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ERA-15 MARS Access

ERA-15 data in the Meteorological Archive and Retrieval System (MARS)

1. Introduction

Users of MARS should note that the ERA production data are archived in monthly files. Each archive file contains all data for one month at one synoptic hour, or, in the case of forecast data, for one timestep of the forecast based on one synoptic hour. Thus, users should try to ensure that each retrieve request relates, as far as is possible, only to one archive file. For example, where all four synoptic hours for a series of dates are required you should compose one retrieve request for each hour (all dates), making four retrieve requests rather than one. Note also that the Gaussian grid model level upper air data are archived in separate files from the spherical harmonic upper air data, and thus must be the subject of separate retrieve requests.

Users of spherical harmonic data should note that ERA GRIB data contain an error with respect to the complex packing of these data. If the ECMWF GRIBEX routine is used to decode the data this error is reversed. If any other GRIB decoder is used, the results may not be correct.

ERA data are referenced by:

class=er, expver=01

The remaining rules being as indicated in the MARS manual.

The ERA-15 archive contains analyses (type=an) and forecasts (type=fc) only - there are no data of type=fg (first guess) or type=ia (initialised analysis). Data equivalent to the Operational designation of "first guess" are accessed using type=fc and step=6. Initialised analysis data are accessed using type=fc and step=0.

2. Summary the available data

2.1 Data Assimilation Analysis and Forecast Production Data

Analysis T106 model level data for 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00

 type=an, levtype=ml, repres=sh, levelist=1/to/31, 
param=lnsp/t/w/vo/d,

Analysis N80 reduced Gaussian grid model level data for 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00

 type=an, levtype=ml, repres=gg, 
levelist=1/to/31, param=q,

Analysis T106 pressure level data for 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00

 type=an, levtype=pl, repres=sh, levelist=1000/925/850/775/700/600/500/400/300/250/200/150/100/70/50/30/10, 
param=z/t/w/vo/d/r,

Analysis N80 reduced Gaussian grid data for 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00

 type=an, levtype=sfc, repres=gg, levelist=off, param=z/stl1/stl2/stl3/stl4/swl1/swl2/swl3/swl4/sd/msl/ 
sdor/isor/anor/slor/ 10u/10v/2t/2d/lsm/sr/al/ src/veg/asq/lsrh/skt,

2.2 Forecast T106 model level data for forecasts based on 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 analyses

 type=fc, levtype=ml, repres=sh, levelist=1/to/31, 
step=0, param=at/lnsp/t/w/vo/d, (forecast step 0 only) type=fc, levtype=ml, repres=sh, 
levelist=1/to/31, param=at/lnsp/t/w/vo/d, (forecast steps 6, 12, 18, 24 for forecasts 
based on 00:00 and 12:00, step 6 only for forecasts based on 06:00 and 18:00)

Forecast N80 reduced Gaussian grid model level data for forecasts based on 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 analyses

 type=fc, levtype=ml, repres=gg, 
levelist=1/to/31, step=0, param=q/clwc/ciwc/cc, (forecast steps 0, 6, 12, 18, 
24 for forecasts based on 00:00 and 12:00, steps 0 and 6 only for forecasts based 
on 06:00 and 18:00)

2.3 Forecast T106 pressure level data for forecasts based on 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 analyses

 type=fc, levtype=pl, 
repres=sh, levelist=1000/925/850/775/700/600/500/400/300/250/200/150/100/70/50/30/10, 
param=z/t/w/vo/d/r, (forecast steps 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 for forecasts based on 00:00 
and 12:00, steps 0, 6 only for forecasts based on 06:00 and 18:00)

2.4 Forecast N80 reduced Gaussian grid for forecasts based on 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 analyses

 type=fc, levtype=sfc, repres=gg, step=0, levelist=off, 
param=z/tcw/tcwv/stl1/stl2/stl3/stl4/swl1/swl2/swl3/swl4/sd/lsp/ cp/sf/bld/sshf/slhf/msl/tcc/10u/10v/2t/2d/lsm/ 
sr/al/ssr/ssrd/str/strd/tsr/ttr/ewss/nsss/e/ccc/lcc/mcc/hcc/ sdor/isor/anor/slor/lgws/mgws/gwd/ 
src/veg/ro/iews/inss/lshf/ie/asq/lsrh/skt/ csf/lsf/fal/fsr/flsr, (forecast step 
0 only) NOTES: 1. tcw not available before 01.01.82. 2. ssrd and strd not available 
for dates earlier than 01.01.83. type=fc, levtype=sfc, repres=gg, levelist=off, 
param=z/tcw/tcwv/stl1/stl2/stl3/stl4/swl1/swl2/swl3/swl4/sd/lsp/ cp/sf/bld/sshf/slhf/msl/tcc/10u/10v/2t/2d/ 
ssr/ssrd/str/strd/tsr/ttr/ewss/nsss/e/ccc/lcc/mcc/hcc/ lgws/mgws/gwd/ src/ro/iews/inss/lshf/ie/asq/skt/ 
csf/lsf/fal/fsr/flsr, (forecast steps 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 for forecasts based on 
00:00 and 12:00, steps 3, 6 only for forecasts based on 06:00 and 18:00; note 
that step 3 is available only for expver=01) NOTES: 1. tcw not available before 
01.01.82. 2. ssrd and strd not available for dates earlier than 01.01.83.

2.5 Analysis 2.5 degree pressure level data for 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00

 type=an, levtype=pl, repres=ll, grid=2.5/2.5, levelist=1000/925/850/775/700/600/500/400/300/250/200/150/100/70/50/30/10, 
param=z/t/u/v/q/w/r,

Analysis 2.5 degree surface data for 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00

 type=an, levtype=sfc, repres=ll, grid=2.5/2.5, levelist=off, 
param=z/stl1/stl2/stl3/stl4/swl1/swl2/swl3/swl4/sd/msl/ 10u/10v/2t/2d/lsm/sr/al/sdor/isor/anor/slor/ 
src/veg/asq/lsrh/skt,

2.6 Forecast 2.5 degree pressure level data for forecasts based on 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 analyses

 type=an, 
levtype=pl, repres=ll, grid=2.5/2.5, levelist=1000/925/850/775/700/600/500/400/300/250/200/150/100/70/50/30/10, 
param=z/t/u/v/q/w/r,

2.7 Forecast 2.5 degree surface data for forecasts based on 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 analyses

 type=fc, levtype=sfc, 
repres=ll, grid=2.5/2.5, levelist=off, step=0, param=z/stl1/stl2/stl3/stl4/swl1/swl2/swl3/swl4/sd/lsp/cp/ 
sf/bld/sshf/slhf/msl/tcc/10u/10v/2t/2d/lsm/sr/al/ ssr/str/tsr/ttr/ewov/sdor/isor/anor/slor/ 
gwd/src/veg/ro/iews/inss/ishf/ie/asq/lsrh/skt/ csf/lsf/fal/fsr/flsr, (forecast 
step 0 only) type=fc, levtype=sfc, repres=ll, grid=2.5/2.5, levelist=off, step=0, 
param=stl1/stl2/stl3/stl4/swl1/swl2/swl3/swl4/sd/lsp/cp/ sf/bld/sshf/slhf/msl/tcc/10u/10v/2t/2d/ 
ssr/str/tsr/ttr/ewss/nsss/e/ccc/lcc/mcc/hcc/ gwd/src/ro/skt/csf/lsf, (forecast 
steps 6, 12, 18, 24 for forecasts based on 00:00 and 12:00, step 6 only for forecasts 
based on 06:00 and 18:00)

2.8 10 Day Forecasts run from ERA Analyses

Nearly 1000 ten day forecasts, at the same resolution as the assimilation system (T106L31), have been run from ERA analyses. They have been run as follows:

from 00 UTC data:

On the first day of the year, and every subsequent 15 days throughout the year.

Also for the following specific dates:

26 Dec 1978
28 Dec 1978
30 Dec 1978
17 Jan 1979
27 Feb 1979
28 Feb 1979
01 Mar 1979
03 Mar 1979
04 Mar 1979
05 Mar 1979
06 Mar 1979
07 Mar 1979
20 May 1979
10 Nov 1979
11 Nov 1979
13 Nov 1979
14 Nov 1979
16 Nov 1979
18 Nov 1979
22 Dec 1979
24 Dec 1979
26 Dec 1979
06 Jan 1984
15 Jan 1984
09 Dec 1985

from 12 UTC data:

On the 1st and 16th of each calender month. Additionally, every 6th, 11th, 21st, and 26th of each calendar month for the years 1979, 1982, and 1983.

Also for the following specific dates:

18 Jan 1979
09 Aug 1979
10 Aug 1979
12 Aug 1979
04 Oct 1979
05 Oct 1979
23 Oct 1980
24 Oct 1980
07 Jan 1981
08 Jan 1981
09 Jan 1981
10 Jan 1981
30 Jun 1981
02 Jul 1981
30 Oct 1981
31 Oct 1981
09 Mar 1982
15 Mar 1982
31 Mar 1982
02 Apr 1982
03 Apr 1982
04 Apr 1982
18 Sep 1982
19 Sep 1982
20 Sep 1982
21 Sep 1982
22 Sep 1982
04 Feb 1984
05 Feb 1984
06 Feb 1984
07 Feb 1984
08 Feb 1984
09 Feb 1984
10 Jan 1987
17 Jan 1987
18 Jan 1987
19 Jan 1987
20 Jan 1987
29 Nov 1989
30 Nov 1989
18 Jul 1991
10 Jan 1992
11 Jan 1992
12 Jan 1992
24 Aug 1992
29 Sep 1992
24 Jan 1993

ERA 10 day forecasts are referenced by coding:

 class=er, expver=nn, (where nn = 50 plus expver of ERA analysis 
data) (ie 51 from expver=01 analyses, etc.)

and are available for

 
step=00/to/240/by/12,

The ten day forecasts are available from 1 January 1980 onwards. The archive is comprised of 4 files for each forecast, containing T106 model level data, N80 model level data, T106 pressure level data, and N80 surface and flux data. Each file contains all timesteps.

The following is a summary of the data available from each forecast:

T106 model level data:

 type=fc, levtype=ml, repres=sh, levelist=1/to/31, param=lnsp/t/w/vo/d,

N80 reduced Gaussian grid model level data:

 type=fc, levtype=ml, repres=gg, 
levelist=1/to/31, param=q/clwc/ciwc/cc,

T106 pressure level data:

 
type=fc, levtype=pl, repres=sh, levelist=1000/925/850/775/700/600/500/400/300/250/200/150/100/70/50/30/10, 
param=z/t/r/w/vo/d,

N80 reduced Gaussian grid data:

 type=fc, 
levtype=sfc, repres=gg, param=tcwv/stl1/swl1/sd/lsp/cp/sf/bld/sshf/ slhf/msl/tcc/10u/10v/2t/2d/stl2/swl2/ 
ssrd/strd/ssr/str/tsr/ttr/ewss/nsss/e/stl3/ swl3/ccc/lcc/mcc/hcc/lgws/ mgws/gwd/src/mx2t/mn2t/ro/iews/inss/ 
ishf/ie/asq/skt/stl4/swl4/csf/lsf/ fal/fsr/flsr, NOTE: ssrd and strd not available 
for dates earlier than 01.01.83.

07.02.2002