Here is a brief overview of the GloFAS data made available to the public. For a full overview of the GloFAS system, please go to the dedicated pages on the GloFAS web site http://www.globalfloods.eu/. You will find information on the latest releases here: GloFAS operational system. Note GloFAS 30-day real-time forecasts over the European domain are currently not publicly available.
GloFAS variables
GloFAS variables (called 'parameters' in ECMWF MARS) are the hydrological entities calculated by the modelling chain. For GloFAS only river
discharge is made available. A short description is given below in table 1 along metadata information associated.
Table 1. Available GloFAS variables
EFAS Short Description | Unit | GRIB parameter ID | GRIB Short name | GRIB Name | Comment | GRIB description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River discharge | m3/s | 240024 | dis24 | Mean discharge in the last 24 hours | Average | Volume rate of water flow, including sediments, chemical and biological material, in the river channel averaged over a time step through a cross-section. |
River discharge
GloFAS variable discharge (dis) is stored as average over the time step of the model (6-hourly or 24-hourly), with time stamp (date and time of end of averaging period) explicit in the GRIB short name.
It is hence essential that when extracting river discharge data, the user also checks the upstream area of the grid box of interest.
GloFAS upstream area
In order to interpret the GloFAS output in a correct way, you will need static data that describes the model setup.This file denotes the total upstream area for each river pixel, expressed in m2. Upstream area is defined as the catchment area for each river segment, in other words the total area that contributes with water to the river at the specific grid point. The upstream area always includes the area of the pixel. You can download the upstream area file as netCDF here:
GloFAS-ERA5
Table 1: Available river discharge reanalysis simulation
| Forcing | Data set | Period | Lead time | Frequency | Ensemble members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERA5 | Reanalysis | 1 Jan 1979 - near real-time | 24 h | Daily | - |
GloFAS 30-day
Table 2: Available GloFAS 30-day river discharge simulations
| Forcing | Data set | Period | Lead time | Frequency | Ensemble members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECCMWF-ENS | Real-time forecasts | 2 Dec 2020 - real-time | 30 days | Daily | 51 |
| ECMWF-ENS | Reforecasts | Jan 1999 - Dec 2018 | 30 days | Twice weekly | 11 |
| 1 Jan 2019 - 30 Jun 2019 | 30 days | Twice weekly | 51 | ||
| 1 July 2019 - 1 Dec 2020 | 30 days | Daily | 51 |
GloFAS Seasonal
Table 3: Available GloFAS Seasonal river discharge forecasts and reforecasts
Forcing | Data set | Period | Lead time | Frequency | Ensemble members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECMWF SEAS5 seasonal forecast | Real-time forecasts | Dec 2020 - real-time | 123 days | Monthly | 51 |
| Reforecasts | Jan 1981 - Dec 2017 | 123 days | Monthly | 25 | |
| Jan 2018 - Nov 2020 | 123 days | Monthly | 51 |