Introduction
This is a brief introduction of the main request parameter syntax.
We recommend that you get familiar with archive data and their availability using MARS catalogue
You can also get the request syntax using "View MARS request" feature.
Syntax
verb, keyword1 = value1, ... = value2, keywordN = valueN
- verb: action to be taken (e.g. retrieve, list, read)
- keyword: a known MARS variable, e.g. type or date
- value: value assigned to the keyword, e.g. Analysis or temperature
Retrieve example from "View MARS request":
MARS request
retrieve, stream=oper, levtype=sfc, param=165.128/41.128, step=0, grid=0.75/0.75, time=00, date=2013-09-01/to/2013-09-30, type=an, class=ei
Keyword
Keyword | definition |
---|---|
class | Specifies the ECMWF classification given to the data
Full list of class definitions |
stream | Identifies the forecasting system used to generated the data when the same meteorological types are archived For example, oper is used for the Operational Atmospheric model and wave for the Wave model. Both models produce Analysis and Forecast data types. Full list of stream definitions |
expver | Is the version of the data |
Date & Time | |
time | Base time (00, 06, 12 and 18) Observation time (HHMM or HH:MM: ie 09:30) |
date | Specifies the Analysis date, the Forecast base date or Observations date. Formats
|
step | Specifies the forecast time step from forecast base time. Valid values are hours (HH) |
Fields | |
type | Determines the type of field to be retrieved: This keyword makes the selection between observations, images or fields, and it determines some of the valid remaining keywords of the request.
Full list of type definitions |
levtype | Denotes type of level:
|
param | Meteorological parameter. (t, temprerature, 130, 30.128, ...) |
grid | Output grid mesh
|
Storage | |
target | specifies a Unix file into which data is to be written after retrieval or manipulation. Path names should always be enclosed in double quotes: target = "analysis.grb" |