ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Langley DAAC Data Set Document

A special set of analysis products for the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) region during June 1-28, 1992 was prepared by Ernst Klinker and Tony Hollingsworth of the European Centre for Medium-range Forecasting (ECMWF), and reformatted by Chris Bretherton of the University of Washington. These analyses, or more correctly initializations and very short range forecasts using the ECMWF T213L30 operational model, incorporate routine observations from the global network and special soundings from ASTEX that were sent to ECMWF during ASTEX via the GTS telecommunication system. About 650 special soundings were incorporated, including nearly all soundings from Santa Maria, Porto Santo, and the French ship Le Suroit, most of the soundings taken on the Valdivia and Malcolm Baldridge, and almost none of the soundings from the Oceanus. Surface reports from the research ships were also incorporated into the analyses after the first week of the experiment. Aircraft soundings were not included in the analyses. ECMWF has requested that anyone making use of this data set acknowledge them, and that those investigators publishing research that makes more than casual use of this data set contact Ernst Klinker or Tony Hollingsworth.

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column in Section 7.0. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

All data sets discussed in this document were produced by European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF). These data sets are:

• FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG
• FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW
• FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC
• FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS
• FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG
• FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE

1. Data Set Overview
2. Investigator(s)
3. Theory of Measurements
4. Equipment
5. Data Acquisition Methods
6. Observations
7. Data Description
8. Data Organization
9. Data Manipulations
10. Errors
11. Notes
12. Application of the Data Set
13. Future Modifications and Plans
14. Software
15. Data Access
16. Output Products and Availability
17. References
18. Glossary of Terms
19. List of Acronyms
20. Document Information

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Surface Diagnostics (FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG)
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Mean Velocity Data (FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW)
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Basic Fields Data (FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC)
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Cloud Data (FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS)
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Diagnostics (FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG)
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE	First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Surface Data (FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE)

Christopher Bretherton
University of Washington
Department of Atmospheric Science
Box 351640
Seattle, WA 98195
USA
Phone: (206) 685-7414
FAX: (206) 685-9302
E-mail: breth@atmos.washington.edu

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG	Boundary Layer Dissipation Clouds Dew/Front Point Temperature Evaporation Precipitation Solar Radiation Surface Latent Heat Flux Surface Sensible Heat Flux Surface Stress Temperature Thermal Radiation Wind Speed
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW	Vertical Velocity
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC	Geopotential Specific Humidity Temperature Vertical Velocity Wind Speed
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS	Cloud Liquid Water Clouds Geopotential Specific Humidity Temperature Vertical Velocity Wind Speed
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG	Adiabatic Tendency Cloud Liquid Water Clouds Convective Tendency Diabatic Heating Geopotential Gravity Wave Humidity Tendency Specific Humidity Temperature Vertical Diffusion Vertical Velocity Wind Speed
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE	Adiabatic Tendency Cloud Liquid Water Clouds Convective Tendency Diabatic Heating Geopotential Gravity Wave Humidity Tendency Sea Surface Temperature Specific Humidity Surface Pressure Temperature Vertical Diffusion Vertical Velocity Wind Speed

Data Set	Min Lat	Max Lat	Min Lon	Max Lon
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC	10.00	70.00	-85.00	15.00
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS	20.00	45.00	-35.00	-5.00
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG	20.00	45.00	-35.00	-5.00
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW	10.00	70.00	-85.00	15.00
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG	20.00	45.00	-35.00	-5.00
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE	10.00	70.00	-85.00	15.00

Data Set Name	Begin Date	End Date
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC	06-01-1992	06-28-1992
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS	06-01-1992	06-28-1992
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG	06-01-1992	06-28-1992
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW	06-01-1992	06-28-1992
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG	06-01-1992	06-28-1992
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE	06-01-1992	06-28-1992

One granule of FIRE ASTEX ECMWF data contains data for a 6 hour period for the following 3 data sets:

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG

One granule of FIRE ASTEX ECMWF data contains one day of data for the following 3 data sets:

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels, as tabulated below. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column below. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

Data Set Name	ECMWF Field Abbrev.	ECMWF ID#	Time Range	Field Description	Units
BASIC	Z	129	I	Geopotential	m^2/s^2
	T	130	I	Temperature	K
	Q	133	I	Specific humidity	kg/kg
	U	131	I	U [eastward]-velocity	m/s
	V	132	I	V [northward]-velocity	m/s
	W	135	I	Vertical velocity	Pa/s

lat/lon range: 85W to 15E, 70N to 10N
levels:	1010,1000,975,950,925,900,875,850,825,800,775,750,700, 650,600,550,500,400,300,200,100 hPa

The ECMWF field abbreviation, ID#, field description and units are taken directly from ECMWF Code Table 2, in case you ever need to consult with ECMWF about this data set.

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels, as tabulated below. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column below. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

Data Set Name	ECMWF Field Abbrev.	ECMWF ID#	Time Range	Field Description	Units
CLOUDS	CLW	212	I	Cloud liquid water	kg/kg
	CF	213	I	Cloud fraction	0-1

lat/lon range: 35W to 05W, 20N to 45N
levels:	1010,1000,975,950,925,900,875,850,825,800,775,750,700, 650,600,550,500,400,300,200,100 HPa

The ECMWF field abbreviation, ID#, field description and units are taken directly from ECMWF Code Table 2, in case you ever need to consult with ECMWF about this data set.

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels, as tabulated below. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column below. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

Data Set Name	ECMWF Field Abbrev.	ECMWF ID#	Time Range	Field Description	Units
DIAGNOSTIC	DHR	214	A	Diabatic heating by radiation	K/s
	DHVD	215	A	Diab. heat. by vert. diffusion	K/s
	DHCC	216	A	Diab. heat. by cu. convection	K/s
	DHLC	217	A	Diab. heat. by lg-scale condens.	K/s
	VDZW	218	A	Vert. diffusion of zonal wind	m^2/s^3
	VDMW	219	A	Vert. diffusion of meri. wind	m^2/s^3
	EWGD	220	A	E-W gravity wave drag	m^2/s^3
	NSGD	221	A	N-S gravity wave drag	m^2/s^3
	CTZW	222	A	Convective tend. of zonal wind	m^2/s^3
	CTMW	223	A	Convective tend. of meri. wind	m^2/s^3
	VDH	224	A	Vertical diffusion of humidity	kg/(kg s)
	HTCC	225	A	Humid. tend. by cu. convection	kg/(kg s)
	HTLC	226	A	Humid. tend. by lg-scale cond.	kg/(kg s)
	ATT	228	A	Adiabatic tend. of temperature	K/s
	ATH	229	A	Adiabatic tend. of humidity	kg/(kg s)
	ATZW	230	A	Adiabatic tend. of zonal wind	m/s^2
	ATMW	231	A	Adiabatic tend. of meri. wind	m/s^2
		232	A

lat/lon range: 35W to 05W, 20N to 45N
levels:	1010,1000,975,950,925,900,875,850,825,800,775,750,700

The ECMWF field abbreviation, ID#, field description and units are taken directly from ECMWF Code Table 2, in case you ever need to consult with ECMWF about this data set.

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels, as tabulated below. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column below. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

Data Set Name	ECMWF Field Abbrev.	ECMWF ID#	Time Range	Field Description	Units
MEANW	MVV	232	A	Mean vertical velocity	Pa/s

lat/lon range: 85W to 15E, 70N to 10N
levels:	1010,1000,975,950,925,900,875,850,825,800,775,750,700, 650,600,550,500,400,300,200,100 hPa

The ECMWF field abbreviation, ID#, field description and units are taken directly from ECMWF Code Table 2, in case you ever need to consult with ECMWF about this data set.

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels, as tabulated below. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column below. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

Data Set Name	ECMWF Field Abbrev.	ECMWF ID#	Time Range	Field Description	Units
SURFACE DIAG	LSP	142	A	Large scale precipitation	m/(6 hr)
	CP	143	A	Convective precipitation	m/(6 hr)
	BLD	145	A	Boundary layer dissipation	W/m^2
	SSHF	146	A	Surface sensible heat flux	W/m^2
	SLHF	147	A	Surface latent heat flux	W/m^2
	TCC	164	I	Total cloud cover	0-1
	10U	165	I	10 meter u	m/s
	10V	166	I	10 meter v	m/s
	2T	167	I	2 meter temperature	K
	2D	168	I	2 meter dewpoint temperature	K
	SSR	176	A	Surface solar radiation	W/m^2
	STR	177	A	Surface thermal radiation	W/m^2
	TSR	178	A	Top solar radiation	W/m^2
	TTR	179	A	Top thermal radiation	W/m^2
	EWSS	180	A	U-stress	N/m^2
	NSSS	181	A	V-stress	N/m^2
	E	182	A	Evaporation	m (H2O)
	CCC	185	I	Convective cloud cover	0-1
	LCC	186	I	Low cloud cover	0-1
	MCC	187	I	Medium cloud cover	0-1
	HCC	188	I	High cloud cover	0-1
	TSRU	208	I	Top solar radiation upward	W/m^2
	TTRU	209	I	Top thermal radiation upward	W/m^2
	TSUC	210	I	Top solar radiation upward clear sky

lat/lon range: 35W to 05W, 20N to 45N; at surface pressure

The ECMWF field abbreviation, ID#, field description and units are taken directly from ECMWF Code Table 2, in case you ever need to consult with ECMWF about this data set.

The data have been decoded by Chris Bretherton into ASCII files, one for each horizontal field at a given level and base time. All data have the same horizontal resolution of 1.25 degrees in latitude and longitude and correspond to base (initialization) times of 00, 06, 12, or 18Z. Different fields have different lat/lon ranges and sets of available vertical levels, as tabulated below. Also, some fields are instantaneous (I) while others are accumulated (A) over the first 6 hours of a forecast initialized at the base time. This is tabulated in the "time range" column below. Instantaneous fields are best compared with data at the base time, while accumulated fields are best compared with data three hours after the base time.

Data Set Name	ECMWF Field Abbrev.	ECMWF ID#	Time Range	Field Description	Units
SURFACE	SP	134	I	Surface pressure	Pa
	ST	139	I	[Sea] surface temperature	K

lat/lon range: 85W to 15E, 70N to 10N; at surface pressure

The ECMWF field abbreviation, ID#, field description and units are taken directly from ECMWF Code Table 2, in case you ever need to consult with ECMWF about this data set.

A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary.

One granule of FIRE ASTEX ECMWF data contains data for a 6 hour period for the following 3 data sets:

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG

One granule of FIRE ASTEX ECMWF data contains one day of data for the following 3 data sets:

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE

FIRE_AX_ECMWF_BASIC	ASCII
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_CLOUDS	ASCII
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_DIAG	ASCII
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_MEANW	ASCII
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SFDIAG	ASCII
FIRE_AX_ECMWF_SURFCE	ASCII

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov

NASA - National Aeronautics Space Administration
URL - Uniform Resource Locator
EOSDIS Acronyms.

Document Revision Date:

October 07, 1996; May 28, 1997; November 24, 1997; July 1999

Document Review Date:

October 07, 1996

Document ID:

...

Citation:

...

Document Curator:

Langley DAAC User and Data Services Office
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov

Document URL:

http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/GUIDE/dataset_documents/base_fire_ax_ecmwf_dataset.html