Dear all,
I am writing to ask for some information regarding data from the ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present dataset.
In September 2024, I downloaded the following variables from the website:
- Mean evaporation rate
- Mean surface latent heat flux
- Mean surface net long-wave radiation flux
- Mean surface net short-wave radiation flux
- Mean surface sensible heat flux
- Mean total precipitation rate
At that time, in the .nc file I obtained, the variables were identified as follows:
- Mean evaporation rate:
mer
- Mean surface latent heat flux:
mslhf
- Mean surface net long-wave radiation flux:
msnlwrf
- Mean surface net short-wave radiation flux:
msnswrf
- Mean surface sensible heat flux:
msshf
- Mean total precipitation rate:
mlspr
Now, I am trying to download the same variables for other years, but in the output .nc file, I obtain the following new variable names:
- Mean evaporation rate:
avg_ie
- Mean surface latent heat flux:
avg_slthf
- Mean surface net long-wave radiation flux:
avg_snlwrf
- Mean surface net short-wave radiation flux:
avg_snswrf
- Mean surface sensible heat flux:
avg_ishf
- Mean total precipitation rate:
avg_tprate
Could you please confirm whether these are exactly the same variables I downloaded in September 2024 from the same dataset, with only the variable names changed in the output files? Or have I downloaded something different?
If it is the latter, could you kindly guide me on how and where I can now download the same variables?
Thank you in advance for your help and support!
I look forward to your kind response.
Best regards,
Alessandro
4o
Hi,
Please note that with the release of the latest versions of ecCodes, some shortNames names have changed.
Please use the relevant entry in the parameter database as official reference for shortNames and names of ECMWF parameters.
Thanks
Hi Michela,
Thank you very much for your clarification.
I downloaded the variables I was looking for, but when I checked the .nc file I received, I found that instead of providing me with the mean evaporation rate, as requested, the server gave me the Time-mean moisture flux.
I also checked the link you suggested, and I found that the variable I am looking for, Time-mean evaporation rate, does exist.
My doubt is: did the system provide me with the wrong variable, or are they actually the same? Looking at the table you shared with me, they seem different.
Could you please help me clarify this point?
I attach you also the screenshot of the request I sent.
Thank you very much!
Hi Alessandro,
It seems we are encountering a similar issue. I’m also trying to download the correct ERA5 variables, but I’m getting different results from what I expect. I saw that you also had some issues with the variable names and the values returned.
Could you share more details on how you were able to download the correct variables (e.g., the exact CDS API request format or any steps you took)? It would be great to understand how you resolved it, or if you have any insights on where I might be going wrong.
Looking forward to your response!
Best regards,
David Zeng
Dear David,
I am still waiting the reply from the staff about what I evidenced. The issue to my case seems to be related just on the mean evaporation rate variable. Looking at the values, it seems just a matter of new nomenclature, nothing related to the values. But I’m waiting for confirmation from the Forum staff.
Best regards,
Alessandro
Dear Alessandro,
Thank you for your reply and clarification!Please let me know if you receive any updates from the Forum staff. I’ll also make sure to check back, but it would be great if you could remind me once there’s a response from the staff.
Best regards,
David Zeng
Hi Alessandro,
the variables is the same, the new long name is different.
Please see here the list of the long name changes; Changes in ecCodes version 2.39.0 compared to the previous version - Migration to Grib 2 - User Space - ECMWF Confluence Wiki
Thanks
Michela
