The Canadian Meterological Centre (CMC) is running the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model in limited-area mode for the duration of the MAP D-PHASE project (1 June - 31 November 2007). The model is run once-daily directly from operational GEM meso-global forecast data (grid spacing of 33 km). A pair of domains are used for the project with horizontal grid spacings of 15 km and 2.5 km. This outer (low resolution or driving) grid is initialized daily at 0000 UTC and covers all of Europe, out to the British Isles, the North Sea, and Nortern Africa. The timestep for this forecast is 300 sec and outputs are available hourly. No regional analysis or data assimilation cycle is undertaken during this project. All observational data will therefore be ingested only indrectly in the regional setup through the outer grid initialization and hourly boundary updates from the meso-global model. The GEM model is a semi-implicit, semi-Lagrangian, two time-level, non-hydrostatic model that runs in a wide variety of configurations. An updated version (v3.3.0) of the GEM model is being used for the MAP D-PHASE project in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games project. This version takes advantage of recent developments designed to enhance the quality of guidance over regions of steeply-sloping orography, including the addition of a 6-category bulk microphysics scheme and time-varying orography over the initialization period. For more information on -the GEM model dynamics: see Cote et al (1998) [Mon. Wea. Rev.]. -the model physics package: contact Recherche en Prevision Numerique for the related technical document by Mailhot. -the model's microphysics scheme: see Milbrandt and Yau (2007) [Mon. Wea. Rev.]. Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: 2.0 yfirst: 43.0 xsize: 201.0 ysize: 101.0 xinc: 0.08 yinc: 0.07 xnpole: 0.0 ynpole: 0.0

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

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

Non hydrostatic model Moloch, developed at ISAC CNR and operational at ARPAL CFMI-PC. Initial and boundary conditions provided by the model chain based on bolam and initialized with the 00 UTC ECMWF run. Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: -1.99 yfirst: -1.93 xsize: 200.0 ysize: 194.0 xinc: 0.02 yinc: 0.02 xnpole: -171.0 ynpole: 45.0

- 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

ALADIN is the operational model at Meteo-France. The horizontal resolution is 9.5km, the time step : 415s with a Semi-lagrangian scheme. There are 46 vertical levels with 15 levels below 3000m. The domain of the integration is : (-11.84W, 33.14E) (25N,56.95N) Physical parameterization: - the micro-physics scheme use 4 prognostic variables: liquid and ice cloud water, rain and snow. - the convection scheme is based on Bougeault (1985) with a donwdraft parameterization. - the operational ECMWF radiation code which is called every 60 minutes. - the burbulence is based on Louis's function with an interactive mixing length. ALADIN is coupled with ARPEGE every 3 hours and has its own assimilation system based on 3DVAR. The post-processing in GRIB files is done on a regular LAT-LON Grid with a 0.1 deg resolution on the DPHASE domain. ALADIN-FRANCE daily performs 54h forecasts starting at 0TU, 6TU, 12TU, 18TU (only the 0UTC forecast until 30h is sent) Grid description: DDOM: xfirst: 2.0 yfirst: 43.0 xsize: 161.0 ysize: 71.0 xinc: 0.1 yinc: 0.1 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 forecasting chain is based on the 00 UTC, GFS forecasts at 0.5 degree resolution. The chain comprises the hydrostatic model BOLAM, which is driven directly by the global model, and the non-hydrostatic model MOLOCH (horizontal resolution 0.02 degrees), which is nested in cascade using a 1-way nesting procedure. BOLAM run starts at 00 UTC, MOLOCH is nested at 09 UTC. MOLOCH domain is smaller than official DPHASE domain. A 39-h MOLOCH forecast is provided daily. Only a sub-set of TIGGE list is provided (see DS). More information available here: http://www.isac.cnr.it/~dinamica/ Grid description: lat-lon Arakawa C grid. Rotated equidistant grid. DDOM: xfirst: -2.69 yfirst: -1.84 xsize: 340.0 ysize: 290.0 xinc: 0.02 yinc: 0.02 xnpole: -171.0 ynpole: 44.7

The forecasting chain is based on the 18 UTC, ECMWF forecasts at 0.25 degree resolution. The chain comprises the hydrostatic model BOLAM, which is driven directly by the global model, and the non-hydrostatic model MOLOCH (horizontal resolution 0.02 degrees), which is nested in cascade using a 1-way nesting procedure. BOLAM run starts at 18 UTC, MOLOCH is nested at 00 UTC. MOLOCH domain is smaller than official DPHASE domain. A 48-h MOLOCH forecast is provided daily. Only a sub-set of TIGGE list is provided (see DS). More information available here: http://www.isac.cnr.it/~dinamica/ Grid description: lat-lon Arakawa C grid. Rotated equidistant grid. DDOM: xfirst: -3.5 yfirst: -14.0 xsize: 330.0 ysize: 290.0 xinc: 0.021 yinc: 0.02 xnpole: -170.0 ynpole: 32.5