ERA-5+: The Next Generation of Atmospheric Reanalysis

Introduction

ERA-5+ is the latest generation of global atmospheric reanalysis from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). It builds on the success of the ERA-5 reanalysis, which was released in 2017, and incorporates a number of improvements and upgrades. ERA-5+ provides a comprehensive and consistent dataset of atmospheric conditions over the period 1950-present, and is widely used by researchers, forecasters, and policymakers.

Key Improvements in ERA-5+

ERA-5+ includes a number of key improvements over ERA-5, including:

• Higher resolution: ERA-5+ has a horizontal resolution of 9 km, compared to 31 km for ERA-5. This allows for a more detailed representation of atmospheric features, such as cyclones and fronts.
• Improved data assimilation: ERA-5+ uses a more advanced data assimilation system than ERA-5, which results in a more accurate and consistent dataset.
• Extended time period: ERA-5+ covers the period 1950-present, compared to 1979-present for ERA-5. This allows for a longer-term view of climate variability and change.

Applications of ERA-5+

ERA-5+ has a wide range of applications, including:

• Climate research: ERA-5+ can be used to study climate variability and change, and to identify the causes of extreme weather events.
• Weather forecasting: ERA-5+ can be used as input to weather forecasting models, which can improve the accuracy of forecasts.
• Air quality forecasting: ERA-5+ can be used to forecast air quality, which can help to reduce the health impacts of air pollution.
• Renewable energy forecasting: ERA-5+ can be used to forecast wind and solar power generation, which can help to integrate renewable energy into the electricity grid.

Data Access

ERA-5+ data is available free of charge from the ECMWF website. The data can be downloaded in a variety of formats, including NetCDF, GRIB, and CSV.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When using ERA-5+ data, it is important to avoid the following common mistakes:

• Using ERA-5+ data as a substitute for observations: ERA-5+ data is a reanalysis, which means that it is a combination of observations and model output. It is not a substitute for observations, and should not be used for applications that require high-accuracy data.
• Using ERA-5+ data outside of its range of validity: ERA-5+ data is only valid for the period 1950-present. It should not be used for applications that require data from before or after this period.
• Using ERA-5+ data at a resolution that is too high: ERA-5+ data is available at a variety of resolutions. It is important to choose a resolution that is appropriate for the application. Using data at a resolution that is too high can lead to overfitting and inaccurate results.

How to Use ERA-5+ Data

The following steps provide a general overview of how to use ERA-5+ data:

1. Download the data: ERA-5+ data can be downloaded from the ECMWF website.
2. Choose the appropriate format: ERA-5+ data is available in a variety of formats. Choose the format that is most appropriate for your application.
3. Extract the data: Once you have downloaded the data, you will need to extract it before you can use it.
4. Visualize the data: ERA-5+ data can be visualized using a variety of software programs.
5. Analyze the data: Once you have visualized the data, you can begin to analyze it.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about ERA-5+:

Q: What is the difference between ERA-5 and ERA-5+?

A: ERA-5+ is the next generation of atmospheric reanalysis from the ECMWF. It includes a number of improvements over ERA-5, including higher resolution, improved data assimilation, and an extended time period.

Q: How can I access ERA-5+ data?

A: ERA-5+ data is available free of charge from the ECMWF website.

Q: What are some of the applications of ERA-5+ data?

A: ERA-5+ data has a wide range of applications, including climate research, weather forecasting, air quality forecasting, and renewable energy forecasting.

Call to Action

If you are interested in using ERA-5+ data, I encourage you to download it from the ECMWF website and explore its many applications. ERA-5+ is a valuable resource for researchers, forecasters, and policymakers, and can help to improve our understanding of the atmosphere and its impact on our planet.

Tables

Table 1: Key Improvements in ERA-5+

Table 2: Applications of ERA-5+

| Application | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Climate research | Studying climate variability and change, and identifying the causes of extreme weather events |
| Weather forecasting | Improving the accuracy of weather forecasts |
| Air quality forecasting | Forecasting air quality, which can help to reduce the health impacts of air pollution |
| Renewable energy forecasting | Forecasting wind and solar power generation, which can help to integrate renewable energy into the electricity grid |

Table 3: Frequently Asked Questions about ERA-5+

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| What is the difference between ERA-5 and ERA-5+? | ERA-5+ is the next generation of atmospheric reanalysis from the ECMWF. It includes a number of improvements over ERA-5, including higher resolution, improved data assimilation, and an extended time period. |
| How can I access ERA-5+ data? | ERA-5+ data is available free of charge from the ECMWF website. |
| What are some of the applications of ERA-5+ data? | ERA-5+ data has a wide range of applications, including climate research, weather forecasting, air quality forecasting, and renewable energy forecasting. |