The ECMWF FTP service provides access to real-time data from the CAMS global atmospheric composition system. For product documentation please see here. For a description of the current global model please see here (including information on system upgrades) . For other data access options please see here.
Please see the list of available atmospheric composition variables below and make sure your variables of interest are available. Should you require any additional species, please raise a request through the ECMWF Support Portal (ECMWF login required).
User accounts
To get access to CAMS global data, you need user accounts on the ECMWF website, and on the ECMWF FTP service.
Log on to www.ecmwf.int. (If you do not have an account create one)
the user name you used to log into www.ecmwf.int and accept the license
for our service planning, a brief description of how you intend to use the data, and which chemical species are most relevant for you
Please note that the default limit per user is 10 active connections to the FTP server. There is also an overall limit across all users of 2,000 active connections.
is the WMO location indicators. The list can be found here.
yyyymmddhhmmss
is the base date and time of the forecast.
vvvv
is a version or experiment identifier. prod will be used for operational products, test (or experiment ID) will be used for testing purposes, rean for reanalysis if needed.
tt
type of data, fc - forecast, an - analysis
lt
is the type of level. pl for pressure level products, sfc for surface fields, ml for model level fields
sss
is the forecast hour time step. For accumulation and averages, it is the
end time. This number must be zero padded to 3 digits, e.g. step 24 is given as 024
The dataset is grouped by type of product (analysis or forecast), level type (surface parameter, pressure level or model level), by step or forecast range and by parameter.
Examples:
z_cams_c_ecmf_20160704000000_prod_an_sfc_000_tchcho.grib contains analysis field of total column formaldehyde computed on 7 July 2016 at 00:00 UTC.
z_cams_c_ ecmf_20160704000000_prod_fc_pl_012_co.grib contains all the pressure levels of +12 step CO fields from a forecast started on 7 July 2016 at 00:00 UTC.
z_cams_c_ ecmf_20160704120000_prod_fc_ml_012_go3.nc contains all the model levels of step 12 O3 fields from a forecast which was started on 7 July 2016 at 12:00 UTC in NetCDF format.
Data format
Model level fields are in GRIB2 format. All other fields are in GRIB1, except for new parameters from cycle 48r1 (more details are available here). NetCDF format is also available.
The latest model cycle based on the 00 UTC analysis is normally available by 10:00 UTC, the cycle based on 12 UTC analysis is available by 22:00 UTC.
After the data transfer to the ftp server is completed a manifest file is uploaded:
z_cams_c_ecmf_yyyymmddhhmmss_vvvv.manifest
The file is uploaded to the server only after all the data files have been successfully uploaded. The file contains a list of all the GRIB and NetCDF files in the cycle and their MD5 checksums in case you would like to verify data integrity.
List of available parameters
short name
parameter ID
name
type of variable
type of data (an,fc)
type of level (sfc,pl,ml)
aod1240
210216
Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 1240nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
aod469
210213
Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 469nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
aod550
210207
Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 550nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
aod670
210214
Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 670nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
aod865
210215
Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 865nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
bcaod550
210211
Black Carbon Aerosol Optical Depth at 550nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
duaod550
210209
Dust Aerosol Optical Depth at 550nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
omaod550
210210
Organic Matter Aerosol Optical Depth at 550nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
ssaod550
210208
Sea Salt Aerosol Optical Depth at 550nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
soaod550
215226
Secondary organic aerosol optical depth at 550 nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
suaod550
210212
Sulphate Aerosol Optical Depth at 550nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
niaod550
210250
Nitrate aerosol optical depth at 550 nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
amaod550
210251
Ammonium aerosol optical depth at 550 nm
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
pm1
210072
Particulate matter d < 1 um
surface concentration
fc
sfc
pm10
210074
Particulate matter d < 10 um
surface concentration
fc
sfc
pm2p5
210073
Particulate matter d < 2.5 um
surface concentration
fc
sfc
aermr01
210001
Sea Salt Aerosol (0.03 - 0.5 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr02
210002
Sea Salt Aerosol (0.5 - 5 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr03
210003
Sea Salt Aerosol (5 - 20 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr04
210004
Dust Aerosol (0.03 - 0.55 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr05
210005
Dust Aerosol (0.55 - 0.9 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr06
210006
Dust Aerosol (0.9 - 20 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr07
210007
Hydrophilic Organic Matter Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr08
210008
Hydrophobic Organic Matter Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr09
210009
Hydrophilic Black Carbon Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr10
210010
Hydrophobic Black Carbon Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr11
210011
Sulphate Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr16
210247
Nitrate fine mode aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr17
210248
Nitrate coarse mode aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr18
210249
Ammonium aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr01
210001
Sea Salt Aerosol (0.03 - 0.5 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr02
210002
Sea Salt Aerosol (0.5 - 5 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr03
210003
Sea Salt Aerosol (5 - 20 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr04
210004
Dust Aerosol (0.03 - 0.55 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr05
210005
Dust Aerosol (0.55 - 0.9 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr06
210006
Dust Aerosol (0.9 - 20 um) Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr07
210007
Hydrophilic Organic Matter Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr08
210008
Hydrophobic Organic Matter Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr09
210009
Hydrophilic Black Carbon Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr10
210010
Hydrophobic Black Carbon Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr11
210011
Sulphate Aerosol Mixing Ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr16
210247
Nitrate fine mode aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr17
210248
Nitrate coarse mode aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr18
210249
Ammonium aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr19
210252
Biogenic secondary organic aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
aermr20
210253
Anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol mass mixing ratio
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
short name
parameter ID
name
type of variable
type of data (an,fc)
type of level (pl,sfc,ml)
gtco3
210206
GEMS Total column ozone
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_c2h6
218045
Total column ethane
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_c3h8
218047
Total column propane
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_c5h8
218016
Total column isoprene
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_ch4
218004
Total column methane
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_hno3
218006
Total column nitric acid
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_no
218027
Total column nitrogen monoxide
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_oh
218030
Total column hydroxyl radical
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_pan
218013
Total column peroxyacetyl nitrate
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tcco
210127
Total column Carbon monoxide
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tchcho
210128
Total column Formaldehyde
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tcno2
210125
Total column Nitrogen dioxide
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tcso2
210126
Total column Sulphur dioxide
vertically-integrated
an +fc
sfc
tc_h2o2
218003
Total Column Hydrogen Peroxide
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
tc_glyoxal
218107
Total column of glyoxal
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
tc_clo
218174
Total column of chlorine monoxide
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
tc_clono2
218064
Total column of chlorine nitrate
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
tc_hcl
218200
Total column hydrogen chloride
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
tc_HCN
218226
Total column hydrogen cyanide
vertically-integrated
an + fc
sfc
c2h6
217045
Ethane
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
c3h8
217047
Propane
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
c5h8
217016
Isoprene
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
ch4_c
217004
Methane (chemistry)
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
co
210123
Carbon monoxide
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
go3
210203
GEMS Ozone
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
hcho
210124
Formaldehyde
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
hno3
217006
Nitric acid
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
no
217027
Nitrogen monoxide
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
no2
210121
Nitrogen dioxide
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
oh
217030
Hydroxyl radical
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
pan
217013
Peroxyacetyl nitrate
concentration in air
an +fc
ml + pl
so2
210122
Sulphur dioxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
h2o2
217003
Hydrogen Peroxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
c2h6
217045
Ethane
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
c3h8
217047
Propane
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
c5h8
217016
Isoprene
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
ch4_c
217004
Methane (chemistry)
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
co
210123
Carbon monoxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
go3
210203
GEMS Ozone
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
hcho
210124
Formaldehyde
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
glyoxal
217107
Glyoxal
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
hno3
217006
Nitric acid
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
no
217027
Nitrogen monoxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
no2
210121
Nitrogen dioxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
oh
217030
Hydroxyl radical
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
pan
217013
Peroxyacetyl nitrate
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
so2
210122
Sulphur dioxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
h2o2
217003
Hydrogen Peroxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
clo
217174
Chlorine monoxide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
clono2
217064
Chlorine nitrate
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
hcl
217200
Hydrogen chloride
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
HCN
217226
Hydrogen cyanide
concentration in air
an + fc
ml + pl
short name
parameter ID
name
type of variable
type of data (an,fc)
type of level (pl,sfc,ml)
10u
165
10m u-component of wind
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
10v
166
10m v-component of wind
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
2d
168
2m dewpoint temperature
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
2t
167
2m temperature
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
lsm
172
Land-sea mask
2D parameter
an
sfc
msl
151
Mean sea level pressure
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
z
129
Geopotential
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
sp
134
Surface pressure
2D parameter
an + fc
sfc
twc
136
Total column water vapour
sfc
uvbed
214002
UV biologically effective dose
2D parameter
fc
sfc
uvbedcs
214003
UV biologically effective dose clear-sky
2D parameter
fc
sfc
den
3089
Density
3D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
lnsp
152
Logarithm of surface pressure
2D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
z
129
Geopotential
2D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
q
133
Specific humidity
3D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
t
130
Temperature
3D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
u
131
U-component of wind
3D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
v
132
V-component of wind
3D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
w
135
Vertical velocity
3D parameter
an + fc
ml + pl
Data volumes per model cycle
The data volumes are based on the current CAMS experiment (link) and for guidance only.
Due to the new compression method used, the GRIB file sizes vary much more than before. In this table the numbers are averages.
* Please be aware that, the total volume will vary from one model run to the next one.
average file size (GRIB / NC)
No. of fields per file
No. of variables
No. of files (GRIB or NC)
Total size (GRIB)
Total size (NC)
an_ml
~ 82 MB/144 MB
137
33
33
~ 3 GB
4.6 GB
an_pl
~ 28 MB/28 MB
25
32
32
~ 881 MB
899 MB
an_sfc
~ 1 MB/1.3 MB
1
30
30
~ 33 MB
38 MB
fc_ml
~ 77 MB/44 MB
137
39
1599
~ 120 GB
68 GB
fc_pl
~ 28 MB/8.3 MB
25
32
1312
~ 35 GB
10.7 GB
fc_sfc
~ 1 MB/435 kB
1
33
3993
~ 4 GB
1.7 GB
Totals
6999
163 GB*
87 GB
This document has been produced in the context of theCopernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).
The activities leading to these results have been contracted by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, operator of CAMS on behalf of the European Union (Delegation Agreement signed on 11/11/2014 and Contribution Agreement signed on 22/07/2021). All information in this document is provided "as is" and no guarantee or warranty is given that the information is fit for any particular purpose.
The users thereof use the information at their sole risk and liability. For the avoidance of all doubt , the European Commission and the European Centre for Medium - Range Weather Forecasts have no liability in respect of this document, which is merely representing the author's view.