Numerical data from the GDWPS in GRIB2 format

The Global Deterministic Wave Prediction System (GDWPS) produces wave forecasts using the third generation spectral wave model WaveWatch III®. The model is forced by the 10 meters winds from the Global Deterministic Prediction System. In addition, a sea ice forecast from the Global Ice-Ocean Prediction System (GIOPS) is used by the model to dampen or suppress wave growth in areas covered respectively with 25% to 75% and more than 75% ice.

The WW3 (Tolman and the WAVEWATCH III® Development Group 2014) is a third generation spectral wave prediction model that solves the evolution of the energy balance equation for the 2-D wave energy spectrum without any prior assumptions on the shape of the spectrum. The WW3 model has been implemented by a growing number of national operational forecasting centres over the last several years.

Global

Global geographical grid coverage

Grid specifications
Table lists the values of various parameters of the Global GDWPS grid
Parameter Value
ni 1441
nj 721
resolution 0.25 deg x 0.25 deg
coordinate of first grid point 90° S
0° E

Download

The data is available using the HTTP procotol and resides in a directory that is plainly accessible to a web browser. Visiting that directory with an interactive browser will yield a raw listing of links, each link being a downloadable GRIB2 file. In practice, we recommend writing your own script to automate the downloading of the desired data (using wget or equivalent). If you are unsure of how to proceed, you might like to take a look at our brief wget usage guide.

The data can be accessed at the following URLs:
http://dd.weather.gc.ca/model_wave/ocean/global/grib2/HH/
where:

File name nomenclature

The file names have the following nomenclature:
CMC_gdwps_domain_Variable_LevelType_level_latlondddxddd_YYYYMMDDHH_Phhh.grib2

where:

Example of file name:
CMC_gdwps_global_HTSGW_SFC_0_latlon0.25x0.25_2017092112_P096.grib2

This file originates from the Canadian Meteorological Center (CMC) and contains the data of the Global Deterministic Wave Prediction System. The data in the file start on September 21th 2017 at 12Z (2017092112). It contains the significant wave height (HTSGW) for the world at the surface (SFC_0) on a lat/long grid at 0.25 degree x 0.25 degree resolution for the forecast hour 096 (P096) in GRIB2 format (.grib2).

Levels

Levels that may be applicable to a given parameter are:

Note: Swell parameters no longer refer to the total swell, they now refer to the primary swell. At each point of the domain, the spectra can be divided between wind sea and a certain number of swells. The two swells that contain the most energy are designated in order as the primary and secondary swell. Wind, sea and swell parameters can be undefined at some grid points, for the former if there is little wind, for the latter if there are only locally generated waves.

Data in GRIB2 format

Available fields : parameter numbers and units
This table provides, for each GRIB2 parameter number: a short description, an alphabetical abbreviation, the levels available for the parameter, and measurement units.
GRIB2 discipline/
category/parameter number		 Parameter
description		 Abbreviation Level Units

NOTES:

  1. u and v components of the wind vector are to be resolved relative to the defined grid, in the direction of increasing i and j coordinates.
10/2/0 Ice cover ICEC SFC_0 fraction
0/2/2 U-Component of Wind UGRD TGL_10 (10m above ground) m/s
0/2/3 V-Component of Wind VGRD TGL_10 (10m above ground) m/s
10/0/3 Significant height of combined wind waves and swell HTSGW SFC_0 m
10/0/34 Peak wave period PWPER SFC_0 s
10/0/28 Mean zero-crossing wave period MZWPER SFC_0 s
10/0/4 Direction of wind waves (from which) WVDIR SFC_0 degrees true
10/0/5 Significant height of wind waves WVHGT SFC_0 m
10/0/6 Mean period of wind waves WVPER SFC_0 s
10/0/7 Direction of primary swell SWDIR SFC_0 degrees true
10/0/8 Significant height of primary swell SWELL SFC_0 m
10/0/9 Peak period of primary swell SWPER SFC_0 s

Weather shortcuts


How to use
  • Add to shortcuts
    • Go to the desired page on the site, open the Weather shortcuts menu and click on the "Add to shortcuts" button
    • Page name will display in the "Add this page" window, the name can be changed by highlighting the text and entering the desired name.
    • Click on the "Save" button to add the link to the list
    • Click on the "X" button to close the panel
  • Delete a link
    • Click on the "Organize shortcuts" button
    • Select the link to delete
    • Click on the "Delete" button to remove the link from the list
    • Click on the "Close" button to save the change
  • Move a link up/down the list
    • Click on the "Organize shortcuts" button
    • Click and hold the link and move to new location in the list
    • Click on the "Close" button to save the change
  • Rename a link
    • Click on the "Organize shortcuts" button
    • Select the link to rename
    • Click on the "Rename" button and change the link name
    • Click the enter or tab key
    • Click on the "Close" button to save the change
  • Keyboard navigation
    • Use the Tab key to move to a button or link
    • Use the Enter key to click on buttons or links
    • Organize shortcuts navigation
      • Use the ↑ Up key to select the link above. If none are selected, it will select the first link
      • Use the ↓ Down key to select the link below. If none are selected, it will select the last link
      • Use the Page Up key to move a selection up in the list
      • Use the Page Down key to move a selection down in the list
  • Restore default list

    Warning: Clicking on the button below will remove all your customized links.

What we are doing

Weather Forecasts

Weather Alerts

Weather Resources

Features

UV Index and sun protection

Play it safe!

Extreme Heat Protection

Be weather wise!

Lightning Safety

When thunder roars, GO INDOORS!

Date modified:
Feedback about this web site