The OpenIFS project at ECMWF provides versions of the OpenIFS model (based on IFS).
OpenIFS is based on ECMWF's IFS (Integrated Forecast System) code. The first version of OpenIFS was based on Cycle 38R1, the operational model introduced June 2012 (since superseded for operations from June 2013).
The OpenIFS model is the same as IFS but does not include the data assimilation. All of the forecast capability of IFS is available in OpenIFS.
The OpenIFS models are designed to be easy to install on external computer systems.
Although the IFS can be run in a number of configurations, OpenIFS only supports forecast mode (NCONF=1) and interpolation mode (NCONF=927).
2.1.3 Scientific capability
OpenIFS includes all the same forecasting capability of IFS but without any data assimilation. OpenIFS & IFS are the same with respect to:
Hydrostatic dynamical core.
ECMWF physics parametrization scheme.
ECMWF land surface model.
ECMWF wave model (40r1 versions and beyond)
Unlike IFS, OpenIFS does not include:
4D-Var and any observation handling.
Non-hydrostatic dynamics.
Adjoint / tangent-linear versions.
Ocean model.
Wave model (38r1 version only)
Ability to output Arpege file formats, only GRIB output is supported.
Support
Only operational configurations of IFS at ECMWF will be supported and for which documentation is available. Although we may endeavour to provide help on non-standard or untested configurations we cannot provide direct support for them.
Acknowledgements
The dynamical core IPR is shared with Meteo-France and collaborators. The IPR of the 'fullpos' and 'ddh' packages in OpenIFS are acknowledged as held by Meteo-France and we thank our colleagues for permission to include it in OpenIFS.