Climate Forecast System (CFS)
The Climate Forecast System (CFS) is a model representing the global interaction between Earth's oceans, land, and atmosphere. Produced by several dozen scientists under guidance from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), this model offers hourly data with a horizontal resolution down to one-half of a degree (approximately 56 km) around Earth for many variables. CFS uses the latest scientific approaches for taking in, or assimilating, observations from data sources including surface observations, upper air balloon observations, aircraft observations, and satellite observations.
Historical model data are available in near–real time at NCEI. Real-time CFS model data are available on NCEP servers on the CFS 7-day rotating archive.
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Quick Links to Main Product Types
Product Type | Product Period of Record | Domain | Product Format(s) |
---|---|---|---|
CFS Reanalysis (CFSR) | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | Global | GRIB2, BUFR |
CFS Reforecasts | 12Dec1981-31Mar2011 and 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | Global | GRIB2 |
CFSRR Calibration Climatologies | 1982-2010 and 1999-2010 | Global | GRIB2 |
CFSv2 Operational Analysis | 01Apr2011 - Present | Global | GRIB2, BUFR |
CFSv2 Operational Forecasts | 01Apr2011 - Present | Global | GRIB2 |
Product Types
CFS Reanalysis and Reforecast (CFSRR)
CFS Reanalysis (CFSR)
The NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) was designed and executed as a global, high-resolution, coupled atmosphere-ocean-land surface-sea ice system to provide the best estimate of the state of these coupled domains over the 32-year period of record from January 1979 to March 2011. It has been extended as an operational real-time product.
"The CFSR data was developed by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The data for this study are from NOAA's National Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS), which is maintained at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)."
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time Series | Lat/Lon: 0.5°, 1.0°, 2.5°; Gaussian: T382, T62 | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | Monthly | Hourly, full month | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means | Lat/Lon: 0.5°, 1.0°, 2.5°; Gaussian: T382, T62 | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | Monthly: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06 | HTTPS TDS ERDDAP |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6-Hourly 3-D Diabatic Heating Data (DIAB) | Lat/Lon: 1.0° | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly Surface and Radiative Fluxes (FLX) | Gaussian: T382 | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly Low-Resolution Data | Lat/Lon: 1.0°, 2.5°; Gaussian: T62 | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly 3-D Isentropic Level (IPV) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly 3-D Ocean Data (OCN) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly 3-D Pressure Level Data (PGB) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|
High Resolution Initial Conditions (HIC) | Various | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | HTTPS |
Low Resolution Initial Conditions (LIC) | Various | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | HTTPS |
Full Ingest Data (dumps) | Various | 01Jan1979 - 31Mar2011 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | HTTPS |
CFS Reforecasts
Description
A complete reforecast of CFS, over the 29-year period (1982–2011) has been created in order to provide stable calibration and skill estimates of the new system, for operational seasonal and sub-seasonal prediction at NCEP. Coupled full 9-month forecasts from initial conditions every 5 days apart (for all four cycles on that day) have been made for each calendar year with the T126L64 GFS with half-hourly coupling to the ocean (MOM4 at 1/4° equatorial, 1/2° global). The total number of 9-month forecasts is 73x4 for each year. In addition to the 9-month runs, there is a full season run from every 00Z cycle over a 12-year period (1999–2011). There is also a short 45-day forecast from every 06Z, 12Z, and 18Z cycle over the same 12-year period (1999–2011).
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Means of Daily Averages | Various | 01Jan1984-31Dec2009 | 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles, 1 out of 5 days | Monthly, out ~9 months | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Mean Time Series of Select Variables | Various | 01Jan1999-31Dec2009 | Full POR | Monthly, out full POR | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly Time Series from 45-Day and Seasonal Runs | Various | 01Jan1999-31Dec2009 | 00Z cycle, 4 out of 5 days for 45-day runs; 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles; 4 out of 5 days for seasonal runs | 6-Hourly, out ~45 days or ~3 months | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly Time Series from 9-Month Runs | Various | 12Dec1981-31Mar2011 | 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles, 1 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly, out ~9 months | HTTPS TDS |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Means from 9-Month Runs | Various | 12Dec1981-31Mar2011 | 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles, 1 out of 5 days | Monthly, 00, 06, 12, and 18UTC; out ~9 months | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means from Seasonal Runs | Various | 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | 00Z cycle, 4 out of 5 days | Monthly, 00, 06, 12, and 18UTC; out ~3 months | HTTPS TDS |
Time Series from 45-Day and Seasonal Runs | Various | 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles; 4 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly, out ~45 days or ~3 months | HTTPS TDS |
Time Series from 9-Month Runs | Various | 12Dec1981-31Mar2011 | 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles, 1 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly, out ~9 months | HTTPS TDS |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
45-Day Runs of FLXF | Gaussian: T126 | 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles; 4 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out 45 days | |
45-Day Runs of PGBF | Lat/Lon: 1° | 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles; 4 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out 45 days | HTTPS TDS |
90-Day Runs of FLXF | Gaussian: T126 | 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | 00Z cycle, 4 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~3 months | HTTPS TDS |
90-Day Runs of PGBF | Lat/Lon: 1° | 01Jan1999-31Mar2011 | 00Z cycle, 4 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~3 months | HTTPS TDS |
9-Month Runs of FLXF | Gaussian: T126 | 12Dec1981-31Mar2011 | 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles, 1 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~6 months | HTTPS TDS |
9-Month Runs of PGBF | Lat/Lon: 1° | 12Dec1981-31Mar2011 | 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z cycles, 1 out of 5 days | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~6 months | HTTPS TDS |
CFSRR Calibration Climatologies*
*Note (2017-11-16): "CFS Reanalysis Calibration Climatologies" have not yet been ingested/archived at NCEI. Links to product data in the tables below are not serially complete.
Product | Period of Record | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|
Monthly Means: Mean and Standard Deviation | 1982-2010 and 1999-2010 | |
Time Series: Mean for All Variables | 1982-2010 | |
Time Series: Standard Deviation for All Variables | 1982-2010 | |
Time Series: Mean for All Variables | 1999-2010 | |
Time Series: Standard Deviation for All Variables | 1999-2010 |
Product | Period of Record | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|
9-Month Runs: FLXF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1982-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: FLXF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1999-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: IPVF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1982-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: IPVF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1999-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: OCNF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1982-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: OCNF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1999-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: OCNH Mean and Standard Deviation | 1999-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: PGBF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1982-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs: PGBF Mean and Standard Deviation | 1999-2010 | HTTPS |
9-Month Runs Time Series: Mean and Standard Deviation by Variable | 1982-2010 and 1999-2010 | |
45 and 90-Day Runs Time Series: Mean by Variable | 1999-2010 | |
45 and 90-Day Runs Time Series: Standard Deviation by Variable | 1999-2010 |
CFSv2 Operational*
*With regard to "operational," NCEI/NOMADS historical model data are available in near–real time. Real-time CFS model data are available on NCEP servers on the CFS 7-day rotating archive.
CFSv2 Operational Analysis*
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|
Time Series | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | Hourly, full month | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means Energetics (EGY) | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06 | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means Fluxes (FLX) | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06 | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means Isentropic (IPV) | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06 | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means Ocean (OCN) | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06 | HTTPS TDS |
Monthly Means Pressure (PGB) | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06 | HTTPS TDS |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6-Hourly Surface and Radiative Fluxes (FLX) | Gaussian: T574 | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly Low-Resolution Data | Gaussian: T62; Lat/Lon: 1.0°, 2.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly 3-D Isentropic Level Data (IPV) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly 3-D Ocean Data (OCN) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
6-Hourly 3-D Pressure Level Data (PGB) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | +00, +01, +02, +03, +04, +05, +06, +09 | HTTPS TDS |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|
High Resolution Initial Conditions (HIC) | Various | 01Apr2011 - 31Dec2014 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | HTTPS |
Low Resolution Initial Conditions (LIC) | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | HTTPS |
Full Ingest Data (dumps) | Various | 01Apr2011 - 31Dec2014 | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | HTTPS |
CFSv2 Operational Forecasts*
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9-Month Forecasts: Time Series | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | Hourly, out ~9 months | HTTPS TDS |
9-Month Forecasts: Monthly Means | Various | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | Monthly, 00, 06, 12, and 18UTC; out ~9 months | HTTPS TDS |
Product | Grid/Scale | Period of Record | Model Cycle | Output Timestep | Data Access Links |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
9-Month Forecasts: 6-Hourly Surface and Radiative Fluxes (FLX) | Gaussian: T126 | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~6 months | HTTPS TDS |
9-Month Forecasts: 6-Hourly 3D Isentropic Level Data (IPV) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~6 months | HTTPS TDS |
9-Month Forecasts: 6-Hourly 3D Ocean Data (OCN) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~6 months | HTTPS TDS |
9-Month Forecasts: 6-Hourly 3D Pressure Level Data (PGB) | Lat/Lon: 0.5° | 01Apr2011 - Present | 4/day: 00, 06, 12, 18UTC | 6-Hourly: +00, +06, +12,...out ~6 months | HTTPS TDS |
Data Usage Notes
02Dec2011
NCEI and NCEP have identified that the "High-Priority Reforecast" datasets are roughly 99% serially complete at this time and may contain isolated damaged files.
01Aug2011
Known CFSRR data issues are explained in the August 2011 CFSRR Known Issues Technical Document.
18Feb2010
Notice to users who downloaded CFSR time series data prior to 22:00 UTC February 18, 2010:
A format conversion issue was verified affecting the metadata in non-instantaneous CFSR time series files (28 of the 73 file types affected are listed below). The issue, triggered during the conversion process between GRIB1 to GRIB2 by NCEP (to facilitate transmission and storage), caused the non-instantaneous fields (00-01, 01-02, 02-03 hr statistical) to appear instantaneous (00-00, 01-01, 02-02 hr statistical) when decoded. At 22:00 UTC February 18, 2010, NCEI will begin bringing corrected versions of these files online. Users who have already downloaded these files are encouraged to re-download these files on/after Friday, February 19, otherwise be aware of these facts when using your existing copy. If you improvise the metadata, the data itself is valid. The issue affects the following time series file types (28):
dlwsfc dswsfc gflux lhtfl ocndt20c ocnheat ocnmld ocnsal15 ocnsal5 ocnslh ocnsst ocnt15 ocnu15 ocnu5 ocnv15 ocnv5 ocnvv55 prate runoff shtfl snohf tmax tmin ulwsfc ulwtoa uswsfc uswtoa wndstrs
Publication References
Please reference the following article when using the CFS Reanalysis (CFSR) data:
Please reference the following article when using the CFS Reforecast model or data: