Catalogue of ECMWF Archived data and products

The catalogue contains the following data sets:

• Operational Archive
  • Atmospheric Model
  • Wave Model
  • European Wave Model
  • EPS/Monthly
  • Seasonal Forecast
  • Monthly Means
• Special Datasets
  • ECMWF Re-Analysis
  • EUROSIP
  • MACC
• Observations

Operational archive

Atmospheric model

Analysis run for the four main synoptic hours 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC; forecast run out to 10 days based on the 00/12 UTC analysis forecast.

Data is produced at the surface, on model levels, pressure levels, isentropic levels and levels of equal potential vorticity.

Wave model

ECMWF's deterministic atmospheric model is coupled with a wave model allowing two-way interaction between wind and waves.

Analyses are available for the four main synoptic hours 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC; forecasts are produced globally out to 10 days based on the 00/12 UTC analysis.

European wave model

ECMWF runs the wave model at a finer resolution for a limited area. It used to be called the Mediterranean model but is now known as the European wave model.

Analyses are available for the four main synoptic hours 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC; forecasts are produced out to 5 days based on the 00/12 UTC analysis.

Ensemble Prediction System and monthly forecast

The Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) runs 50 perturbed forecasts (different forecast with perturbed initial conditions) and a control (unperturbed) forecast.
The EPS changes its resolution from day 10 of the forecast period; it extends the forecast range to 15 days.
The monthly forecast system is linked to EPS; it extends the forecast range from day 16 to day 32.

Atmospheric and ocean components run uncoupled for the first 10 days and coupled from then onwards.

The hindcast system consists of a 5-member ensemble of 32-day EPS/monthly integrations, starting on the same day and month as the real-time forecast for each of the past 18 years.

System 3 seasonal forecast

The seasonal forecast system couples three models: the atmospheric, wave and ocean models.

The seasonal forecasts consist of a 41-member ensemble. The ensemble is constructed by combining the 5-member ensemble ocean analysis with SST perturbations and the activation of stochastic physics. The forecasts run for 7 months, based on the 00 UTC analysis.

A set of re-forecasts (otherwise known as hindcasts or back integrations) are made starting on the 1st of every month for the years 1981-2005. They are identical to the real-time forecasts in every way, except that the ensemble size is only 11 rather than 41.

Synoptic monthly means

ECMWF maintains an archive of monthly mean 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.

Special datasets

ECMWF re-analysis

• ERA-15, a validated 15 year data set of assimilated data for the period 1979 to 1994
• ERA-40, a validated 45 year data set of assimilated data for the period 1957 to 2002
• ERA-Interim, a validated set of assimilated data starting from 1989, being extended in near real-time

The datasets available include: analysis, forecast and forecast accumulations as output from atmospheric model, as well as analysis and forecast from a wave model re-analysis. There is also a monthly means data set containing data at the resolution of the data assimilation and forecast system used by each re-analysis.

EUROSIP

The EUROSIP multi-model seasonal forecasting system consists of three independent coupled systems: ECMWF, Met Office and Météo-France; all integrated in a common framework.

EUROSIP data products are ensemble means and anomalies.

MACC

MACC provides data records of atmospheric composition for recent years, obtained from a reanalysis system, and data for monitoring present conditions and forecasting the distribution of key constituents for a few days ahead.The MACC datasets comprise:

• Near-real time products: global analyses and forecasts run twice daily, within a few hours of observation time
• Delayed products: improved global analyses for production about five to six months behind real-time The delayed mode products might be based on data that are unavailable in near-real-time, such as satellite retrievals and, possibly, tower and other regularly reported in-situ greenhouse gas data.
• Reanalysis products: retrospective analysis (reanalysis) products for global greenhouse gases, reactive gases and aerosols for the period from 2003 onwards.

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. The following "essential" observations, as defined in WMO resolution 40 (CG-XII), are available:

• Marine observations subtypes: surface BUOY, surface BATHY, surface TESAC and SYNOP ship. Oceanographic (sub-surface) data are available from DRIBU/BUOY, BATHY and TESAC.
• Aircraft observations subtypes: AMDAR, AIREP and ACAR.
• Upper air soundings subtypes: PILOT (Land), PILOT (Ship), TEMP (Land), TEMP (Ship), TEMP (mobile), TEMP (Drop), ROCOB (Land) and ROCOB (Ship).
• Satellite data: data from operational satellites that are agreed with satellite operators;subtypes:SATEM and SATOB.