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Types of model output
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This page describes how to control and change options for the model output. The model is capable of producing many fields on different vertical coordinates and surface quantities. |
The model produces 3 basic types of output:
Prognostic variables: these are output at controllable write times. There is no provision in the model to accumulate averages.
Diagnostics variables: these are also output at specified write times, though there are some exceptions like wind gust or maximum and minimum 2m temperature which represent a max/min value over a period of time.
Cumulative variables or fluxes: these are typically fields such as precipitation which are accumulated from the start of the model run.
The sections below describe how to change and control the model output in more detail. Please contact openifs-support@ecmwf.int in case of difficulty or any questions.
Diagnostics & postprocessing software: Full-Pos
Full-Pos is the name of the code inside OpenIFS that produces the model output and 'in-model' diagnostics. We gratefully acknowledge permission from MeteoFrance to include it in OpenIFS.
More documentation about Full-Pos is available through the links below, though note that not all of the options discussed apply to OpenIFS which does not support any stretched grids or Arpege format output.
ECMWF use additional namelist variables to control output as described in the sections below.
- Full-Pos Home Page
- Full-Pos User Guide (PDF) - somewhat old but still useful reference of the namelists and variables
- Full-Pos Technical Guide (PDF) - detailed technical description of the Full-Pos code and includes more up to date description of some namelists & variables for cycle 38.
GRIB output files
OpenIFS only produces GRIB format files as output and they are named similarly to the input files. e.g.
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% ls ICM*+* ICMGGepc8+000000 ICMGGepc8+000100 ICMSHepc8+000000 ICMSHepc8+000100 |
The output files all begin with 'ICM' and end in '+'00xxxx'. The number on the end refers to the timestep.
ICMGG files contain gridpoint fields, ICMSH files contain spectral fields.
The model can output at regular or irregular intervals according to the namelist settings.
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The model I/O will append to existing files and not overwrite existing files of the same name. If the model is run twice without moving the output files, the same data would be written to the previous output. The script that runs the model should take this into account and delete or move the files. See the run script provided. |
GRIB parameters
Model output variables are specified in the namelists by using GRIB field codes. GRIB is a WMO standard concise data format.
There are two versions of the GRIB format, known as GRIB edition 1 (released in 1994) and GRIB edition 2 (released in 2003).
The multilevel fields in OpenIFS (sometimes called 'upper air' fields) are written as GRIB edition 2 messages, whilst other fields are written as GRIB edition 1. GRIB parameter IDs are the same in GRIB1 and GRIB2 (this is why the environment variable GRIB_SAMPLES_PATH in the example job script points to a file '.../ifs_samples/grib1_mlgrib2; the 'mlgrib2' means multilevel fields are GRIB2).
OpenIFS mostly uses grib codes from table 128 and will be 3 digits. If you see 6 digit codes specified in a model namelist, the first 3 digits refer to the GRIB table and the last 3 digits are the field code.
A complete list of GRIB parameter IDs is available at: http://apps.ecmwf.int/codes/grib/param-db. NOTE! Not all grib codes listed here can be output by the model. Please see tables below.
A list of the GRIB fields in the operational datasets from ECMWF can be found here in the description of the HRES forecast output.
Controlling output with namelist NAMFPC
This
is the namelist for controlling the post-processing. The model will not output any fields unless requested in the appropriate namelist variable.
If you find the model output does not provide what you need, please contact openifs-support@ecmwf.int who can advise on the namelist settings to use.
Model variables may be output as 3D or 2D, either gridpoint or spherical harmonic forms and on model, pressure, theta, PV or height levels.
Gridpoints fields are output to the ICMGG files, spectral fields are output to the ICMSH files.
The following tables shows what variables are output on which levels and in what form:
3D dynamics output fields available
These grib codes can be used in the namelist NAMFPC for the following variables (see below for more details of these variables):
MFP3DFS - fields on model levels, MFP3DFP - fields on pressure levels,
MFP3DFT - fields on theta levels, MFP3DFV - fields on PV levels,
MPF3DFH - fields on height levels
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Notes: - PrepIFS: good starting point for the list of possible output fields is in the postprocessing controls but the information on here is incomplete. - I added some print statements to the model code in ifs/module/fullpos_mix.F90, function TFP_SU: 115 if ( ldgp ) then This wrote out the list of calls to define grib codes to be output. This is only for the dynamical fields. The physical fields use a different array structure, variables starting with GFP_*. Note also, some fields are for the Arpege version of the model and not used in IFS. See the code in the suafn* routines and look for calls under the IF(LECMWF) switch. Although this generates a list of what the model knows about, it's not necessarily a good idea to advertise all of these fields. Some appear to have not been maintained well, with inconsistent descriptions of the fields (i.e. some code for two different fields in some places). In particular, there are some tendency fields set by the model using TFP but Richard commented that these are only partial budget terms (grib codes: 224,225,227, 228134, 228136) and probably not maintained and only a very partial budget. He suggested best to omit them and stick to the fields as defined in 'Set I' (see next point). Then describe the PEXTRA arrays for the tendency budget terms. - Richard Forbes advised checking the SET I list here: http://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/set-i and using this as a master list of what OpenIFS can output. Some of the grib output codes that I discovered through printing out the - Although the list of parameters on the ecmwf main page is useful, it doesn't give the full description for each grib code. To get this, use the command bin/lookup_grib_param. |
All tables are sortable by column, click in the header column.
Long name | Short name | Units | Format | GRIB code | Description |
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Potential temperature | pt | K | Spectral | 3 | - |
Montgomery geopotential | mont | m2s-2 | Spectral | 53 | Takes the role of geopotential in an isentropic vertical coordinate |
Pressure | pres | Pa | Spectral | 54 | - |
Potential vorticity | pv | K.m2.kg-1.s-1 | Gridpoint | 60 | - |
Specific rain water content | crwc | kg.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 75 | Grid-box mean specific precipitating rain water content from stratiform cloud (mass of condensate / mass of moist air). |
Specific snow water content | cswc | kg.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 76 | Grid-box mean specific snow water content(representing aggregated ice particles) from stratiform cloud (mass of condensate / mass of moist air). |
Eta-coordinate vertical velocity | etadot | s-1 | Spectral | 77 | Total time derivative of the hybrid vertical coordinate η. This is the vertical velocity used in the vertical advection in the ECMWF model, because eta is used as vertical coordinate. |
Geopotential | z | m2s-2 | Spectral | 129 | At the surface, equivalent to orography |
Temperature | t | K | Spectral | 130 | - |
U component of wind | u | m.s-1 | Spectral | 131 | - |
V component of wind | v | m.s-1 | Spectral | 132 | - |
Specific humidity | q | kg.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 133 | Grid box mean (mass of water vapour / mass of moist air) |
Vertical velocity | w | Pa.s-1 | Spectral | 135 | Pressure vertical velocity dp/dt. In the model equations it is usually denoted by the Greek letter omega. |
Vorticity (relative) | vo | s-1 | Spectral | 138 | - |
Divergence | d | s-1 | Spectral | 155 | Relative divergence. |
Relative humidity | r | % | Spectral | 157 | Relative humidity is defined with respect to saturation of the mixed phase, i.e. with respect to saturation over ice below -23C and with respect to saturation over water above 0C. In the regime in between a quadratic interpolation is applied. |
Ozone mass mixing ratio | o3 | kg.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 203 | - |
Specific cloud liquid water content | clwc | kg.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 246 | Grid-box mean specific cloud liquid water content (mass of condensate / mass of moist air) |
Specific cloud ice water content | ciwc | kg.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 247 | Grid-box mean specific cloud ice water content (mass of condensate / mass of moist air) |
Cloud cover | cc | (0-1) | Gridpoint | 248 | Horizontal fraction of the grid box covered by cloud |
2D dynamical output fields available
It is strongly recommended these fields are always enabled in the output in order for the post-processing to work correctly. Note these fields can also be output as gridpoint fields in MFPPHYS.
These GRIB codes are for use with the NAMFPC variable: MFP2DF.
Long name | Short name | Units | Format | GRIB code | Description |
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Geopotential | z | m2.s-2 | Spectral | 129 | Surface orography. |
Surface pressure | sp | Pa | Spectral | 134 | - |
Logarithm of surface pressure | lnsp | dimensionless | Spectral | 152 | - |
2D physical output fields available
These variables are for the MFPPHY variable in namelist NAMFPC.
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Fields marked as accumulated fields are accumulated from the beginning of the forecast. |
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Some fields are marked as climatological fields and are invariant in the forecast. |
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Fields listed here have been checked against those shown in prepIFS and those shown on: ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/set-i Also see the code in ifs/setup/suafn1.F90 for the list of GFP_* grib codes. Some codes are only defined for Arpege and not for ECMWF (even though they might appear *unchecked* in prepifs) Notes: - prepifs has a 2D field 'FG'. I believe this is code 49, 10FG, forecast gust since last post-processing. Note that Set-I has 10fg3 & 10fg6 which the model does not output. - geopotential (129) also listed in the MFPPHY variable in prepIFS as well as the MFP2DF variable. - cbh (cloud based ht) 228023, although listed in 40r1 prepifs & on SET I webpage, it's not defined in the 38r1 code. Might be a field introduced in later cycle. - swdc/lwdc as listed on prepIFS are not defined in model code and not defined as a short code in grid database. not sure what they are but they are not enabled in prepifs.
More info from Richard Forbes: I should have said - accumulated diags available for all IFS versions. Instantaneous diags available from 41r1 onwards. All are model diagnostics (buttons in postprocessing panel in prepIFS at the appropriate IFS cycle) I grabbed the info from the IFS documentation for Cy41r1 https://software.ecmwf.int/wiki/display/IFS/CY41R1+Official+IFS+Documentation?preview=/48104914/48234772/IFSPart4.pdf# We hope to make this type of information more easily accessible on the web at some point in the next couple of months. |
Long name | Short name | Units | Format | GRIB code | Description |
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Surface runoff | sro | m | Gridpoint | 8 | Accumulated field |
Sub-surface runoff | ssro | m | Gridpoint | 9 | Accumulated field. Deep soil drainage. |
Sea-ice cover | ci | (0-1) | Gridpoint | 31 | Fraction of grid box that is covered with sea ice (kept constant during forecast) |
Snow albedo | asn | (0-1) | Gridpoint | 32 | Albedo of the snow covered part of the grid box |
Snow density | rsn | kg.m-3 | Gridpoint | 33 | Snow mass per unit of volume |
Sea surface temperature | sstk | K | Gridpoint | 34 | Temperature of the sea water (bulk SST), as specified by external analysis (skin temperature is equal to bulk SST before 01/10/2008) |
Ice temperature layer 1 | istl1 | K | Gridpoint | 35 | Sea ice top layer, 0-7 cm |
Ice temperature layer 2 | istl2 | K | Gridpoint | 36 | Sea ice layer 2: 7-28 cm |
Ice temperature layer 3 | istl3 | K | Gridpoint | 37 | Sea ice layer 3: 28-100 cm |
Ice temperature layer 4 | istl4 | K | Gridpoint | 38 | Sea ice layer 4: 100-150 cm |
Volumetric soil water layer 1 | swvl1 | m3m-3 | Gridpoint | 39 | Top soil layer: 0-7 cm |
Volumetric soil water layer 2 | swvl2 | m3m-3 | Gridpoint | 40 | Soil layer 2: 7-28 cm |
Volumetric soil water layer 3 | swvl3 | m3m-3 | Gridpoint | 41 | Soil layer 3: 28-100 cm |
Volumetric soil water layer 4 | swvl4 | m3m-3 | Gridpoint | 42 | Soil layer 4: 100-289 cm |
Snow evaporation | es | m of water equivalent | Gridpoint | 44 | Accumulated field. Evaporation from snow averaged over the grid box (to find flux over snow, divide by snow fraction). |
Snow melt | smlt | m of water equivalent | Gridpoint | 45 | Accumulated field. Melting of snow averaged over the grid box (to find melt over snow, divide by snow fraction). |
10 metre wind gust since previous post-processing | 10fg | m.s-1 | Gridpoint | 49 | Maximum 3 second wind at 10 m height as defined by WMO. Parametrization represents turbulence only before 01/10/2008; thereafter effects of convection are included. The 3 s gust is computed every time step and the maximum is kept since the last postprocessing. |
Large-scale precipitation fraction | lspf | s | Gridpoint | 50 | Accumulated field. Fraction of the grid box that is covered by large-scale precipitation. |
Downward UV radiation at the surface | uvb | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 57 | Accumulated field. Ultra-violet band 0.20-0.44 um. |
Photosynthetically active radiation at the surface | par | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 58 | Accumulated field. 0.44-0.70 um. |
Convective available potential energy | cape | J.kg-1 | Gridpoint | 59 | For computational efficiency CAPE is computed as the vertical integral of excess of equivalent potential temperature of an undilute updraught compared to the saturated equivalent potential temperature of the environment. The results tends to be about 20% higher than the CAPE based on virtual temperature. |
Total column liquid water | tclw | kg.m-2 | Gridpoint | 78 | Vertical integral of cloud liquid water content |
Total column ice water | tciw | kg.m-2 | Gridpoint | 79 | Vertical integral of cloud ice water content |
Maximum temperature at 2 metre in the last 6 hours | mx2t6 | K | Gridpoint | 121 | |
Minimum temperature at 2 metre in the last 6 hours | mn2t6 | K | Gridpoint | 122 | |
10 metre wind gust in the 6 hours | 10fg6 | m.s-1 | Gridpoint | 123 | |
Surface emissivity | emis | dimensionless | Gridpoint | 124 | |
Vertically integrated total energy | vite | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 125 | |
Geopotential | z | m2.s-2 | Gridpoint | 129 | Surface orography |
Total column water | tcw | kg.m-2 | Gridpoint | 136 | Vertically integrated total water (vapour + cloud water + cloud ice) |
Total column water vapour | tcwv | kg.m-2 | Gridpoint | 137 | Vertically integrated water vapour |
Soil temperature level 1 | stl1 | K | Gridpoint | 139 | Top soil layer: 1-7 cm. |
Snow depth | sd | m of water equivalent | Gridpoint | 141 | |
Large-scale (stratiform) precipitation (rain+snow) | lsp | m | Gridpoint | 142 | Accumulated field. Precipitation from the cloud scheme (which also takes detrained water/ice from the convection scheme as input). |
Convective precipitation (rain+snow) | cp | m | Gridpoint | 143 | Accumulated field. Precipitation from updraughts in the convection scheme. |
Snowfall | sf | m of water equivalent | Gridpoint | 144 | Accumulated field. Convective + stratiform snowfall. |
Boundary layer dissipation | bld | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 145 | Accumulated field. Conversion of kinetic energy of the mean flow into heat by turbulent diffusion (vertically integrated). |
Surface sensible heat flux | sshf | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 146 | Accumulated field. Exchange of heat with the surface through turbulent diffusion (by model convention, downward fluxes are positive). |
Surface latent heat flux | slhf | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 147 | Accumulated field. Exchange of latent heat with the surface through turbulent diffusion (by model convention, downward fluxes are positive) |
Charnock parameter | chnk | dimensionless | Gridpoint | 148 | Charnock parameter as returned by the wave model. Note wave model must be active. |
Mean sea-level pressure | msl | Pa | Gridpoint | 151 | |
Boundary layer height | blh | m | Gridpoint | 159 | Boundary layer defined through Troen and Mahrt parcel lifting method |
Total cloud cover | tcc | (0-1) | Gridpoint | 164 | Total cloud cover derived from model levels using the model's overlap assumption |
10 metre U wind component | 10u | m.s-1 | Gridpoint | 165 | |
10 metre V wind component | 10v | m.s-1 | Gridpoint | 166 | |
2 metre temperature | 2t | K | Gridpoint | 167 | |
2 metre dewpoint temperature | 2d | K | Gridpoint | 168 | |
Surface solar radiation downwards | ssrd | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 169 | Accumulated field |
Soil temperature level 2 | stl2 | K | Gridpoint | 170 | Soil layer 2: 7-28 cm |
Land-sea mask | lsm | (0 - 1) | Gridpoint | 172 | Fractional land cover (model uses 0.5 as threshold for mask) |
Surface roughness | sr | m | Gridpoint | 173 | Aerodynamic roughness length (over land). Climatological field. |
Albedo | al | (0 - 1) | Gridpoint | 174 | Background albedo. Climatological field. |
Surface thermal radiation downwards | strd | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 175 | Accumulated field |
Surface net solar radiation | ssr | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 176 | Accumulated field. Net solar radiation at the surface. |
Surface net thermal radiation | str | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 177 | Accumulated field. Net thermal radiation at the surface (by model convention downward fluxes are positive). |
Top net solar radiation | tsr | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 178 | Accumulated field. Net solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere. |
Top net thermal radiation | ttr | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 179 | Accumulated field. Net thermal radiation at the top of the atmosphere (by model convention downward fluxes are positive). |
Eastward turbulent surface stress | ewss | N.m-2.s | Gridpoint | 180 | Accumulated field. Eastward surface stress due to turbulent processes. |
Northward turbulent surface stress | nsss | N.m-2.s | Gridpoint | 181 | Accumulated field. Northward surface stress due to turbulent processes. |
Evaporation | e | m of water equivalent | Gridpoint | 182 | Accumulated field. Moisture flux from the surface into the atmosphere (by model convention downward fluxes are positive). |
Soil temperature level 3 | stl3 | K | Gridpoint | 183 | Soil layer 3: 28-100 cm. |
Low cloud cover | lcc | (0 - 1) | Gridpoint | 186 | Cloud cover derived from model levels between the surface and 0.8 of the surface pressure using the model's overlap assumption |
Medium cloud cover | mcc | (0 - 1) | Gridpoint | 187 | Cloud cover derived from model levels between 0.8 and 0.45 of the surface pressure using the model's overlap assumption |
High cloud cover | hcc | (0 - 1) | Gridpoint | 188 | Cloud cover derived from model levels between 0.45 of the surface pressure and the model top using the model's overlap assumption |
Sunshine duration | sund | s | Gridpoint | 189 | Accumulated field. Time that radiation in the direction of the sun is above 120 W/m2. |
Eastward gravity wave surface stress | lgws | N.m-2.s | Gridpoint | 195 | Accumulated field. Eastward component of surface stress due to gravity waves and orographic blocking. |
Northward gravity wave surface stress | mgws | N.m-2.s | Gridpoint | 196 | Accumulated field. Northward component of surface stress due to gravity waves and orographic blocking. |
Gravity wave dissipation | gwd | J.m-2 | Gridpoint | 197 | Accumulated field. Conversion of kinetic energy of the mean flow into heat due gravity waves and orographic blocking (vertically integrated). |
Skin reservoir content | src | m of water equivalent | Gridpoint | 198 | Amount of water in interception reservoir |
Maximum temperature at 2 metres | mx2t | K | Gridpoint | 201 | Maximum temperature at 2 metres since previous post-processing |
Minimum temperature at 2 metres | mn2t | K | Gridpoint | 202 | Minimum temperature at 2 metres since previous post-processing |
Runoff | ro | m | Gridpoint | 205 | Accumulated field. Amount of water that is lost from the soil through surface runoff and deep soil drainage. |
Total column ozone | tco3 | kg m-2 | Gridpoint | 206 | Vertically integrated ozone. Before 20010612 was in Dobson units. 1 Dobson = 2.1415E-5 kg m-2. |
Top net solar radiation, clear sky | tsrc | J m-2 | Gridpoint | 208 | Accumulated field. Clear sky net solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere (assuming transparent clouds). |
Top net thermal radiation, clear sky | ttrc | J m-2 | Gridpoint | 209 | Accumulated field. Clear sky net thermal radiation at the top of the atmosphere (clear-sky OLR; assuming transparent clouds) (by model convention, downward fluxes are positive). |
Surface net solar radiation, clear sky | ssrc | J m-2 | Gridpoint | 210 | Accumulated field. Clear sky net solar radiation at the surface (assuming transparent clouds). |
Surface net thermal radiation, clear sky | strc | J m-2 | Gridpoint | 211 | Accumulated field. Clear sky net thermal radiation at the surface (assuming transparent clouds) (by model convention, downward fluxes are positive). |
TOA incident solar radiation | tisr | J m-2 | Gridpoint | 212 | Accumulated field |
Vertically integrated moisture divergence | vimd | kg m-2 | Gridpoint | 213 | |
Total precipitation (rain+snow) | tp | m | Gridpoint | 228 | Accumulated field. Convective precipitation + stratiform precipitation (CP +LSP). |
Instantaneous eastward turbulent surface stress | iews | N.m-2 | Gridpoint | 229 | |
Instantaneous northward turbulent surface stress | inss | N.m-2 | Gridpoint | 230 | |
Instantaneous surface sensible heat flux | ishf | W.m-2 | Gridpoint | 231 | By model convention, downward fluxes are positive |
Instantaneous moisture flux | ie | kg m-2 s-1 | Gridpoint | 232 | Evaporation (by model convention, downward fluxes are positive) |
Logarithm of surface roughness length for heat | lsrh | dimensionless | Gridpoint | 234 | Climatological field. Represents surface roughness length for heat and moisture over land. |
Skin temperature | skt | K | Gridpoint | 235 | Temperature of the surface skin (radiative surface temperature). Before 01/10/2008, the skin temperature was equal to the bulk SST over the ocean. |
Soil temperature level 4 | stl4 | K | Gridpoint | 236 | Layer 100-289 cm |
Temperature of snow layer | tsn | K | Gridpoint | 238 | |
Forecast albedo | fal | (0 - 1) | Gridpoint | 243 | Albedo as used by the IFS, consisting of a background albedo, modified over the ocean dependent on solar elevation and modified over land areas with snow. |
Forecast surface roughness | fsr | m | Gridpoint | 244 | Surface aerodynamic roughness as used by the IFS. Over the ocean it depends on ocean wave parameters. Over land it is copied from the climatological field SR before 12/09/2006. After 12/09/2006 the land roughness is derived from the vegetation type through a correspondence table. Snow areas are set to a model defined value. |
Forecast logarithm of surface roughness for heat | flsr | dimensionless | Gridpoint | 245 | Logarithm of roughness length for heat and moisture as used by the IFS. Over the ocean it depends on surface friction. Over land it is copied from the climatological field LSRH before 12/09/2006.After 12/09/2006 the land roughness length for heat is derived from the vegetation type through a correspondence table. Snow areas are set to a model defined value |
Convective inhibition | cin | J kg-1 | Gridpoint | 228001 | |
Lake mix-layer temperature | lmlt | K | Gridpoint | 228008 | Requires lake model enabled |
Lake mix-layer depth | lmld | m | Gridpoint | 228009 | Requires lake model enabled |
Lake bottom temperature | lblt | K | Gridpoint | 228010 | Requires lake model enabled |
Lake total layer temperature | ltlt | K | Gridpoint | 228011 | Requires lake model enabled |
Lake shape factor | lshf | dimensionless | Gridpoint | 228012 | Requires lake model enabled |
Lake ice temperature | lict | K | Gridpoint | 228013 | Requires lake model enabled |
Lake ice depth | licd | K | Gridpoint | 228014 | Requires lake model enabled |
Zero degree level | deg0l | m | Gridpoint | 228024 | Height of level (counted from 'surface' - 2nd lowest model level) where the temperature passes from positive to negative values, corresponding to the top level of a warm inversion layer. If a second warm inversion layer is encountered then the zero degree level correspond to the top of the 2nd inversion layer. Note 'deg0l' is 'deg-zero-ell'. |
Total column rain water | tcrw | kg m-2 | Gridpoint | 228089 | Vertically integrated precipitating rain water content |
Total column snow water | tcsw | kg m-2 | Gridpoint | 228090 | Vertically integrated precipitating snow water content |
100 metre U wind component | 100u | m s-1 | Gridpoint | 228246 | |
100 metre V wind component | 100v | m s-1 | Gridpoint | 228247 | |
K index | kx | K | Gridpoint | 260121 | |
Total totals index | totalx | K | Gridpoint | 260123 |
How to control output frequency
The namelist variables that control the output from the model as it runs are:
Namelist : NAMCT0
LFPOS - this should be set TRUE in order to turn on model output and diagnostics.
NFRHIS
- this is the output frequency of the 'history' files, that is, the model's variables on the model levels.
- this is the output frequency of the model variables.
NFRPOS
It's recommended these are set the same.
If NFRHIS/NFRPOS
are positive, the units are in model timesteps. If a negative value is used, the units are in hours.
NPOSTS & NHISTS - these are integer arrays that control the write times of the history files. They can be used for non-regular output intervals.
Examples
Regular output at fixed timesteps
NFRHIS=4,
NFRPOS=4,
NPOSTS=0,
NHISTS=0,
This simple example will cause the model to produce history file output every 4 timesteps.
Make sure that NPOSTS/NHISTS is set to zero for regular output because irregular output (NPOSTS /= 0) takes precedence.
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For this to work correctly, |
Non-regular output
NFRHIS=1,
NFRPOS=1,
NHISTS(0)=-3,
NHISTS(1:3)=0,-3,-9,
NPOSTS(0)=-3,
NPOSTS(1:3)=0,-3,-9,
The minus sign indicates the units are in hours rather than timesteps. NFRHIS/NFRPOS
in this case must be set to 1. The 0th element of NHISTS/NPOSTS
determines how many outputs are produced in total by the model, the first to nth elements determine the actual output times (hours in this case because of the negative values used).
In this example, the model will write 3 separate output files at the first timestep (0hrs), 3hrs and 9hrs and then no more regardless of how long the model runs for.
Model, pressure, theta, PV and height level output
Output levels: Model output can be produced on different vertical coordinates: model levels, pressure, height, potential temperature and PV levels. Output on each vertical coordinate is controlled by 3 namelist variables for each type: the number of fields, the grib codes of the fields and the levels to output on.
Namelist NAMFPC: This
is the main namelist for the post-processing. Variables in this list can be sensitive to changes as many combinations are possible but not all work.
If you find the model output does not provide what you need, please contact openifs-support@ecmwf.int who can advise on the namelist settings to use.
The *FP3D and *FP2D namelist variables are reserved for the prognostic (or derived) variables from the dynamics/numerics.
The "PHY" group of variables is for variables from the physics routines.
NAMCT0: LFPOS. To enable post-processing make sure LFPOS=true
in the NAMCT0
namelist.
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To output on pressure, PV or theta level output you must also enable output of the 2D spectral orography, surface pressure & log surface pressure. |
Model level output
To control model level output the following namelist variables (in NAMFPC) are used:
NRFP3S - list of the model levels on which post-processed output is required.
e.g. for a 60 level model run where output on all levels was required set:
NRFP3S=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,
For a 91 level model, this would give output on the first 60 levels (top level first).
NFP3DFS - number of 3D fields to be output on model levels. Must equal number of entries in MFP3DFS.
MFP3DFS - list of grib codes of 3D variables to be output on model levels. See table above for valid codes.
e.g
NFP3DFS = 4,
MFP3DFS = 130, 135, 138, 155,
would output the temperature (130), vertical velocity (135), relative vorticity (138), divergence (155) on model levels.
Pressure level output
RFP3P - list of pressure levels (units Pascals) on which post-processed output is required.
e.g.
would produce output on 100hPa, 850hPa, 700hPa and 500hPa.
RFP3P=100000.,85000.,70000.,50000.,
NFP3DFP - number of 3D fields to be output on pressure levels. Must equal number of entries in MFP3DFP.
MFP3DFP - list of grib codes of 3D variables to be output on pressure levels. See table above for valid codes.
Theta level output
RFP3TH - real array in units of Kelvin, of the theta levels on which post-processed output is required.
e.g.
RFP3TH=330,375,400,450,
would produce output on 330K, 375K, 400K and 450K levels.
NFP3DFT - number of 3D fields to output to theta levels. Must equal number of GRIB codes listed in MFP3DFT.
MFP3DFT - list of GRIB codes of 3D variables to be output on theta levels. See table above for valid codes.
PV level output
RFP3PV - real array in PV units of the potential vorticity levels on which post-processed output is required.
e.g.
RFP3PV=2E-6,3E-6,
would give output on the +/- 2 and +/- 3 PVU surfaces.
NFP3DFV - number of 3D fields to output to PV levels. Must equal number of GRIB codes listed in MFP3DFV.
MFP3DFV - list of GRIB codes of 3D variables to be output on PV levels. See table above for valid codes.
Height level output
RFP3H
- real array in units of metres of height levels above orography for which post-processed output is required.
e.g.
RFP3H=200,1000,5000,
would give output on 200m, 1km and 5km height surfaces
NFP3DFH - number of 3D fields to output to height levels. Must equal number of GRIB codes listed in MFP3DFH.
MFP3DFH - list of GRIB codes of 3D variables to be output on height levels. See table above for valid codes.
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The height level output is not encoded correctly to GRIB and may appear as model 'hybrid' levels. |
Example namelist
An annotated example NAMFPC namelist can be downloaded.
Spectral fit of dynamic fields
If you wish to post-process surface or upper-air dynamically fields on pressure, theta or PV levels, it is possible to perform a spectral fit between the vertical interpolation and the horizontal interpolation. Although this adds to the cost of the model, the spectral fit will remove numerical noise generated by the vertical interpolation beyond the model truncation and is normally recommended.
The NAMFPC
namelist variables to set are:
LFITP
- enables spectral fitting of post-processed fields on pressure levels.
LFITT
- enables spectral fitting of post-processed fields on theta levels.
LFITV
- enables spectral fitting of post-processed fields on PV levels.
LFIT2D
- enables spectral fitting of 2D post-processed fields.
It is not possible to spectral fit upper air dynamic fields on height levels or hybrid model levels because the horizontal interpolations are performed before the vertical interpolation in order to respect the displacement of the planetary boundary layer.
Dynamic fields not represented by spectral coefficients in the model will not be spectrally fitted even if the corresponding namelist variable above is set .TRUE. Post-processed dynamical fields which are represented by spectral coefficients in the model are spectrally fitted only when the variables above are TRUE.
Several fields can be smoothed via tunable spectral filters. For further information on this advanced usage, please see section 3.1.2 in the Full-Pos Users Guide.
How to change output at every output instance
(to be done: describe use of postins/dirlist)
Other NAMFPC namelist variables
CFPFMT
- this character string controls the format of the output files. For OpenIFS this should always be set to 'MODEL'.
NFPCLI
- this integer variable is used to control the use of climatology data in improving the accuracy of the upper air fields and several surface fields when interpolated on surface-dependent levels.
For OpenIFS, the default is 0 (i.e. off). For more information on this option and the use of climatology data, see section 3.1.3 in the Full-Pos Users Guide.
You may see other NAMFPC
variables like: RFPCORR
, LFPMOIS
which are related to the use of climatology data. Again, for more details see the Users Guide.
LFPQ - this logical variable controls the interpolation of relative or specific humidity on height or model levels. The recommended value is .FALSE.
Relative humidity has better conservative properties than mixing ratio when interpolating even if it's not a conservative quantity.
If set FALSE (recommended) the relative humidity is interpolated then specific humidity is subtracted. If TRUE, specific humidity is first interpolated.
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Download an example, annotated, NAMFPC namelist to see how to configure OpenIFS output. |
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Comment this panel out for now. We don't usually provide FDB with OpenIFS.
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GRIB codes OpenIFS knows are defined in the file: |
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More information about theta & PV output can be found here: PV levels. Note that specifying 2E-6 in the namelist implies both a positive PV surface in the northern hemisphere and the negative PV surface in the southern hemisphere. PV surfaces may not always be found. Each surface is constructed by searching down from the model level closest to 96hPa. Values at this model level are used where no PV values specified can be found. Theta levels. Care must also be taken in selecting theta levels as in the troposphere, theta levels dip towards the surface. Tropopause. The dynamical tropopause is often defined by the 1.5 - 2 PVU surface outside the tropics, with the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) approximately between 340K - 380K. |