This experiment contains forecasts from the LMK (COSMO-DE) high resolution model of DWD (2.8km horizontal resoultion and 50 model levels). Model runs are started every 3h at 00, 03, 06, 09, 12, 15, 18 and 21 UTC with a forecast range of +18h. LMK (COSMO-DE) is an operational forecast model of DWD. Therefore, we adapted the output of the model as close as possible to the tigge+ list, but there are some differences; see dataset summaries. For a detailed description of the LMK (COSMO-DE) model, please contact the originator of the data. All datasets for COPS in the database have an output frequency of 15 minutes. If the variables are not provided by LMK (COSMO-DE) with an output frequency of 15 minutes then the hourly output has been linearily interpolated in time. LMK (COSMO-DE) provides only a subset of the TIGGE+ variables with an output frequency of 15 minutes. These are: Total precipitation (all types) (kg/m**2) acc_st 011 002 TPT2 Precipitation: grid-scale only, rain (kg/m**2) acc_st 102 201 SURF Precipitation: grid-scale only, snow (kg/m**2) acc_st 079 002 SURF Precipitation: grid-scale only, graupel (kg/m**2) acc_st 132 201 SURF Precipitation rate: grid-scale only, rain (kg/s/m**2) inst 100 201 SURF Precipitation rate: grid-scale only, snow (kg/s/m**2) inst 100 201 SURF Precipitation rate: grid-scale only, graupel (kg/s/m**2) inst 100 201 SURF Total column water vapour (or precipitable water) (kg/m**2) inst 054 002 SURF Total column cloud water (or cloud water) (kg/m**2) inst 076 002 SURF Total column cloud ice (or cloud ice) (kg/m**2) inst 058 002 SURF W-velocity (m/s) inst 040 002 MUVW Grid descitption: CDOM: xfirst: -2.73 yfirst: -2.927 xsize: 135.0 ysize: 118.0 xinc: 0.025 yinc: 0.025 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 40.0 DDOM: xfirst: -5.882 yfirst: -6.685 xsize: 441.0 ysize: 279.0 xinc: 0.025 yinc: 0.025 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 40.0

Accurate initialization of the water vapor field is important for NWP. With recent advances in Global Positioning System (GPS) atmospheric remote sensing, ground-based GPS receivers have become an important instrument that can provide high resolution water vapor measurements operationally at low cost with an accuracy of a few millimeters. The system can operate in all weather conditions. During the COPS campaign, a dense network of GPS receivers was installed. This data has been assimilated in real-time into the MM5 4DVAR system to improve quantitative precipitation forecasts and process understanding. Operational forecasts initialized with 4DVAR and corresponding CONTROL forecasts, initialized only by the ECMWF forecast,ran the whole COPS/D-PHASE period to provide a basis for future statistical investigations. This experiment contains only the innermost domain (2km) of the forecast initialized with the operational ECMWF forecast only (CONTROL). The corresponding 4DVAR forecast can be found as experiment dphase_mm5_2_4d. Assimilation run: - 18 km horizontal resolution - 36 level up tp 100 hPa - 64x70 grid points - MM5 3.4 (4DVAR version) - Kuo convection scheme - MRF PBL scheme - Simple radiation - Warm cloud microphysics - 3 hour assimilation window Free forecast run: only innermost 2km domain (CDOM) was archived) - Triple 2-way nested 24h forecast (18, 6, 2 km resolution) - 36 level up to 100 hPa - 64x70 points (18 km), 106x109 points (6 km), 169x184 points (2 km) - MM5 3.7.4 - Kain Fritsch 2 cumulus (no parameterization in the 2 km domain) - Reisner2 cloud microphysics - RRTM LW + Dudhia SW radiation - MRF PBL scheme - 5 layer soil model Note: here the datasets differ in time resolution (DDOM:1h, CDOM 15min) not in region. Grid description:"CDOM"+"DDOM":xinc/yinc:2.0 xnpole/ynpole:0.0 xfirst:6.0205 yfirst:47.0167 xsize:184.0 ysize:169.0

This experiment contains forecasts from the LME (COSMO-EU) model of DWD (7km horizontal resolution, 40 model levels). Model runs are started every 6h at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC with a forecast range of +72h. LME (COSMO-EU) is an operational forecast model of DWD. The output is mostly according to the tigge+ list. Descriptions of the differences to TIGGE+ can be found in the summary of the data sets. For a detailed description of the LME (COSMO-EU) model, please contact the originator of the data. Grid description: CDOM: xfirst: -2.73 yfirst: -2.927 xsize: 177.0 ysize: 112.0 xinc: 0.063 yinc: 0.063 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 40.0 DDOM: xfirst: -5.882 yfirst: -6.685 xsize: 177.0 ysize: 112.0 xinc: 0.063 yinc: 0.063 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 40.0

Aladin-Austria daily numerical weather forecast. It is a hydrostatical model, where the equations are solved by transformation to the spectral form. For the microphysics a Kessler-Typ scheme is used. Two runs are conducted each day at 00:00, 12:00 (72 hours forecast range). The horizontal resolution amounts to 9.6 km, on 45 pressure levels in the vertical. The domain spans Central Europe. Grid description: quadratic grid, Lambert Projection DDOM: xfirst: 2.53 yfirst: 42.94 xsize: 142.0 ysize: 102.0 xinc: 0.11 yinc: 0.07 xnpole: 0.0 ynpole: 0.0

- operational model of MeteoSwiss - configuration: Leap frog time integration; Tiedtke convection scheme with moisture convergence closure; two layer soil module (likely to be changed during DOP); prognostic TKE, qr and qs; no graupel scheme - forecast range 72h starting at 00UTC and 12UTC. Missing time steps are filled with dummy text files. Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: -6.1875 yfirst: -14.625 xsize: 201.0 ysize: 121.0 xinc:0.0625 yinc: 0.0625 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 32.5

72h forecast with MM5 V3.7 using - 60km x 60km resolution - 55 x 45 Grids - NOAA GFS input - Noah land-surface scheme - MRF PBL - Grell cumulus scheme - Graupel (Reisner2) explicit moisture scheme - Cloud for atmospheric radiation Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: -6.769222 yfirst: 34.404968 xsize: 55.0 ysize: 45.0 xinc: 0.2 yinc: 0.54 xnpole: 0.0 ynpole: 0.0

72h forecast with MM5 V3.7, nested run using - mm5_15 run as input - 3.75km x 3.75km resolution - 57 x 49 Grids - Noah land-surface scheme - MRF PBL - Grell cumulus scheme - Graupel (Reisner2) explicit moisture scheme - Cloud for atmospheric radiation Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: 10.207822 yfirst: 46.897579 xsize: 66.0 ysize: 48.0 xinc: 0.0005 yinc: 0.035 xnpole: 0.0 ynpole: 0.0

AROME (Application of Research to Operational at Meso-Scale) model is a new NWP system built in order to improve the forecast of mesoscale phenomena and extreme weather events (thunderstorms, mountain forecasts, coastal winds, immediate forecasts). It is planned to be used operationally by the end of 2008 over mainland France. With a 2.5 km horizontal grid mesh and a time step of 60s, this model is designed for short range forecasts. It merges research outcomes and operational progress : the physical package used is extracted from the Meso-NH research model and has been interfaced into the Non-Hydrostactic version of the ALADIN software. AROME also has its own mesoscale data assimilation system based on 3DVar with a 3hours RUC (Rapid Update Cycle). Physical parameterizations used in AROME are: -the ICE3 Meso-NH microphysical scheme with 5 prognostic species of condensed water. It contains 3 precipitating species (rain, snow and graupel) and 2 non precipitating ones (ice crystals and cloud droplets) -the Meso-NH 1D turbulence parameterization with Bougeault Lacarrere mixing lengths. -the externalized version of the Meso-NH detailed surface scheme -the operational ECMWF radiation code (called every 15 min). -the KFB (Kein-Fritsch Bechtold) shallow convection scheme is also switched on. We daily performed 30 hours forecasts with Non-Hydrostatic AROME 2.5 km model, starting from 00 TU. We ran with a time step of 60s over a domain of 400x320 points.AROME is coupled every 3 hours with ALADIN-France (ALADFR) 10km operational model. The post-processing in GRIB files is done on a regular LAT-LON Grid with a 0.025 degree resolution on a DPHASE domain (346x288 points), centered at 46.5N, 9.6E. This domain is smaller than the full DPHASE domain, and on the COPS domain (47-50 N, 6-11 E). Grid description: CDOM and DDOM:xinc/yinc:0.025 xnpole/ynpole:0.0 CDOM:xfirst:6.0 yfirst:47.0 xsize:202.0 ysize:122.0 DDOM:xfirst:5.2875 yfirst:42.9125 xsize:346.0 ysize:288.0

The hydrological model DIMOSOP was run by University of Brescia with three different atmospheric forcings and different runoff forecast times. For more information on the model please contact the originator. Basins: Brenta at Bassano, Avisio at Stramentizzo, Noce at S.Giustina, Sarca at Maso Gobbo, Chiese at Lago Idro, Mella at Stocchetta, Oglio at Sarnico, Chiese at Malga Bissina, Lago d Arno, Lago d Avio, Cismon at Corlo, Toce at Candoglia, Rio del Sabbione at Sabbione, Gries at Morasco, T.Roni at Toggia, Rio d Arbola at Codelago, Melezzo at Masera, Bogna at Pontecaddo, Toce at Pontemaglio, Anza at Piedimulera, Isorno at Pontetto, Diveria at Crevoladossola, Ovesca at Villadossola, Anza at Ceppo Morelli, Diga Antrona, Ciampere at Avino, Ovesca at Alpe Cavalli, Devero at Agaro, Lago Busin, Lago Vannino, Taro at Pontetaro, Taro at S.Secondo, Cismon at Corlo

COSMO-ME is the high-resolution operational implementation of COSMO Model at the National Meteorological Service of Italy. The model domain covers most of continental Europe and the entire Mediterranean Basin. The horizontal resolution is 7km (0.0625deg) with 40 vertical levels. The model is routinely run on the ECMWF super-computer once a day at 00Z with hourly output. The initial conditions are interpolated from the Italian Met. Service 3DVAR-FGAT data assimilation system. The boundary conditions (BC) are provided by IFS global model. Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: -5.875 yfirst: -14.312 xsize: 194.0 ysize: 112.0 xinc: 0.0625 yinc: 0.0625 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 32.5