EMD-Global Wind Data (based on ERA-Interim)
The ERA-Interim dataset is a recent global reanalysis dataset from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The full reanalysis dataset holds a variety of surface parameters for weather conditions as well as ocean-wave and land-surface conditions. Furthermore a number of parameters describing the atmospheric conditions are available. The dataset at EMD covers a small processed subset, with focus on parameters relevant for wind-energy purposes.
Resolution, Coverage and Availability
The model grid available to external data-users is 0.702 degree latitude and 0.703 degree longitude.
It holds 4 daily values in a period from 1979 until present.
Coverage is global.
The ECMWF releases the ERA-Interim data with a time-lag of 2-3 months, so expect approximately a 3 month delay for data to become available inside WindPRO.
Availability
Data processing is still pending. Release with WindPRO 2.9 is expected end of october 2013.
Required Modules / Licenses
To access the ERA time series data the following licenses/modules are required in your WindPRO setup:
- Basis
- METEO
- MCP
Downloading of data is unrestricted for licensed users, however a "fair use" policy applies.
Data Processing and Dataset Parameters
EMD International has processed the raw ERA-Interim data by a simple, proprietary downscaling-procedure to allow the data on different physical heights between 10 m - 200 m. Currently, the following parameters are available in the downloadable time series in WindPRO. Please note: The ERA-Interim data are used as input for the WRF meso-scale analysis resulting in the hi-resolution 3 km European dataset made by EMD and ConWx, EMD-ConWx Meso-Scale data, Europe.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| time | UTC time stamp |
| wSpeed.x | Wind speeds [m/s] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
| wDir.x | Wind directions [Deg] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
| temp.x | Temperatures [Deg C] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
| pressure.x | Pressures [hPa] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
References
An open-access journal paper is available. This paper by D.P.Dee et al "The ERA-Interim reanalysis: configuration and performance of the data assimilation system" describes the dataset and configurations in more detail. Download your copy in pdf-format here.
External Links
Homepage of ERA-Interim: http://www.ecmwf.int/research/era/do/get/era-interim
Acknowledgement and License
Credits: The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts for the ERA-Interim data.
License: This data is distributed according to the license agreement for ECMWF archive products, see here.
Acknowledgement: ECMWF requests that the origin of the ECMWF archive product (ERA-Interim) is acknowledged in any scientific publications arising out of the use of the products (see section #5 in the ECMWF archive product license conditions).