# Wrong metadata for Seasonal forecast daily and subdaily data on single levels **URL:** \ **Category:** C3S - Datasets and Usage\ **Tags:** seasonal\_forecast, api, c3s\ **Created:** [24 March 2025 21:42 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/wrong-metadata-for-seasonal-forecast-daily-and-subdaily-data-on-single-levels/12219 "2025-03-24T21:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sacha\_Ruzzante](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@Sacha\_Ruzzante](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Sacha_Ruzzante)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2025 21:42 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/wrong-metadata-for-seasonal-forecast-daily-and-subdaily-data-on-single-levels/12219/1 "2025-03-24T21:42:34Z")
Some of the metadata for the daily/sub-daily seasonal forecasts are incorrect, for datasets from centres other than ECMWF: [Seasonal forecast daily and subdaily data on single levels](https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/datasets/seasonal-original-single-levels) I have downloaded a 4-9 variables from the ukmo, eccc, cmcc, and ncep as GRIB files, and some of the raster layers have the wrong GRIB\_COMMENT, GRIB\_ELEMENT and GRIB\_UNIT. For example, consider the following api request: ```auto dataset = "seasonal-original-single-levels" request = { "originating_centre": "ukmo", "system": "603", "variable": [ "evaporation", "maximum_2m_temperature_in_the_last_24_hours", "minimum_2m_temperature_in_the_last_24_hours", "sub_surface_runoff", "surface_net_solar_radiation", "surface_runoff", "total_precipitation" ], "year": ["1993"], "month": ["02"], "day": ["01"], "leadtime_hour": ["24", "48", "72", "96", "120", "144", "168", "192", "216", "240", "264", "288", "312", "336", "360", "384", "408", "432", "456", "480", "504", "528", "552", "576", "600", "624", "648", "672", "696", "720", "744", "768", "792", "816", "840", "864", "888", "912", "936", "960", "984", "1008", "1032", "1056", "1080", "1104", "1128", "1152", "1176", "1200", "1224", "1248", "1272", "1296", "1320", "1344", "1368", "1392", "1416", "1440", "1464", "1488", "1512", "1536", "1560", "1584", "1608", "1632", "1656", "1680", "1704", "1728", "1752", "1776", "1800", "1824", "1848", "1872", "1896", "1920", "1944", "1968", "1992", "2016", "2040", "2064", "2088", "2112", "2136", "2160", "2184", "2208", "2232", "2256", "2280", "2304", "2328", "2352", "2376", "2400", "2424", "2448", "2472", "2496", "2520", "2544", "2568", "2592", "2616", "2640", "2664", "2688", "2712", "2736", "2760", "2784", "2808", "2832", "2856", "2880", "2904", "2928", "2952", "2976", "3000", "3024", "3048", "3072", "3096", "3120", "3144", "3168", "3192", "3216", "3240", "3264", "3288", "3312", "3336", "3360", "3384", "3408", "3432", "3456", "3480", "3504", "3528", "3552", "3576", "3600", "3624", "3648", "3672", "3696", "3720", "3744", "3768", "3792", "3816", "3840", "3864", "3888", "3912", "3936", "3960", "3984", "4008", "4032", "4056", "4080", "4104", "4128", "4152", "4176", "4200", "4224", "4248", "4272", "4296", "4320", "4344", "4368", "4392", "4416", "4440", "4464", "4488", "4512", "4536", "4560", "4584", "4608", "4632", "4656", "4680", "4704", "4728", "4752", "4776", "4800", "4824", "4848", "4872", "4896", "4920", "4944", "4968", "4992", "5016", "5040", "5064", "5088", "5112", "5136", "5160"], "area": [61, -136, 48, -114] "data_format": "grib" } ``` The first 7 layers have the following metadata: ```auto [31] "Band 1 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [32] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [33] " Metadata:" [34] " GRIB_COMMENT=undefined [-]" [35] " GRIB_ELEMENT=var182 of table 128 of center 74" [36] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [37] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [38] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [39] " GRIB_UNIT=[-]" [40] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" [41] "Band 2 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [42] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [43] " Metadata:" [44] " GRIB_COMMENT=Specific humidity [kg/kg]" [45] " GRIB_ELEMENT=SPFH" [46] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [47] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [48] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [49] " GRIB_UNIT=[kg/kg]" [50] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" [51] "Band 3 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [52] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [53] " Metadata:" [54] " GRIB_COMMENT=Relative humidity [%]" [55] " GRIB_ELEMENT=RH" [56] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [57] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [58] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [59] " GRIB_UNIT=[%]" [60] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" [61] "Band 4 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [62] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [63] " NoData Value=9999" [64] " Metadata:" [65] " GRIB_COMMENT=Standard deviation of height [m]" [66] " GRIB_ELEMENT=HSTDV" [67] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [68] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [69] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [70] " GRIB_UNIT=[m]" [71] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" [72] "Band 5 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [73] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [74] " Metadata:" [75] " GRIB_COMMENT=undefined [-]" [76] " GRIB_ELEMENT=var176 of table 128 of center 74" [77] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [78] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [79] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [80] " GRIB_UNIT=[-]" [81] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" [82] "Band 6 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [83] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [84] " NoData Value=9999" [85] " Metadata:" [86] " GRIB_COMMENT=Geometric height [m]" [87] " GRIB_ELEMENT=DIST" [88] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [89] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [90] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [91] " GRIB_UNIT=[m]" [92] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" [93] "Band 7 Block=23x1 Type=Float64, ColorInterp=Undefined" [94] " Description = 0[-] SFC (Ground or water surface)" [95] " Metadata:" [96] " GRIB_COMMENT=undefined [-]" [97] " GRIB_ELEMENT=var228 of table 128 of center 74" [98] " GRIB_FORECAST_SECONDS=86400" [99] " GRIB_REF_TIME=728524800" [100] " GRIB_SHORT_NAME=0-SFC" [101] " GRIB_UNIT=[-]" [102] " GRIB_VALID_TIME=728611200" ``` So: Layer 1 is correct-ish (GRIB\_ELEMENT=var182 of table 128 of center 74" is evaporation). Would be nice if the GRIB\_COMMENT was defined but that’s fine. Layers 2 and 3 are labelled incorrectly as Specific humidity [kg/kg] and Relative humidity [%] - they should be “maximum\_2m\_temperature\_in\_the\_last\_24\_hours” and “minimum\_2m\_temperature\_in\_the\_last\_24\_hours”. When I plot the layers they are clearly temperatures in K(values from 240 to 280). Layer 4 is incorrectly labelled as GRIB\_COMMENT=Standard deviation of height [m], should be sub-surface runoff. The actual values in the raster seem like reasonable values for sub-surface runoff, but I can’t be sure. Layer 5 is correct: I asked for surface\_net\_solar\_radiation, and I got GRIB\_ELEMENT=var176 of table 128 of center 74. Layer 6 is incorrect: I asked for surface\_runoff, and it is labelled as GRIB\_COMMENT=Geometric height [m]. Again, the values seem reasonable for surface\_runoff (and are most definitely not geometric height). Layer 7 is correct: I asked for total\_precipitation, and I got GRIB\_ELEMENT=var228 of table 128 of center 74. I also confirmed that ECCC, NCEP, meteo-france, and CMCC have similar errors. ---
**Author:** ![Eduardo\_Penabad](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Eduardo\_Penabad](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Eduardo_Penabad)\ **Post date:** [31 March 2025 10:46 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/wrong-metadata-for-seasonal-forecast-daily-and-subdaily-data-on-single-levels/12219/2 "2025-03-31T10:46:13Z")
Hi @Sacha_Ruzzante what software are you using to read the GRIB file? If you reproduce your request (well, a similar one, with only 2 time steps {24,48]) and explore the contents with ecCodes `grib_ls` command, everything seems fine to me: ```auto $ grib_ls -m -P shortName f.grib f.grib shortName domain origin levtype date time step param class type stream expver number system method e g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 182.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 mx2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 51.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 mn2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 52.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 ssro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 9.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 ssr g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 176.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 sro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 8.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 tp g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 228.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 e g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 182.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 mx2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 51.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 mn2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 52.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 ssro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 9.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 ssr g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 176.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 sro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 8.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 tp g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 228.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 401 603 1 e g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 182.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 mx2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 51.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 mn2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 52.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 ssro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 9.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 ssr g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 176.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 sro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 8.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 tp g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 24 228.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 e g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 182.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 mx2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 51.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 mn2t24 g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 52.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 ssro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 9.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 ssr g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 176.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 sro g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 8.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 tp g egrr sfc 19930201 0000 48 228.128 c3 fc mmsf 0001 402 603 1 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Sacha\_Ruzzante](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@Sacha\_Ruzzante](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Sacha_Ruzzante)\ **Post date:** [25 July 2025 19:31 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/wrong-metadata-for-seasonal-forecast-daily-and-subdaily-data-on-single-levels/12219/3 "2025-07-25T19:31:07Z")
Thank you Eduardo and apologies for the slow response. I can confirm that I see the same output from grib\_ls. The command I used was: ```auto $gdalinfo f.grib ``` So it looks like gdal is most likely the source of the error. I had similar problems using the terra package in R (which is built upon gdal). Similar problems have been noticed with data from ERA5: [https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/313620/python-gdal-showing-incorrect-metadata-for-grib-file](https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/313620/python-gdal-showing-incorrect-metadata-for-grib-file) It seems gdal may have updated the lookup table for ERA5, but not the seasonal forecasts: [GRIB: add/fill a few GRIB1 ECMWF table to read a ERA5 product by rouault · Pull Request #3875 · OSGeo/gdal · GitHub](https://github.com/OSGeo/gdal/pull/3875) The [help page](https://confluence.ecmwf.int/display/CKB/What%252Bare%252BGRIB%252Bfiles%252Band%252Bhow%252Bcan%252BI%252Bread%252Bthem) mentions “limited support for metadata” in gdal. I would suggest a stronger wording there, since “limited” to me suggests some metadata could be missing, but not completely incorrect.