# Missing Variables (total\_precipitation and surface\_solar\_radiation\_downwards) in ERA5 Reanalysis Download

**URL:** <https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/missing-variables-total-precipitation-and-surface-solar-radiation-downwards-in-era5-reanalysis-download/7321>\
**Category:** C3S - Datasets and Usage\
**Tags:** era5\
**Created:** [30 October 2024 11:04 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/missing-variables-total-precipitation-and-surface-solar-radiation-downwards-in-era5-reanalysis-download/7321 "2024-10-30T11:04:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![izael\_Fattori](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/3d9bf3/32.png) [@izael\_Fattori](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/izael_Fattori)\
**Post date:** [30 October 2024 11:04 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/missing-variables-total-precipitation-and-surface-solar-radiation-downwards-in-era5-reanalysis-download/7321/1 "2024-10-30T11:04:48Z")

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Hello everyone,

I’m experiencing an issue while downloading data from the ERA5 reanalysis dataset through the CDS API, specifically with missing variables in the resulting NetCDF file.

Here’s the background:

I’m requesting hourly data for the following variables:

- 2m\_temperature
- mean\_sea\_level\_pressure
- total\_precipitation
- 2m\_dewpoint\_temperature
- surface\_solar\_radiation\_downwards

Despite specifying all these variables, the downloaded file only includes:

- 2m\_temperature (t2m)
- mean\_sea\_level\_pressure (msl)
- 2m\_dewpoint\_temperature (d2m)

Both total\_precipitation and surface\_solar\_radiation\_downwards are missing from the output, even though they were explicitly requested in the variable parameter.

Code Overview  
Below is a summary of my code setup:

```auto
dataset = "reanalysis-era5-single-levels"

request_params = {
    'product_type': 'reanalysis',
    'variable': [
        '2m_temperature', 
        'mean_sea_level_pressure', 
        'total_precipitation', 
        '2m_dewpoint_temperature', 
        'surface_solar_radiation_downwards'
    ],
    'year': [2024],
    'month': list(range(1, 11)), # January to October
    'day': [f"{day:02}" for day in range(1, 32)], # Days 01 to 31
    'time': [f"{hour:02}:00" for hour in range(24)], # Hourly from 00:00 to 23:00
    'area': [6, -73, -34, -34], # Bounding box (North, West, South, East)
    'format': 'netcdf',
}

 target = f"{path_out}\download.nc"
    
 client.retrieve(dataset, request_params , target)

```

After downloading, I inspected the NetCDF file and found the missing variables.  
Any guidance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

This code and request worked perfectly with a previous version of the CDS API, returning all requested variables without any issues.

Thank you in advance!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Michela](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Michela](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Michela)\
**Post date:** [30 October 2024 12:57 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/missing-variables-total-precipitation-and-surface-solar-radiation-downwards-in-era5-reanalysis-download/7321/2 "2024-10-30T12:57:23Z")

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Hi,  
please request instantaneous parameters and accumulated parameters separately.

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Anton\_Driesse](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@Anton\_Driesse](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Anton_Driesse)\
**Post date:** [16 March 2025 10:11 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/missing-variables-total-precipitation-and-surface-solar-radiation-downwards-in-era5-reanalysis-download/7321/3 "2025-03-16T10:11:47Z")

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Is this answer still current? I am making such requests and receiving all parameters, but in two separate netcdf files.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Michela](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Michela](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Michela)\
**Post date:** [17 March 2025 11:24 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/missing-variables-total-precipitation-and-surface-solar-radiation-downwards-in-era5-reanalysis-download/7321/4 "2025-03-17T11:24:03Z")

</div>

Hi,  
please have a look here: [Forthcoming update to the format of netCDF files produced by the conversion of GRIB data on the CDS](https://prod.ecmwf-forum-prod.compute.cci2.ecmwf.int/t/forthcoming-update-to-the-format-of-netcdf-files-produced-by-the-conversion-of-grib-data-on-the-cds/7772)

Thanks