NCEP FNL Operational Global Tropospheric Analyses

NCEP FNL Operational Global Analysis data provides global tropospheric conditions on 2.5x2.5 degree hemispheric grids every twelve hours. The dataset is produced by the Global Forecast System (GFS) run operationally at NCEP and maintained by NCAR's Data Support Section. Analyses began in July 1976 and continue operationally.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temperature and geopotential height trends across 12 mandatory pressure levels from 1000mb to 50mb.
• Studying wind patterns and vertical motion using u- and v- wind component data.
• Monitoring surface conditions via parameters like surface pressure, sea level pressure, and sea surface temperature.
• Assessing moisture content and precipitation potential using relative humidity and precipitable water fields.
• Tracking snow cover changes in the Northern Hemisphere with weekly snow depth data.

Strengths

• Continuous data collection since July 1976 provides a long-term operational record.
• Analyses are available on multiple atmospheric layers including surface, 12 mandatory levels, boundary layers, and tropopause.
• Data is produced every twelve hours in near-real time for timely analysis.

Limitations

• Snow depth data is only available weekly and restricted to the Northern Hemisphere.
• The spatial resolution is fixed at 2.5x2.5 degree grids, which may be coarse for localized studies.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and column details are unknown.

Provenance

Source

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecast System (GFS).

Collection Method

Operational model analyses produced in near-real time.

Time Range

July 1976 - continuing.

Freshness

Continuing near-real time operational updates.

Geography

Global hemispheric coverage.