ECMWF point database: providing direct access to any model output grid-point values

Twice a day the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Integrated Forecasting System generates a 16 km high resolution global forecast to 10 days and a 32 km ensemble forecast of 51 members to 15 days. Each run produces around 4 Tbytes of GRIB data. Due to the large amount of data involved, it is currently impossible for our users to transfer the full model output on their computers for further use. As a consequence, it is believed that they cannot use the ensemble data to their full potential.

ECMWF is investigating ways to create a system that will allow users direct access to any of the 20 billion grid point values that represent all ensemble members, parameters, levels and time steps. Access to this dataset will be made available as soon as the data is produced by the forecasting system. This will allow users to create real-time products such as meteograms, cross-sections or vertical profiles at any point on the globe, mixing high resolution and probability information on the same graphs.