Overview
This document provides an overview of the 2 m temperature products from the Climate Forecast system reanalysis (CFSR) and its operational extension CFSv2. The CFSR is a third-generation reanalysis product, developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), and it is using a global, high resolution, coupled atmosphere-ocean-land surface-sea ice system. The spatial resolution of the global atmospheric data is ~ 38 km (T382) and many atmospheric variables are provided at hourly and monthly temporal resolution.
Provider's contact information
CFSR is developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP).
Contact name: DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact email: Contact: cfs@noaa.gov
Licensing and citation
Please reference the following article when using the CFS Reanalysis (CFSR) data:
Saha, S., S. Moorthi, H. Pan, X. Wu, J. Wang, and Coauthors, 2010: The NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 91, 1015–1057, doi:10.1175/2010BAMS3001.1.
For hourly data downloaded from UCAR RDA: Saha, S., et al. 2010. NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) Selected Hourly Time-Series Products, January 1979 to December 2010. Research Data Archive at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Computational and Information Systems Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.5065/D6513W89. Accessed dd mmm yyyy.
For monthly data downloaded from UCAR RDA: Saha, S., et al. 2010. NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) Monthly Products, January 1979 to December 2010. Research Data Archive at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Computational and Information Systems Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.5065/D6DN438J. Accessed dd mmm yyyy.
Please reference the following article when using the CFS Reforecast model or data:
Saha, S., S. Moorthi, X. Wu, J. Wang, S. Nadiga, P. Tripp, D. Behringer, Y. Hou, H. Chuang, M. Iredell, M.Ek, J. Meng, R. Yang, M.P. Mendez, H. van den Dool, Q. Zhang, W. Wang, M. Chen, and E. Becker, 2014: The NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2, Journal of Climate, 27(6), 2185-2208, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00823.1.
For hourly data downloaded from UCAR RDA: Saha, S., et al. 2011, updated monthly. NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) Selected Hourly Time-Series Products. Research Data Archive at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Computational and Information Systems Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.5065/D6N877VB. Accessed dd mmm yyyy.
For monthly data downloaded from UCAR RDA: Saha, S., et al. 2012. NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) Monthly Products. Research Data Archive at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Computational and Information Systems Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.5065/D69021ZF. Accessed dd mmm yyyy.
Variable name and units:
The following table summarizes the name of the variables available at NCAR RDA as hourly time series.
| Notation (name) | Units |
|---|---|
| TMP2M (2 m air temperature; instantaneous) | K |
| TMIN (2 m minimum air temperature) | K |
| TMAX (2 m maximum air temperature) | K |
| DPT (dewpoint temperature) | K |
| TMPSFC (surface temperature; instantaneous) | K |
Note: The forecast at the first time step (f00) of 3 minutes constitutes a spin up of the model physics, and IT IS NOT THE ANALYSIS
Spatial coverage and resolution:
CFSR data, is a global dataset. All atmospheric variables are provided on the same horizontal regular latitude-longitude grid with a spatial resolution of ~38 km (T382).
Temporal coverage and resolution:
CFSR is covering the 01 Jan 1979 – 31 Mar 2011 period. The product was extended beyond 2011 as an operational real-time product, using the new version of the forecast system: NCEP's Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2). CFSR temperature data are available at an hourly time resolution and as monthly means.
Information about observations (number, homogeneity)
All available conventional and satellite observations were included in the CFSR. Satellite observations were used in radiance form and were bias corrected with “spin up” runs at full resolution, taking into account variable CO2 concentrations. This procedure enabled smooth transitions of the climate record due to evolutionary changes in the satellite observing system.
It is extremely difficult to assimilate 2 m temperature over land in systems like the CFSR. Therefore, surface temperature from stations is not assimilated in CFSR.
The CFSR uses the NCEP operational observation quality control procedures.
Methodology
The CFSR is a third generation reanalysis product, and it uses a global, high resolution, coupled atmosphere-ocean-land surface-sea ice system. It includes (1) coupling of atmosphere and ocean during the generation of the 6 hour guess field, (2) an interactive sea-ice model, and (3) assimilation of satellite radiances. The CFSR global atmosphere resolution is ~38 km (T382) with 64 levels. The global ocean is 0.25° at the equator, extending to a global 0.5° beyond the tropics, with 40 levels. The global land surface model has 4 soil levels and the global sea ice model has 3 levels. The CFSR atmospheric model contains observed variations in carbon dioxide (CO2), together with changes in aerosols and other trace gases and solar variations.
Information about the technical and scientific quality
The CSFR products are superior to previous NCEP reanalyses with respect to: improved model, finer resolution, advanced assimilation schemes, atmosphere-land-ocean-sea ice coupling, assimilates satellite radiances rather than retrievals, and accounts for changing CO2 and other trace gasses, aerosols, and solar variations.
Known CFSR data issues are explained in the August 2011 CFSRR Known Issues Technical Document.
Limitations and strengths for application in North Canada
GENERAL KEY STRENGTHS: Approaches the horizontal resolution of regional reanalyses like the NARR and Arctic System Reanalysis
GENERAL KEY LIMITATIONS: Ocean-atmosphere interactions are not used directly. Rather the information is used for background information. The actual reanalysis is uncoupled.
References to documents describing the methodology or/and the dataset
Saha, S., S. Moorthi, H. Pan, X. Wu, J. Wang, and Coauthors, 2010: The NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 91, 1015–1057, doi:10.1175/2010BAMS3001.1.
Saha, S., S. Moorthi, X. Wu, J. Wang, S. Nadiga, P. Tripp, D. Behringer, Y. Hou, H. Chuang, M. Iredell, M.Ek, J. Meng, R. Yang, M.P. Mendez, H. van den Dool, Q. Zhang, W. Wang, M. Chen, and E. Becker, 2014: The NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2, Journal of Climate, 27(6), 2185-2208, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00823.1.
Link to download the data and format of data:
The CFSR data (1979 to 2011) are available in GRIB-2 format and can be accessed in multiple ways.
NCEI NOMADS THREDDS Data Server: URL: https://nomads.ncdc.noaa.gov/thredds/cfsr.html
NOAA NOMADS FTP access: URL: ftp://nomads.ncdc.noaa.gov/CFSR/
At UCAR RDA data is grouped as follows:
NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) Monthly Products (ds094.2)
NCEP Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) Selected Hourly Time-Series Products (ds094.1)
NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) Monthly Products, January 1979 to December 2010 (ds093.2)