Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How do I get an account on the ECMWF computer system?

A. All OpenIFS users will be given full access to this website. Access to other ECMWF systems may not always be required and your needs should be discussed with the OpenIFS team or User Support. Member state users should always apply for an account via their national Met Service representative. A contact list can be found here: http://www.ecmwf.int/services/computing/help/reps/index.html. If you want to contact ECMWF prior to applying to your national Met Service then please see this list for the appropriate ECMWF User Support contact to ask: http://www.ecmwf.int/services/computing/help/User_Support_Contact_Points.html

If you are a user from a non ECMWF member state you should contact openifs-support@ecmwf.int to discuss your needs.

Q. I can't retrieve files from the ECMWF ftp server. I get an error: ftp:bind: Address already in use.

A. This is usually caused by a firewall at the user site blocking ftp connections. There are two types of ftp connections, so-called 'active' and 'passive'. The essential difference is that 'active' mode tries to open multiple connections to the ECMWF ftp server. This behaviour is undesirable for sites running firewalls and is usually blocked. Although passive mode ftp is usually the default, if you see this error try using the '-p' option 'ftp -p' or, if it's available the command 'pftp' which invokes a passive mode only ftp.

Q. What does the 'T' mean in 'T511', 'T1279' etc?

A. The 'T' refers to the spectral truncation of the model and the number after is the highest retained wavenumber. A spectral method, based on spherical harmonic expansion is used in the model, for example to compute some horizontal derivatives. The 'T' means the model uses a 'triangular' truncation in spectral space to decide the retained spherical harmonics. The number following the 'T' is the highest retained wave number. For more information on the spectral truncation and resolution of the model, the IFS documentation is recommended reading.

T159 is approximately 125km resolution, T255 approx 80km, T511 40km, T1279 25km.

Q. How do I know the grid from from the 'T' number?

A. This depends on the grid used. For medium and high resolutions, the model uses a 'reduced Gaussian grid' with reduced numbers of gridpoints along a latitude circule towards the poles. Full quadratic and linear grids are also possible. There is a table available which shows the correspondence between spectral resolution and lat/lon resolution.

Q. How do I know what the memory requirements of the model are?

Q. How fast does the model run?

Q. What is the difference between IFS/OpenIFS model versions?

A. The OpenIFS model is based on the main IFS code though without some functionality such as data assimilation. The first OpenIFS version was based on cycle 38 release 1 (known as CY38R1).

Information on scientific & technical changes between cycles releases is available on the main ECMWF website.

Q. What format is the model output?

A. The model writes its output in GRIB format using WMO FM-92 GRIB edition 1 and edition 2 messages. ECMWF provides the GRIB_API software for handling and manipulating grib data using either command line tools and a programming library for C, Fortran and Python.

For plotting GRIB data, ECMWF provides the MetView software, which is freely available under the Apache license.

Note that the OpenIFS model outputs a mix of GRIB edition 1 & 2 messages in a single file. Unlike MetView, not all GRIB software available on the Internet can read such files and extra steps may be necessary to separate the messages before use.

Q. OpenIFS fails with an error message from GRIB_API.

A. This usually indicates an error in the GRIB file or GRIB_API configuration rather than the model. See the GRIB FAQ on this page, or email openifs-support@ecmwf.int and include the model output file (NODE_001.01) and the job log.

Q. OpenIFS fails (segmentation violation) when compiled with optimized compiler options ('opt' configuration) but works without any optimization ('noopt' configuration).

A. This could be for a number of reasons. However, a common one is that with the optimized settings OpenMP is enabled. This causes the model to require more memory from what's known as 'stack memory'. To increase your stack memory to the maximum allowed on your system, use the command 'ulimit -s unlimited'. If that does not solve your problem, email openifs-support@ecmwf.int.

Q. I get an error message from GRIB_API when I run the model saying 'boot.def' not found?

The 'boot.def' file is the GRIB definitions file. The location of the boot.def file is hardcoded into the GRIB_API library when it is compiled. Make sure that the directory where GRIB_API was installed has not moved. If it has this hardcoded location will be wrong. You can override this location by using the environment variable: GRIB_DEFINITION_PATH and set this to the directory containing the boot.def file.

Q. OpenIFS fails with an error message from GRIB_API.

A. This usually indicates an error in the GRIB file rather than the model. Please email openifs-support@ecmwf.int and include the model output file (NODE_001.01) and the job log.

Q. What are the GRIB_API environment variables and what do they mean?

A. The environment variables for GRIB_API are described on the GRIB_API software support page.

Q. When compiling GRIB_API on Mac OS X I get an error: ld: duplicate symbol _grib_file_not_found in .libs/action_class_alias.o and .libs/action.o

A. This is a known issue with compiling on Mac OS X. See this page on the GRIB_API Installation FAQ for the workaround.

Q. How do I convert from GRIB to netCDF?

Q.What software will read/write GRIB files?

Q. I get this error, what does it mean? "[FAIL] cpg1c.intfb.h: missing dependency (type=include)"

A. FCM has found an include statement: "#include cpg1c.intfb.h" in the source code but can't find the source file cpg1c.F90. Make sure the file exists or FCM is configured to look at all the sources.

Q. How do I change where FCM builds the library archive (.a) file before the link stage?

A. FCM queries the TMPDIR environment variable. If set it uses that location, otherwise it defaults to /tmp. On HPC systems, /tmp may not be the best choice if it is in memory.

Q. What does the $HERE variable in FCM configuration files mean?

A. The $HERE variable is a special variable that FCM interprets as the directory in which the configuration file resides.