In order to interpret CEMS-Flood (EFAS & GloFAS) model outputs in a correct way, you will need a number of auxiliary data, also referred to as the 'time invariant' data on the Climate Data Store (CDS). These data are part of the EFAS and GloFAS setups of the LISFLOOD model. This page summarises the auxiliary datasets made available through the CDS and how they should be used in combination with the model outputs.

EFAS Auxiliary Data

The auxiliary data are provided as small NetCDF files, and are available to download through the Climate Data Store (CDS) on the EFAS pages.

The following five datasets are available:

Upstream area
Elevation
Soil depth (3 soil levels)
Wilting point (3 soil levels)
Field capacity (3 soil levels)
Flood threshold (9 severity levels) (from EFAS version 5)

For EFAS version 5.0, they are in WGS84. For versions 4.0 and older they are in the INSPIRE compliant ETRS89 Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area Coordinate Reference System (ETRS-LAEA), also referred to as EPSG:3035. More information on the EFAS horizontal resolution is available in the model output page.

EFAS Versioning

It is important for users to make sure they download the auxiliary data consistent with the dataset version of interest. This is because the auxiliary data sometimes change with a new EFAS cycle; for example, the upstream area is specific to the hydrological model configuration used which can change between cycles.

For example, users accessing forecast data issued between 2019-05-13 and 2020-03-04 should use v3.0 of the auxiliary data, as forecasts issued during that period were produced with EFAS v3.0.

For the full history of EFAS versions and release dates, visit EFAS versioning system.

EFAS Upstream area

The upstream area file denotes the total upstream area for each river pixel, expressed in m². It is defined as the catchment area for each river segment, i.e. the total area that contributes with water to the river at the specific grid point (or river pixel). The upstream area always includes the area of the pixel it is associated to.

NetCDF metadata (for V4.0)

dimensions:
        x = 1000 ;
        y = 950 ;
variables:
        double x(x) ;
                x:units = "m" ;
                x:long_name = "x coordinate of projection" ;
                x:standard_name = "projection_x_coordinate" ;
        double y(y) ;
                y:units = "m" ;
                y:long_name = "y coordinate of projection" ;
                y:standard_name = "projection_y_coordinate" ;
        char lambert_azimuthal_equal_area ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:inverse_flattening = 298.257222101 ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:spatial_ref = "PROJCS[\"ETRS89 / LAEA Europe\",GEOGCS[\"ETRS89\",DATUM[\"European_Terrestrial_Reference_System_1989\",SPHEROID[\"GRS 1980\",6378137,298.257222101,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"7019\"]],TOWGS84[0,0,0,0,0,0,0],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"6258\"]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"8901\"]],UNIT[\"degree\",0.0174532925199433,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"9122\"]],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"4258\"]],PROJECTION[\"Lambert_Azimuthal_Equal_Area\"],PARAMETER[\"latitude_of_center\",52],PARAMETER[\"longitude_of_center\",10],PARAMETER[\"false_easting\",4321000],PARAMETER[\"false_northing\",3210000],UNIT[\"metre\",1,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"9001\"]],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"3035\"]]" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:latitude_of_projection_origin = 52. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:semi_major_axis = 6378137. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:GeoTransform = "2500000 5000 0 5500000 0 -5000 " ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:longitude_of_projection_origin = 10. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:long_name = "CRS definition" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:false_northing = 3210000. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:grid_mapping_name = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:false_easting = 4321000. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:longitude_of_prime_meridian = 0. ;
        double ec_upArea(y, x) ;
                ec_upArea:_FillValue = NaN ;
                ec_upArea:long_name = "ec_upArea" ;
                ec_upArea:missing_value = NaN ;
                ec_upArea:grid_mapping = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;

// global attributes:
                :version = "EFAS Model Version - 4.0" ;
}

NetCDF metadata (for v5.0)

TBD

EFAS Elevation

The elevation (sometimes referred to as orography) file denotes the mean elevation for each pixel in the EFAS domain, expressed in m above sea level. It is defined for each grid point of the modelled domain.

NetCDF metadata (for v4.0)

dimensions:
        x = 1000 ;
        y = 950 ;
variables:
        double x(x) ;
                x:standard_name = "projection_x_coordinate" ;
                x:long_name = "x coordinate of projection" ;
                x:units = "Meter" ;
        double y(y) ;
                y:standard_name = "projection_y_coordinate" ;
                y:long_name = "y coordinate of projection" ;
                y:units = "Meter" ;
        int laea ;
                laea:grid_mapping_name = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                laea:false_easting = 4321000. ;
                laea:false_northing = 3210000. ;
                laea:longitude_of_projection_origin = 10. ;
                laea:latitude_of_projection_origin = 52. ;
                laea:semi_major_axis = 6378137. ;
                laea:inverse_flattening = 298.257223563 ;
                laea:proj4_params = "+proj=laea +lat_0=52 +lon_0=10 +x_0=4321000 +y_0=3210000 +ellps=GRS80 +units=m +no_defs" ;
                laea:EPSG_code = "EPSG:3035" ;
        float dem_mean(y, x) ;
                dem_mean:standard_name = "dem_mean" ;
                dem_mean:long_name = "dem_mean" ;
                dem_mean:units = "-" ;
                dem_mean:grid_mapping = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                dem_mean:esri_pe_string = "PROJCS[\"ETRS_1989_LAEA\",GEOGCS[\"GCS_ETRS_1989\",DATUM[\"D_ETRS_1989\",SPHEROID[\"GRS_1980\",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0.0],UNIT[\"Degree\",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION[\"Lambert_Azimuthal_Equal_Area\"],PARAMETER[\"false_easting\",4321000.0],PARAMETER[\"false_northing\",3210000.0],PARAMETER[\"central_meridian\",10.0],PARAMETER[\"latitude_of_origin\",52.0],UNIT[\"Meter\",1.0]]" ;

// global attributes:
                :history = "Created Mon Feb 29 10:20:21 2016" ;
                :conventions = "CF-1.6" ;
                :source_software = "Python netCDF3_Classic" ;
                :title = "Lisflood maps for European setting Januar 2015" ;
                :keywords = "Lisflood, Europe" ;
                :source = "Lisflood European maps - pb2015" ;
                :institition = "JRC H01" ;
}

EFAS Soil depth, wilting capacity and field capacity

The files for soil depth, wilting capacity, and field capacity are collectively known as the 'soil wetness index' files, and contain all the relevant information to calculate the soil wetness index from the volumetric soil moisture dataset model output. They are provided separately for each of the three soil layers represented in LISFLOOD.

They are defined as follows:

Soil depth: The soil depth for each of the three soil layers at each grid point. The value is relative from the top of the land surface to the bottom of each layer respectively.
Wilting point: The minimal amount of water in the soil that the plant requires not to wilt. If the soil water content decreases to this or any lower point a plant wilts and can no longer recover its turgidity when placed in a saturated atmosphere for 12 hours.
Field capacity: The amount of soil moisture or water content held in the soil after excess water has drained away and the rate of downward movement has decreased.

More detail on the datasets and how they should be used to derive the soil moisture index is provided here.

Soil depth NetCDF metadata (for soil level 3, and v4.0)

dimensions:
        y = 950 ;
        x = 1000 ;
variables:
        double y(y) ;
                y:_FillValue = NaN ;
                y:units = "Meter" ;
                y:long_name = "Y coordinate of projection" ;
                y:standard_name = "projection_Y_coordinate" ;
        double x(x) ;
                x:_FillValue = NaN ;
                x:units = "Meter" ;
                x:long_name = "x coordinate of projection" ;
                x:standard_name = "projection_x_coordinate" ;
        double soilLayer ;
                soilLayer:_FillValue = NaN ;
                soilLayer:long_name = "original GRIB coordinate for key: level(soilLayer)" ;
                soilLayer:units = "1" ;
        float sod(y, x) ;
                sod:_FillValue = NaNf ;
                sod:GRIB_paramId = 260367LL ;
                sod:GRIB_dataType = "cf" ;
                sod:GRIB_numberOfPoints = 950000LL ;
                sod:GRIB_typeOfLevel = "soilLayer" ;
                sod:GRIB_stepUnits = 1LL ;
                sod:GRIB_stepType = "instant" ;
                sod:GRIB_gridType = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                sod:GRIB_NV = 0LL ;
                sod:GRIB_cfName = "unknown" ;
                sod:GRIB_cfVarName = "sod" ;
                sod:GRIB_gridDefinitionDescription = "Lambert azimuthal equal area projection " ;
                sod:GRIB_missingValue = 9999LL ;
                sod:GRIB_name = "Soil depth" ;
                sod:GRIB_shortName = "sod" ;
                sod:GRIB_totalNumber = 51LL ;
                sod:GRIB_units = "m" ;
                sod:long_name = "Soil depth" ;
                sod:units = "m" ;
                sod:standard_name = "unknown" ;
                sod:grid_mapping = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                sod:coordinates = "soilLayer" ;
        int lambert_azimuthal_equal_area ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:semi_major_axis = 6378137. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:EPSG_code = "EPSG:3035" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:latitude_of_projection_origin = 52. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:inverse_flattening = 298.257223563 ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:longitude_of_projection_origin = 10. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:proj4_params = "+proj=laea +lat_0=52 +lon_0=10 +x_0=4321000 +y_0=3210000 +ellps=GRS80 +units=m +no_defs" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:false_northing = 3210000. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:grid_mapping_name = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:false_easting = 4321000. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:coordinates = "soilLayer" ;
        byte land_binary_mask(y, x) ;
                land_binary_mask:standard_name = "land_binary_mask" ;
                land_binary_mask:long_name = "masking_area" ;
                land_binary_mask:units = "1" ;
                land_binary_mask:grid_mapping = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                land_binary_mask:esri_pe_string = "PROJCS[\"ETRS_1989_LAEA\",GEOGCS[\"GCS_ETRS_1989\",DATUM[\"D_ETRS_1989\",SPHEROID[\"GRS_1980\",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0.0],UNIT[\"Degree\",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION[\"Lambert_Azimuthal_Equal_Area\"],PARAMETER[\"false_easting\",4321000.0],PARAMETER[\"false_northing\",3210000.0],PARAMETER[\"central_meridian\",10.0],PARAMETER[\"latitude_of_origin\",52.0],UNIT[\"Meter\",1.0]]" ;
                land_binary_mask:coordinates = "soilLayer" ;

// global attributes:
                :GRIB_edition = 2LL ;
                :GRIB_centre = "ecmf" ;
                :GRIB_centreDescription = "European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts" ;
                :GRIB_subCentre = 0LL ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.7" ;
                :institution = "European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts" ;
                :history = "2021-11-10T10:31 GRIB to CDM+CF via cfgrib-0.9.9.1/ecCodes-2.23.0 with {\"source\": \"/cache/tmp/afa118b9-8b07-482c-aed7-26976ba41bb7-adaptor.mars.external-1636540185.293234-5781-3-tmp.grib\", \"filter_by_keys\": {}, \"encode_cf\": [\"parameter\", \"time\", \"geography\", \"vertical\"]}" ;
}

Wilting point NetCDF metadata (for soil level 3, and v4.0)

dimensions:
        x = 1000 ;
        y = 950 ;
variables:
        double x(x) ;
                x:long_name = "x coordinate of projection" ;
                x:units = "Meter" ;
                x:axis = "X" ;
        double y(y) ;
                y:long_name = "y coordinate of projection" ;
                y:units = "Meter" ;
                y:axis = "Y" ;
        float wiltingpoint(y, x) ;
                wiltingpoint:standard_name = "thetar3" ;
                wiltingpoint:long_name = "residual_moisture3" ;
                wiltingpoint:units = "mm" ;
                wiltingpoint:esri_pe_string = "PROJCS[\"ETRS_1989_LAEA\",GEOGCS[\"GCS_ETRS_1989\",DATUM[\"D_ETRS_1989\",SPHEROID[\"GRS_1980\",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0.0],UNIT[\"Degree\",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION[\"Lambert_Azimuthal_Equal_Area\"],PARAMETER[\"false_easting\",4321000.0],PARAMETER[\"false_northing\",3210000.0],PARAMETER[\"central_meridian\",10.0],PARAMETER[\"latitude_of_origin\",52.0],UNIT[\"Meter\",1.0]]" ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.8.2 (http://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.6" ;
                :history = "Tue Dec 11 15:47:51 2018: cdo setname,wiltingpoint test6.nc thmin3.nc\n",
                        "Tue Dec 11 15:47:49 2018: cdo div test5.nc SDmap3.nc test6.nc\n",
                        "Tue Dec 11 15:47:49 2018: cdo add test2.nc test4.nc test5.nc\n",
                        "Tue Dec 11 15:47:49 2018: cdo mul test1.nc fracnoforest.nc test2.nc\n",
                        "Tue Dec 11 15:47:48 2018: cdo mul thetar3.nc soildepth3_o.nc test1.nc\n",
                        "Created Tue Feb 03 18:06:55 2015" ;
                :source = "Lisflood European maps - pb2015" ;
                :conventions = "CF-1.6" ;
                :source_software = "Python netCDF3_Classic" ;
                :title = "Lisflood maps for European setting Januar 2015" ;
                :keywords = "Lisflood, Europe" ;
                :institition = "JRC H01" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.8.2 (http://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

Field capacity NetCDF metadata (for soil level 3, and v4.0)

dimensions:
        x = 1000 ;
        y = 950 ;
variables:
        double x(x) ;
                x:long_name = "x coordinate of projection" ;
                x:units = "Meter" ;
                x:axis = "X" ;
        double y(y) ;
                y:long_name = "y coordinate of projection" ;
                y:units = "Meter" ;
                y:axis = "Y" ;
        float fieldcapacity(y, x) ;
                fieldcapacity:standard_name = "thetas3" ;
                fieldcapacity:long_name = "saturated_moisture2" ;
                fieldcapacity:units = "mm" ;
                fieldcapacity:esri_pe_string = "PROJCS[\"ETRS_1989_LAEA\",GEOGCS[\"GCS_ETRS_1989\",DATUM[\"D_ETRS_1989\",SPHEROID[\"GRS_1980\",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0.0],UNIT[\"Degree\",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION[\"Lambert_Azimuthal_Equal_Area\"],PARAMETER[\"false_easting\",4321000.0],PARAMETER[\"false_northing\",3210000.0],PARAMETER[\"central_meridian\",10.0],PARAMETER[\"latitude_of_origin\",52.0],UNIT[\"Meter\",1.0]]" ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.8.2 (http://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.6" ;
                :history = "Tue Dec 11 15:53:48 2018: cdo setname,fieldcapacity thetas3.nc thmax3.nc\n",
                        "Created Tue Feb 03 18:06:56 2015" ;
                :source = "Lisflood European maps - pb2015" ;
                :conventions = "CF-1.6" ;
                :source_software = "Python netCDF3_Classic" ;
                :title = "Lisflood maps for European setting Januar 2015" ;
                :keywords = "Lisflood, Europe" ;
                :institition = "JRC H01" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.8.2 (http://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

The Local Drain Direction (LDD) file is also available to download below (in both WGS84 for v5.0, and EPSG:3035 for versions 4.0 and older).

Local Drain Direction (LDD)

The Local Drain Direction (LDD) in a hydrological model is the essential component to connect the grid cells in order to express the flow direction from one cell to another, and forming a river network from the springs to the mouth. LDD represents flow directions from each grid-cell to its steepest down-slope neighbor.

Geographical directions in the LDD file are coded with values from "1" to "9", with "5" representing pits (grid-cells with only inflow of water).

Download the LDD file for EFAS v4.0 and older here: ldd_efas.nc (1MB)

LDD NetCDF metadata - v4.0

dimensions:
        x = 1000 ;
        y = 950 ;
variables:
        double x(x) ;
                x:standard_name = "projection_x_coordinate" ;
                x:long_name = "x coordinate of projection" ;
                x:units = "m" ;
                x:axis = "X" ;
        double y(y) ;
                y:standard_name = "projection_y_coordinate" ;
                y:long_name = "y coordinate of projection" ;
                y:units = "m" ;
                y:axis = "Y" ;
        char lambert_azimuthal_equal_area ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:inverse_flattening = 298.257222101 ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:semi_major_axis = 6378137. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:longitude_of_prime_meridian = 0. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:spatial_ref = "PROJCS[\"ETRS89 / LAEA Europe\",GEOGCS[\"ETRS89\",DATUM[\"European_Terrestrial_Reference_System_1989\",SPHEROID[\"GRS 1980\",6378137,298.257222101,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"7019\"]],TOWGS84[0,0,0,0,0,0,0],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"6258\"]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"8901\"]],UNIT[\"degree\",0.0174532925199433,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"9122\"]],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"4258\"]],PROJECTION[\"Lambert_Azimuthal_Equal_Area\"],PARAMETER[\"latitude_of_center\",52],PARAMETER[\"longitude_of_center\",10],PARAMETER[\"false_easting\",4321000],PARAMETER[\"false_northing\",3210000],UNIT[\"metre\",1,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"9001\"]],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"3035\"]]" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:latitude_of_projection_origin = 52. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:GeoTransform = "2500000 5000 0 5500000 0 -5000 " ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:longitude_of_projection_origin = 10. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:long_name = "CRS definition" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:false_northing = 3210000. ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:grid_mapping_name = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                lambert_azimuthal_equal_area:false_easting = 4321000. ;
        byte ldd(y, x) ;
                ldd:long_name = "Local drain direction" ;
                ldd:grid_mapping = "lambert_azimuthal_equal_area" ;
                ldd:_FillValue = -1b ;
                ldd:missing_value = -1b ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.9" ;
                :history = "Fri Dec 02 17:04:23 2022: cdo chname,ec_ldd_repaired,ldd ldd_efas_ln.nc ldd_efas.nc" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

Download the LDD file for EFAS v5.0 here: ldd_efas_5.0.nc

LDD NetCDF metadata - v5.0

dimensions:
        lon = 4530 ;
        lat = 2970 ;
variables:
        double lon(lon) ;
                lon:_FillValue = NaN ;
                lon:standard_name = "longitude" ;
                lon:long_name = "longitude" ;
                lon:units = "degrees_east" ;
                lon:axis = "X" ;
        double lat(lat) ;
                lat:_FillValue = NaN ;
                lat:standard_name = "latitude" ;
                lat:long_name = "latitude" ;
                lat:units = "degrees_north" ;
                lat:axis = "Y" ;
        int crs ;
                crs:grid_mapping_name = "latitude_longitude" ;
                crs:long_name = "CRS definition" ;
                crs:longitude_of_prime_meridian = 0. ;
                crs:semi_major_axis = 6378137. ;
                crs:inverse_flattening = 298.257223563 ;
                crs:spatial_ref = "GEOGCS[\"WGS 84\",DATUM[\"WGS_1984\",SPHEROID[\"WGS 84\",6378137,298.257223563,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"7030\"]],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"6326\"]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"8901\"]],UNIT[\"degree\",0.0174532925199433,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"9122\"]],AXIS[\"Latitude\",NORTH],AXIS[\"Longitude\",EAST],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"4326\"]]" ;
                crs:GeoTransform = "-25.25 0.01666666666666666 0 72.25000000000001 0 -0.01666666666666666 " ;
        ubyte ldd(lat, lon) ;
                ldd:_FillValue = 255UB ;
                ldd:long_name = "Local drain direction" ;
                ldd:grid_mapping = "crs" ;
                ldd:missing_value = 255UB ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.8 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.5" ;
                :GDAL_AREA_OR_POINT = "Area" ;
                :GDAL_PCRASTER_VALUESCALE = "VS_LDD" ;
                :GDAL = "GDAL 3.0.4, released 2020/01/28" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.8 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.2 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
                :history = "Wed Nov 18 13:58:11 2020: ... ;
}

EFAS Flood Thresholds

EFAS river discharge floods thresholds for selected return periods (or recurrence intervals) of 1.5, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years. These return levels were computed with the Gumbel extreme value distribution using L-moments. The code is available open source here. The two parameters of the distribution (mu and sigma) are also provided.

Download the EFAS v5.1 flood thresholds files here:

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_1.5.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_2.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_5.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_10.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_20.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_50.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_100.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_200.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_rl_500.0.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_mu.nc

flood_threshold_efas_v5.1_sigma.nc

Flood Thresholds NetCDF metadata

Dimensions:   (lat: 2970, lon: 4530)
Coordinates:
  * lat       (lat) float64 72.24167 72.225 72.20834 ... 22.79167, 22.775, 22.75833 
  * lon       (lon) float64 -25.24167 -25.225 -25.20833 ... 50.225 50.24166 50.24166 
Data variables:
    rl_1.5    (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_2.0    (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_5.0    (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_10.0   (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_20.0   (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_50.0   (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_100.0  (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_200.0  (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_500.0  (lat, lon) float64 ...
    sigma     (lat, lon) float64 ...
    mu        (lat, lon) float64 ...

GloFAS Auxiliary Data

The auxiliary data for GloFAS are provided as NetCDF files in WGS 84 (EPSG:4326), and are available to download below.

Four datasets are available to download:

Upstream area
Elevation
The Local Drain Direction (LDD)
Flood thresholds

GloFAS Versioning

It is important for users to make sure they download the auxiliary data consistent with the dataset version of interest. This is because the auxiliary data sometimes change with a new GloFAS cycle; for example, the upstream area is specific to the hydrological model configuration used which can change between cycles.

For the full history of EFAS versions and release dates, visit GloFAS versioning system

The three datasets provided below are applicable for GloFAS version 4.0, and can be used for forecasts produced from 2023-07-26 onwards.

For forecasts produced earlier than 2023-07-26, using GloFAS versions 1.0 to version 3.4, the appropriate auxiliary files can be viewed and downloaded by clicking the expand panel.

GloFAS Upstream area

The upstream area file denotes the total upstream area for each river pixel, expressed in m². The upstream area is defined as the catchment area for each river segment, in other words, the total area that contributes water to the river at the specific grid point. The upstream area always includes the area of the pixel.

Download the upstream area file here: uparea_glofas_v4_0.nc (87MB)

NetCDF metadata

dimensions:
        longitude = 7200 ;
        latitude = 3000 ;
variables:
        double longitude(longitude) ;
                longitude:standard_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:long_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:units = "degrees_east" ;
                longitude:axis = "X" ;
        double latitude(latitude) ;
                latitude:standard_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:long_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:units = "degrees_north" ;
                latitude:axis = "Y" ;
        float uparea(latitude, longitude) ;
                uparea:long_name = "Upstream area of each river pixel" ;
                uparea:units = "m2" ;
                uparea:_FillValue = -3.402823e+38f ;
                uparea:missing_value = -3.402823e+38f ;
                uparea:lon = "longitude" ;
                uparea:lat = "latitude" ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.9" ;
                :GDAL_PCRASTER_VALUESCALE = "VS_SCALAR" ;
                :GDAL_AREA_OR_POINT = "Area" ;
                :GDAL = "GDAL 3.2.1, released 2020/12/29" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.7 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
                :history_of_appended_files = "Fri Dec 10 11:49:42 2021: Appended file ldd_ORIG_03min.nc had following \"history\" attribute:\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: ncks -A -v lat,lon /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/data/flwdir_202001_03min.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: cdo -invertlat tmp_5.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: GDAL CreateCopy( tmp_5.nc, ... )\n" ;
                :history = "Mon Nov 14 17:49:16 2022: cdo chname,lon,longitude uparea_v4_0_l.nc uparea_v4_0_ll.nc\nMon Nov 14 17:48:33 2022: cdo chname,lat,latitude uparea_v4_0.nc uparea_v4_0_l.nc\nMon Nov 14 17:47:27 2022: cdo chname,Band1,uparea uparea_v4_0_md.nc uparea_v4_0.nc\nMon Nov 14 17:41:58 2022: cdo sellonlatbox,-179.975,179.975,89.975,-59.975 upArea_repaired.nc uparea_v4_0_st.nc\nFri Dec 10 11:49:42 2021: ncks -A -v lat,lon ldd_ORIG_03min.nc upArea_repaired.nc\nFri Dec 10 11:49:39 2021: cdo -invertlat tmp_upArea.nc upArea_repaired.nc\nFri Dec 10 11:49:37 2021: GDAL CreateCopy( tmp_upArea.nc, ... )" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

Download the upstream area file for forecasts produced before 2023-07-26 (versions 1.0 to 3.4) here: glofas_upArea.nc (21.6MB)

NetCDF metadata

dimensions:
        longitude = 3600 ;
        latitude = 1500 ;
variables:
        double longitude(longitude) ;
                longitude:standard_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:long_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:units = "degrees_east" ;
                longitude:axis = "X" ;
        double latitude(latitude) ;
                latitude:standard_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:long_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:units = "degrees_north" ;
                latitude:axis = "Y" ;
        float uparea(latitude, longitude) ;
                uparea:long_name = "Upstream area of each river pixel" ;
                uparea:units = "m2" ;
                uparea:_FillValue = -3.402823e+38f ;
                uparea:missing_value = -3.402823e+38f ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.5" ;
                :GDAL_PCRASTER_VALUESCALE = "VS_SCALAR" ;
                :GDAL = "GDAL 3.2.1, released 2020/12/29" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.7 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

GloFAS Elevation

The elevation (sometimes referred to as orography) file denotes the mean elevation for each pixel in the GloFAS domain, expressed in m above sea level. It is defined for each grid point of the modelled domain.

Download the elevation file here: elevation_glofas_v4_0.nc (87MB)

NetCDF metadata

dimensions:
        longitude = 7200 ;
        latitude = 3000 ;
variables:
        double longitude(longitude) ;
                longitude:standard_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:long_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:units = "degrees_east" ;
                longitude:axis = "X" ;
        double latitude(latitude) ;
                latitude:standard_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:long_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:units = "degrees_north" ;
                latitude:axis = "Y" ;
        float elevation(latitude, longitude) ;
                elevation:long_name = "Height above sea level" ;
                elevation:units = "m" ;
                elevation:_FillValue = -999999.f ;
                elevation:missing_value = -999999.f ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.9" ;
                :history_of_appended_files = "Fri Nov 20 14:22:39 2020: Appended file /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc had following \"history\" attribute:\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: ncks -A -v lat,lon /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/data/flwdir_202001_03min.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: cdo -invertlat tmp_5.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: GDAL CreateCopy( tmp_5.nc, ... )\n" ;
                :GDAL_AREA_OR_POINT = "Area" ;
                :GDAL = "GDAL 3.0.4, released 2020/01/28" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.2 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
                :history = "Tue Nov 15 12:14:24 2022: cdo chname,Band1,elevation elevation_glofas_v4_0_ll.nc elevation_glofas_v4_0.nc\nTue Nov 15 12:13:46 2022: cdo chname,lat,latitude elevation_glofas_v4_0_l.nc elevation_glofas_v4_0_ll.nc\nTue Nov 15 12:13:28 2022: cdo chname,lon,longitude elevation_glofas_v4_0_md.nc elevation_glofas_v4_0_l.nc\nTue Nov 15 11:37:48 2022: cdo sellonlatbox,-179.975,179.975,89.975,-59.975 elv_Global_03min.nc elv_Global_03min_crop.nc\nFri Nov 20 14:22:39 2020: ncks -A -v lat,lon /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/RECUT/elv_Global_03min.nc\nFri Nov 20 14:22:39 2020: cdo -invertlat tmp_4.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/RECUT/elv_Global_03min.nc\nFri Nov 20 14:22:38 2020: GDAL CreateCopy( tmp_4.nc, ... )" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

Download the elevation file for forecasts produced before 2023-07-26 (versions 1.0 to 3.4) here: elevation_glofas.nc (22MB)

NetCDF metadata

dimensions:
        latitude = 1500 ;
        longitude = 3600 ;
variables:
        double latitude(latitude) ;
                latitude:standard_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:long_name = "latitude" ;
                latitude:units = "degrees_north" ;
                latitude:axis = "Y" ;
        double longitude(longitude) ;
                longitude:standard_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:long_name = "longitude" ;
                longitude:units = "degrees_east" ;
                longitude:axis = "X" ;
        float elevation(latitude, longitude) ;
                elevation:long_name = "Height above sea level" ;
                elevation:units = "m" ; 
                elevation:_FillValue = -3.402823e+38f ;
                elevation:missing_value = -3.402823e+38f ;

// global attributes:
                :Conventions = "CF-1.9" ;
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.7 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
                :GDAL = "GDAL 3.0.4, released 2020/01/28" ;
                :history = "Thu Nov 17 14:29:11 2022: cdo chname,lat,latitude elevation_glofas_nl.nc elevation_glofas_nll.nc\nThu Nov 17 14:28:44 2022: cdo chname,lon,longitude elevation_glofas_n.nc elevation_glofas_nl.nc\nThu Nov 17 14:28:17 2022: cdo chname,elv,elevation glofas_test.nc elevation_glofas_n.nc\nThu Nov 17 14:12:35 2022: ncatted -a grid_mapping,elv,d,c,, glofas_dem.nc glofas_test.nc\nWed Oct 14 10:18:06 2020: ncrename -v zelv,elv dem_new2.nc dem_new3.nc\nWed Oct 14 10:17:46 2020: ncks -C -O -x -v crs dem_new.nc dem_new2.nc\nWed Oct 14 10:17:35 2020: ncrename -v elv,zelv dem.nc dem_new.nc\nTue Sep 22 17:14:54 2020: ncrename -v Band1,elv dem.nc dem2.nc\nTue Sep 22 16:50:15 2020: cdo -invertlat elv_01deg_edit.nc elv_01deg_edit_invert.nc\nTue Sep 22 14:00:31 2020: GDAL CreateCopy( elv_01deg_edit.nc, ... )" ;
                :GDAL_AREA_OR_POINT = "Area" ;
}

Local Drain Direction (LDD)

The Local Drain Direction (LDD) in a hydrological model is the essential component to connect the grid cells in order to express the flow direction from one cell to another, and forming a river network from the springs to the mouth. LDD represents flow directions from each grid-cell to its steepest down-slope neighbor.

Geographical directions in the LDD file are coded with values from "1" to "9", with "5" representing pits (grid-cells with only inflow of water).

Download the LDD file here: ldd_glofas_v4_0.nc (21MB)

LDD NetCDF metadata

dimensions:
        lon = 7200 ;
        lat = 3000 ;
variables:
        double lon(lon) ;
                lon:standard_name = "projection_x_coordinate" ;
                lon:long_name = "longitude" ;
                lon:units = "degrees_east" ;
                lon:axis = "X" ;
        double lat(lat) ;
                lat:standard_name = "projection_y_coordinate" ;
                lat:long_name = "latitude" ;
                lat:units = "degrees_north" ;
                lat:axis = "Y" ;
        char crs ;
                crs:longitude_of_prime_meridian = 0. ;
                crs:semi_major_axis = 6378137. ;
                crs:inverse_flattening = 298.257223563 ;
                crs:grid_mapping_name = "latitude_longitude" ;
                crs:long_name = "CRS definition" ;
                crs:spatial_ref = "GEOGCS[\"WGS 84\",DATUM[\"WGS_1984\",SPHEROID[\"WGS 84\",6378137,298.257223563,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"7030\"]],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"6326\"]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"8901\"]],UNIT[\"degree\",0.0174532925199433,AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"9122\"]],AXIS[\"Latitude\",NORTH],AXIS[\"Longitude\",EAST],AUTHORITY[\"EPSG\",\"4326\"]]" ;
                crs:GeoTransform = "-180 0.05 0 90 0 -0.05 " ;
        ubyte ldd(lat, lon) ;
                ldd:long_name = "Local drain direction" ;
                ldd:grid_mapping = "crs" ;
                ldd:_FillValue = 255UB ;
                ldd:missing_value = 255UB ;

// global attributes:
                :CDI = "Climate Data Interface version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdi)" ;
                :Conventions = "CF-1.9" ;
                :history_of_appended_files = "Fri Dec 10 11:49:28 2021: Appended file ldd_ORIG_03min.nc had following \"history\" attribute:\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: ncks -A -v lat,lon /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/data/flwdir_202001_03min.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: cdo -invertlat tmp_5.nc /hugetmp/NOT_Permanent/LDD/LDD_BOX/res/CHECKED/ldd_Global_03min.nc\nWed Nov 18 13:59:27 2020: GDAL CreateCopy( tmp_5.nc, ... )\n" ;
                :GDAL_PCRASTER_VALUESCALE = "VS_LDD" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.7 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
                :GDAL = "GDAL 3.2.1, released 2020/12/29" ;
                :GDAL_AREA_OR_POINT = "Area" ;
                :history = "Fri Dec 02 15:24:49 2022: cdo chname,Band1,ldd ldd_ln.nc ldd_glofas_v4_0.nc\nWed Nov 23 10:14:40 2022: ncks -O -d lat,-59.975,89.975 /ec/vol/cems_floods/glofas/static_maps/4.0/ldd_repaired.nc out/ldd_repaired.nc\nFri Dec 10 11:49:28 2021: ncks -A -v lat,lon ldd_ORIG_03min.nc ldd_repaired.nc\nFri Dec 10 11:49:27 2021: cdo -invertlat tmp_repaired.nc ldd_repaired.nc\nFri Dec 10 11:49:26 2021: GDAL CreateCopy( tmp_repaired.nc, ... )" ;
                :CDO = "Climate Data Operators version 1.9.10 (https://mpimet.mpg.de/cdo)" ;
}

Download the LDD file for forecasts produced before 2023-07-26 (versions 1.0 to 3.4) here: ldd_glofas.nc (5MB)

NetCDF metadata

dimensions:
        lat = 1500 ;
        lon = 3600 ;
variables:
        double lon(lon) ;
                lon:standard_name = "longitude" ;
                lon:long_name = "longitude coordinate" ;
                lon:units = "degrees_east" ;
        double lat(lat) ;
                lat:standard_name = "latitude" ;
                lat:long_name = "latitude coordinate" ;
                lat:units = "degrees_north" ;
        ubyte ldd(lat, lon) ;
                ldd:_FillValue = 0UB ;
                ldd:coordinates = "lon lat" ;
                ldd:esri_pe_string = "GEOGCS[\"GCS_WGS_1984\",DATUM[\"D_WGS_1984\",SPHEROID[\"WGS_1984\",6378137,298.257223563]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0],UNIT[\"Degree\",0.0174532925199433]]" ;
                ldd:standard_name = "ldd" ;
                ldd:units = "-" ;
                ldd:long_name = "Local drain direction" ;

// global attributes:
                :Conventions = "CF-1.7" ;
                :Source_Software = "JRC.E1 lisfloodutilities nexus wefe - pcr2nc" ;
                :source = "JRC Space, Security, Migration (L.A.)" ;
                :reference = "JRC Space, Security, Migration" ;
                :history = "Fri Dec  2 16:49:41 2022: ncatted -a long_name,ldd,o,c,Local drain direction ldd_glofas.nc ldd_glofas_ln.nc\nCreated Tue Dec  3 14:11:34 2019" ;
                :NCO = "netCDF Operators version 4.9.7 (Homepage = http://nco.sf.net, Code = http://github.com/nco/nco)" ;
}

GloFAS Flood Thresholds

GloFAS river discharge floods thresholds for selected return periods (or recurrence intervals) of 1.5, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years. These return levels were computed with the Gumbel extreme value distribution using L-moments. The code is available open source here. The two parameters of the distribution (mu and sigma) are also provided.

Download the GloFAS v4.0 flood thresholds files here:

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_1.5.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_2.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_5.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_10.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_20.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_50.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_100.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_200.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_rl_500.0.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_mu.nc

flood_threshold_glofas_v4_sigma.nc

Flood Thresholds NetCDF metadata

Dimensions:   (lat: 3000, lon: 7200)
Coordinates:
  * lat       (lat) float64 89.97 89.92 89.88 89.82 ... -59.88 -59.92 -59.97
  * lon       (lon) float64 -180.0 -179.9 -179.9 -179.8 ... 179.9 179.9 180.0
Data variables:
    rl_1.5    (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_2.0    (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_5.0    (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_10.0   (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_20.0   (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_50.0   (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_100.0  (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_200.0  (lat, lon) float64 ...
    rl_500.0  (lat, lon) float64 ...
    sigma     (lat, lon) float64 ...
    mu        (lat, lon) float64 ...

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Auxiliary Data

EFAS Auxiliary Data

GloFAS Auxiliary Data