the evolution of certain fields along given lines of latitude or longitude. In all cases the temporal resolution is daily.
Lines of latitude are:
Section
Code
Depth
Latitude
Name
Z
129
5
0
Potential temperature
Z
131
5
0
U velocity
Z
145
0
0
Sea level
Z
163
0
0
Depth of 20 deg isotherm
Z
153
0
0
Zonal wind stress
Z
164
0
8N/5N/0/5S/8S
T averaged over upper 300m
Lines of longitude are:
Section
Code
Depth
Longitude
Name
M
129
5
180/60W
Potential temperature
M
145
0
180/60W
Sea level
M
148
0
180/60W
Mixed layer depth
Finally, a small selection of instantaneous fields is output daily, to allow study of the evolution of the system on synoptic timescales. The fields concerned are:
Section
Code
Depth
Name
H
129
5
Potential temperature
H
145
0
Sea level
H
148
0
Mixed layer depth
M
129
0
Potential temperature
Monthly archive of ocean fields (accelerated forecast):
Since the ocean analysis lags about 12 days behind real time, the ocean model is integrated from the last ocean analysis forced by analyzed wind stress, heat fluxes and P-E. During this "ocean forecast", teh sea surface temperature is relaxed towards persisted SST, with a damping rate of 100W/m2/K.
Forcing fields (type ff):
The time-averaged fields used to force the ocean during the 12 days of ocean integration are archived on MARS:
Section
Code
Depth
Name
H
157
0
Absorbed solar radiation
H
161
0
Diagnosed sea surface temperature error
H
162
0
Heat flux correction
H
156
0
Net surface heat flux
H
129
0
Ocean potential temperature
H
158
0
Precipitation-evaporation
H
159
0
Specified sea-surface temperature
H
160
0
Specified surface heat flux
H
153
0
u stress
H
154
0
v stress
Ocean Fields (type of):
Same fields as for the operational ocean analysis. The list includes all the fields stored during coupled integrations but with a much larger number of levels, longitude and latitude lines.
Ocean Analysis
The main purpose of the ocean analysis is to provide initial conditions for the extended range forecasts (seasonal and monthly). There are two streams: The re-analysis stream spans the period 1959 up to 11 days behind real time whereas the real-time stream started in August 2006. > more information on the Ocean Analysis
Monthly and climatology datasets
ECMWF maintains an archive of monthly means data from the atmospheric and wave model archive. The resolution and internal representation of the archive may change according to changes in ECMWF's operational practice.
Atmospheric Analysis monthly means are averaged over the calendar month for each of the synoptic times 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC.
Atmospheric Forecast monthly means: are the average of all the forecasts for a particular step that verify in the selected calendar month. All monthly means are archived at model resolution.
Wave Analysis monthly means: are averaged over the calendar month for each of the synoptic times 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC.
Wave forecast monthly means: are the average of all the forecasts for a particular step that verify in the selected calendar month. Wave Monthly means are archived at 1.5 degree resolution.
There is a limited climatology data set, which contains the Geopotential and Temperature on Pressure Levels for each month of the year. The data originally came from NCEP, Washington, and it was processed to store it in MARS. Although it is available to users, it is recommended that modern applications use the Monthly means archive or the Re-Analysis Monthly means archive for climatology purposes.
ECMWF reanalyses
ECMWF periodically uses its forecast models and data assimilation systems to 'reanalyse' archived observations, creating global data sets describing the recent history of the atmosphere, land surface, and oceans. Reanalysis data are used for monitoring climate change, for research and education, and for commercial applications.
Available ECMWF reanalysis datasets include: analysis, forecast and forecast accumulations as output from atmospheric models, as well as analysis and forecast from a wave-model reanalysis. There is also a Monthly Means data set containing data at the resolution of the data assimilation and forecast system used by each reanalysis.
Sub-seasonal to seasonal prediction project (S2S)S2S is a WWRP/THORPEX-WCRP joint research project established to improve forecast skill and understanding on the sub-seasonal to seasonal time scale, and promote its uptake by operational centres and exploitation by the applications community> see in MARS Catalogue
TIGGEThe International Grand Global Ensemble is a key component of THORPEX: a World Weather Research Programme to accelerate the improvements in the accuracy of 1-day to 2 week high-impact weather forecasts for the benefit of humanity. Global ensemble forecasts to around 14 days generated routinely at different centres around the world. Currently data from ECMWF, JMA (Japan), Met Office (UK), CMA (China), NCEP (USA), MSC (Canada), Météo-France, BOM (Australia), CPTEC (Brazil) and KMA (Korea) is archived. > see in MARS Catalogue
DEMETER is the acronym of the EU-funded project "Development of a European Multi model Ensemble system for seasonal to inTERannual prediction". The objective of the project is to develop a well-validated European coupled multi-model ensemble forecast system for reliable seasonal to inter annual prediction. Six comprehensive European global coupled atmosphere-ocean models are being installed at ECMWF, those of: ECMWF, Météo-France, LODYC, Met Office, MPI, INGV, INM-HIRLAM and CERFACS. > see in MARS Catalogue
Data Targeting System A pre-operational Data Targeting System (DTS) will be developed to assess the feasibility of operational adaptive control of the observing system and as a facility to aid research projects using data targeting. The DTS will be developed and hosted at ECMWF. The work is jointly funded by EUCOS and the EC as part of the PREVIEW Integrated Project (work package WP3320) of the EU 6th Framework Programme. A real-time trial of the DTS will run between February and December 2008. > see in MARS Catalogue
ECSN-HIRETYCS is the European Climate Support Network. HIRETYCS is the High Resolution Ten Year Climate Simulation. This data set consist of 10-year climate simulations produced at three centres: Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM), Max-Planck Institute (MPI) and United Kingdom Met Office. > see in MARS Catalogue
ELDAS ECMWF is a participant in the Development of a European Land Data Assimilation System to predict Floods and Droughts (ELDAS) project funded by the European Union.> see in MARS Catalogue
ENSEMBLES The EU-funded ENSEMBLES project intends to develop an ensemble prediction system for climate change based on the principal state-of-the-art, high resolution, global and regional Earth System models developed in Europe, validated against quality controlled, high resolution gridded datasets for Europe, to produce for the first time, an objective probabilistic estimate of uncertainty in future climate at the seasonal to decadal and longer timescales. A large set of seasonal, annual and decadal hindcasts is available which have been produced with different forecast systems run by ECMWF, Météo-France, Met Office, IfM, INGV and CERFACS. These systems addressed the important problem of the impact of model uncertainty on forecast error by using the multi-model, stochastic physics and perturbed parameters approaches. > see in MARS Catalogue
EURO4M European Reanalysis and Observations for Monitoring project is a EU funded project that provides timely and reliable information about the state and evolution of the European climate. It combines observations from satellites, ground-based stations and results from comprehensive model-based regional reanalyses. By closely monitoring European climate, climate variability and change can be better understood and predicted. > see in MARS Catalogue
MERSEA Development of a European system for operational monitoring and forecasting of the ocean physics, biogeochemistry, and ecosystems, on global and regional scales> see in MARS Catalogue
PROVOST stands for Prediction Of climate Variations On Seasonal to inter annual Time scales. They are a set of experiments from four centres: ECMWF, Météo-France, EDF and Met Office. The experiments are 120 day runs from 9 consecutive starting days, with write-ups every 24 hours of Pressure level and Surface data. > see in MARS Catalogue
1.0 Experiments
Experiment data from four centres: ECMWF, Meteo France, EDF and UKMO. The experiments are 120 day runs from 9 consecutive starting days, with writeups every 24 hours, pressure level and surface data.
A common parameter table and a common GRIB format have been used by all the centres. The same originating centre has been coded in the GRIB header (98=ECMWF), and a sub-centre identifier is used:
240, ECMWF
241, Meteo France
242, EDF
243, UKMO
2.0 Parameter table
A new common parameter table has been used which contains only the parameters agreed for comparison between centres.
TABLE 1. ECMWF local Code Table 2, Version Number 170
Code
Mars
Field
Units
129
Z
Geopotential
m2 s-2
130
T
Temperature
K
131
U
U-velocity
m s-1
132
V
V-velocity
m s-1
138
VO
Vorticity (relative)
s-1
140
SWL1
Soil wetness level 1
m
149
TSW
Total soil moisture
m
151
MSL
Mean sea level pressure
Pa
155
D
Divergence
s-1
171
SWL2
Soil wetness level 2
m
179
TTR
Top thermal radiation
W m-2
184
SWL3
Soil wetness level 3
m
201
MX2T
Maximum temp. at 2m since previous post-processing
K
202
MN2T
Minimum temp. at 2m sonce previous post-processing
X = both pressure level and surface fields archived
- = not to be archived
4.3 MARS retrieval
4.3.1 Single level
RETRIEVE,
CLASS = RD,
TYPE = FC,
EXPVER = "SMEF",
LEVTYPE = SFC,
PARAM = 129/141/149/151/172/179/201/202/228,
DATE = yyyymmdd,
TIME = 1200,
STEP = 0/24/48/...,
TARGET = "myfile"
4.3.2 Pressure levels
RETRIEVE, CLASS = RD, TYPE = FC, EXPVER = "SMEF", LEVTYPE = PL, LEVELIST = 850/700/500/200, PARAM = 129/130/138/155, DATE = yyyymmdd, TIME = 1200, STEP = 0/24/48/.., TARGET = "myfile"
5.0 EDF stored data
5.1 Single level
Parameters:
129/141/149/151/172/179/201/202/228,
5.2 Pressure levels
Levels:
850/700/500/200
Parameters:
129/130/138/155
Not all parameters are available at all levels:
- 129 is available at 700/500/200
- 130 is available at 850/500/200
- 138 is available at 850/200
- 155 is available at 850/200
TABLE 4. EDF seasonal forecast data
Date
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
22/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
23/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
24/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
25/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
26/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
27/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
28/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
29/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
30/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X = both pressure level and surface fields archived
5.3 MARS retrieval
5.3.1 Single level
RETRIEVE,
CLASS = RD,
TYPE = FC,
EXPVER = "SEDF",
LEVTYPE = SFC,
PARAM = 129/141/149/151/172/179/201/202/228,
DATE = yyyymmdd,
TIME = 1200,
STEP = 0/24/48/...,
TARGET = "myfile"
5.3.2 Pressure levels
RETRIEVE,
CLASS = RD,
TYPE = FC,
EXPVER = "SEDF",
LEVTYPE = PL,
LEVELIST = 850/700/500/200,
PARAM = 129/130/138/155,
DATE = yyyymmdd,
TIME = 1200,
STEP = 0/24/48/..,
TARGET = "myfile"
6.0 UKMO stored data
6.1 Single level
Parameters:
130/140/141/149/151/179/201/202/228
6.2 Pressure levels
Levels:
850/700/500/200
Parameters:
129/130/131/132
Not all parameters are available at all levels:
- 129 is available at 700/500/200
- 130 is available at 850/500/200
- 131 is available at 850/200
- 132 is available at 850/200
TABLE 5. UKMO seasonal forecast data
Date
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
20/02
X
-
X
X
X
-
X
X
X
-
X
X
X
-
X
21/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
22/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
23/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
24/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
25/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
26/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
27/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
28/02
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
29/02
-
X
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
X
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
23/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
24/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
25/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
26/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
27/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
28/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
29/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
30/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
31/05
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
23/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
24/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
25/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
26/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
27/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
28/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
29/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
30/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
31/08
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
22/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
23/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
24/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
25/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
26/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
27/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
28/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
29/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
30/11
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X = pressure level and surface fields archived
- = not to be archived
6.3 MARS retrieval
For this data stream, EXPVER = "SUKM" must be used.
6.3.1 Single level
RETRIEVE,
CLASS = RD,
TYPE = FC,
STREAM = 2243,
EXPVER = "SUKM",
LEVTYPE = SFC,
REPRES = LL,
DOMAIN = G,
PARAM = 130/140/141/149/151/179/201/202/228,
DATE = yyyymmdd,
TIME = 1200,
STEP = 24/48/...,
TARGET = "myfile"
6.3.2 Pressure levels
RETRIEVE,
CLASS = RD,
TYPE = FC,
STREAM = 2243,
EXPVER = "SUKM",
LEVTYPE = PL,
LEVELIST = 850/700/500/200,
PARAM = 129/130/131/132,
REPRES = LL,
DOMAIN = G,
DATE = yyyymmdd,
TIME = 1200,
STEP = 24/48/...,
TARGET = "myfile"
TOST is the THORPEX Observing System Test, an experiment carried out at the end of 2003 to evaluate targeted observations in an Ensemble Prediction System. There is output from 3 different models, ECMWF, Météo-France and United Kingdom Met Office.> see in MARS Catalogue
A vast amount of data is archived daily containing IFS (Integrated Forecast System) experiments produced by ECMWF's Research Department or by Member States' users at ECMWF. Basically, an experiment can address any area of meteorology and it is archived accordingly. Users wanting to retrieve Research experiments need to know in advance the name of the specific experiment and its nature. For this information please, contact User Support.
Member States projects
Some Member States also archive output other than from IFS into MARS. One example of such activity is the COSMO-LEPS forecast suite, running daily at ECMWF.
Input data to ECMWF models or for verification/scores
Fields
ECMWF archives a selection of products, both Analysis and Forecast, from other Centres: Exeter, Melbourne, Montreal, Offenbach, Toulouse, Tokyo and Washington. Most of these products exist on the GTS and they are combined to create global fields with ECMWF local GRIB header extensions added. A convention exists to create empty (dummy) fields when there are missing data (e.g. if problems arise at one of the Centres or on the GTS).
There are other fields which are used as input for the ECMWF forecasting system (e.g. Sea Surface Temperatures from Washington which are used by ECMWF's Analysis).
Images from Meteosat and GOES Satellites are coded in GRIB and archived in MARS.
Observations
Observations used as input to the assimilation system are also archived in MARS, as well as the Feedback on how the observations are used in the analysis. There are, amongst others:
Surface data, conventional and satellite data covering: synoptic observations, soil and earth temperature, buoy information and PAOB observations (pseudo surface pressure observations in the Southern Hemisphere).
Upper-air data, conventional observations such as AIREP and ACARS, together with satellite upper-air SATOB, high resolution winds and geostationary radiances.
MARS also holds the observations in the form of files as they are presented to the Analysis (Analysis Input), as well as the feedback files (Analysis Feedback). These are mainly used to allow to reproduce in the future any past operational run. There is one set of files per synoptic time.
Data formats
Archived data is stored in two WMO formats: GRIB for fields and BUFR for observations. In addition, observation feedback is archived in the ECMWF/IFS format ODB (Observational Data Base). In general, the retrieved data is returned in the archive format. However, with the Data Server or the Web API it is possible to request fields to be returned in netCDF format.
WMO FM 92-IX Ext GRIB
GRIB (GRid In Binary) is a WMO defined format for meteorological field data, or (more generally) any regularly spaced gridded data. All ECMWF model output is in GRIB format with ECMWF local extensions in their headers. The GRIB format is handled via the GRIB software. Fields are archived in one of the following spatial coordinate systems:
Spherical Harmonics (SH) mainly for upper air fields
Gaussian Grid (GG) mainly for surface data, although some upper air fields as well
Latitude/Longitude (LL) other centre's data, wave and ocean data
For the correspondence between the three types of grid resolutions see the following table
Correspondence between resolutions of ECMWF grid types
BUFR (Binary Universal Form Representation) is a WMO defined format for point data (irregularly spaced), which is used for archived observations. The BUFR format is handled via BUFREX and other subroutines provided by the ECMWF BUFRDC software.
ODB
In the IFS observations are handled by ODB (Observational Data Base).
ODB is a
Hierarchical in-core database with a data definition and query language: ODB/SQL
A data format
...
ODB Observation Feedback (ofb) data is archived in MARS to improve its representation in the MARS meta data. ODB also introduces SQL capabilities to request feedback data.