Meteorological models by DWD used for computation

COSMO-EU mesh

Regional model ICON-EU since 2016-01-14

  • non-hydrostatic, compressible detail model
  • covering nearly entire Europe
  • 659 156 surface grid points with nodal distances of ~6.5 km
  • triangular cells of approx. equal size
  • 60 layers with upwards increasing thickness (20 m .. 2800 m)
  • constant height of 22.5 km
  • 3 hours time interval

Regional model COSMO-EU from 2005-11-01 to 2016-11-30 (former name LM2):

  • non-hydrostatic, compressible detail model
  • covering nearly entire Europe
  • 436 905 surface grid points with nodal distances of 7 km
  • square cells of approx. equal size
  • 40 layers with upwards increasing thickness (20 m .. 2800 m)
  • constant height of 23.6 km
  • parameters used: surface air pressure, temperature and specific humidity in each layer, geometrical height
  • 6 hours time interval
  • 3 hours time interval since 2012-02-23

Regional model LM1 (until 2005-10-31):

  • covering Germany and neighboring countries
  • 105 625 surface grid points with nodal distances of 7 km
  • horizontal discretization same as in LM2
  • 35 layers with upwards increasing thickness (70 m .. 2800 m)

Reference:
Steppeler, J., Doms, G., Schättler, U., 2003. Meso-gamma scale forecasts using the nonhydrostatic model LM. Meteoro. Atmosph. Phys. 1/4, 75-96.

GME mesh

Global model ICON 384 (since 2014-12-04):

  • global non-hydrostatic model
  • basic grid structure identical to GME
  • 2 949 120 surface grid points having an average spacing of 13 km
  • triangular cells of nearly equal size
  • 90 layers defined by pressure levels
  • upper bound at approx. 75 km
  • parameters used: surface air pressure (2D) and geopotential at all pressure levels (3D)
  • 3 hours time interval

Global model GME 384 (2012-02-29 until 2015-02-22):

  • global hydrostatic model
  • 1 474 562 surface grid points having an average spacing of 20 km
  • hexagonal/pentagonal cells of nearly equal size
  • 60 layers defined by pressure levels
  • heights given as geopotential surfaces
  • vertically bounded by a zero pressure level at a height of approx. 36 km
  • parameters used: surface air pressure (2D) and geopotential at all pressure levels (3D)
  • 3 hours time interval

Global model GME 256 (2010-02-02 until 2012-02-28):

Difference to GME 384: horizontal discretization

  • 655 362 surface grid points having an average spacing of 30 km
  • 6 hours time interval
  • 3 hours time interval since 2012-02-23

Global model GME 192 (2004-11-01 until 2010-02-01):

Difference to GME 256: horizontal and vertical discretization

  • 368 642 surface grid points having an average spacing of 40 km
  • 40 layers defined by pressure levels
  • vertically bounded by a zero pressure level at a height of approx. 30 km
  • 6 hours time interval

Global model GME 128 (until 2004-10-31):

Difference to GME 192: horizontal discretization

  • 163 842 surface grid points having an average spacing of 60 km
  • 6 hours time interval

Reference:
Majewski, D., Liermann, D., Prohl, P., Ritter, B., Buchhold, M., Hanisch, T., Paul, G., Wergen, W., Baumgardner, J., 2002. The operational global icosahedralhexagonal grid point model GME: description and high resolution tests. Mon. Wea. Rev. 130, 319-338.