List of GEOS-FP met fields

The GMAO "forward processing" (aka GMAO FP or GEOS5-FP) met field product is the latest update of the GMAO GEOS-5 met data product. GEOS FP has finer native horizontal resolution (0.25° lat x 0.3125° lon) and temporal resolution (hourly data and 3-hourly data) than older GMAO met products such as GEOS-5, the MERRA reanalysis, and GEOS-4. See GMAO's GEOS Near-Real Time Data Products page for more details.

NOTE: GEOS-Chem only uses a subset of the entire GMAO FP data archive. On this page we list the GMAO FP met fields that archive for use with GEOS-Chem.

GEOS-FP is the name of our GEOS-Chem met field archive of the GMAO FP product. In the discussion below, we will use the terminology "GEOS-FP" in place of "GMAO FP" or "GEOS-5 FP".

For more information, please see:

1. GEOS5-FP file specification document, Version 1.0 (11 Jun 2013)
2. GEOS-FP page on the GEOS-Chem wiki
3. Overview of GMAO met data products
4. Glossary of variables produced by the GEOS-DAS
5. Evolution of the GEOS-5 system from GEOS-5.2.0/MERRA to GEOS-5.7.2 (aka "Fortuna")

Constant fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Time-invariant fields These are mostly parameters pertaining to the horizontal grid
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.20110101.CN.025x03125.CH.nc  (Native resolution nested CH grid) GEOSFP.20110101.CN.025x03125.EU.nc  (Native resolution nested EU grid) GEOSFP.20110101.CN.025x03125.NA.nc  (Native resolution nested NA grid) GEOSFP.20110101.CN.2x25.nc  (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.20110101.CN.4x5.nc  (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	For convenience, we have assigned these data timestamp of 2011/01/01 00:00 UTC

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
FRLAKE	1	const_2d_asm_Nx	Fraction of lake type in grid box		CH4 simulation, diagnostics
FRLAND	1	const_2d_asm_Nx	Fraction of land type in grid box		Chemistry Hg simulation CH4 simulation PBL mixing
FRLANDIC(E)	1	const_2d_asm_Nx	Fraction of land ice type in grid box	The original name in the GEOS-FP raw data files is FRLANDICE. We shorten this to FRLANDIC for GEOS-Chem. GEOS-Chem requires 8-character met field names.	Hg simulation CH4 simulation PBL mixing
FROCEAN	1	const_2d_asm_Nx	Fraction of ocean in grid box		Chemistry Hg simulation CH4 simulation Emissions
PHIS	m2 s-2	const_2d_asm_Nx	Surface geopotential		Kept for diagnostics

--Bob Y. 14:01, 21 October 2013 (EDT)

A1 fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Various surface fields
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A1.025x03125.CH.nc  (Native resolution nested CH grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A1.025x03125.EU.nc  (Native resolution nested EU grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A1.025x03125.NA.nc  (Native resolution nested NA grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A1.2x25.nc  (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A1.4x5.nc  (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	00:30, 01:30, 02:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 ... 23:30 GMT These represent the center of the 1-hour averaging period

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
ALBEDO	1	tavg1_2d_rad_Nx	Surface albedo		Dry deposition Diagnostics
CLDTOT	1	tavg1_2d_rad_Nx	Total cloud fraction	For all intents and purposes, CLDTOT = the column sum of CLOUD, but at 1-hour resolution.	Photolysis Diagnostics
EFLUX	W m-2	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Total latent energy flux (i.e. latent heat)		Kept for diagnostics
EVAP	kg m-2 s-2	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Evaporation from turbulence		Kept for diagnostics
FRSEAICE	1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Ice-covered fraction of tile (i.e. sea ice fraction)	We bin FRSEAICE to create the SEAICE** fields listed below.	Hg simulation
FRSNO	1	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Fractional area of land snowcover		PBL mixing Hg simulation
GRN	1	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Vegetation greenness fraction		Kept for diagnostics
GWETROOT	1	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Root zone soil wetness		Kept for diagnostics
GWETTOP	1	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Top soil wetness		CH4 simulation Dust mobilization
HFLUX	W m-2	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Sensible heat flux from turbulence		Dry deposition
LAI	m2 m-2	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Leaf area index	NOTE: GEOS-Chem uses MODIS LAI instead of the GEOS-FP LAI..	Kept for diagnostics
LWGNT	W m-2	tavg1_2d_rad_Nx	Upwelling longwave flux at top of atmosphere		Kept for diagnostics
LWI	1	-	Land/water/ice flags	We derive LWI from the FRSEAICE, FROCEAN, and FRLAND fields. GEOS-Chem needs LWI for backwards compatibility.	To determine the overall surface type in a grid box
LWTUP	W m-2	tavg1_2d_rad_Nx	Upwelling longwave flux at top of atmosphere		Kept for diagnostics
PARDF	W m-2	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Surface downwelling PAR diffusive flux		Biogenic emissions
PARDR	W m-2	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Surface downwelling PAR direct flux		Biogenic emissions
PBLH	m	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Planetary boundary layer height		PBL mixing
PRECANV	kg m-2 s-1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Anvil precipitation	A fix was made on 27 Sep 2019 to the processing code to correct units from [kg m-2 s-2] to [kg m-2 s-1]. Units are converted to mm/day in GEOS-Chem.	Kept for diagnostics
PRECCON	kg m-2 s-1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Convective precipitation	A fix was made on 27 Sep 2019 to the processing code to correct units from [kg m-2 s-2] to [kg m-2 s-1]. Units are converted to mm/day in GEOS-Chem.	Soil NOx emissions Wet deposition
PRECLSC	kg m-2 s-1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Non-anvil large-scale precipitation	A fix was made on 27 Sep 2019 to the processing code to correct units from [kg m-2 s-2] to [kg m-2 s-1]. Units are converted to mm/day in GEOS-Chem.	Kept for diagnostics
PRECSNO	kg m-2 s-1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Snowfall	A fix was made on 27 Sep 2019 to the processing code to correct units from [kg m-2 s-2] to [kg m-2 s-1]. Units are converted to mm/day in GEOS-Chem.	Kept for diagnostics
PRECTOT	kg m-2 s-1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Total precipitation	A fix was made on 27 Sep 2019 to the processing code to correct units from [kg m-2 s-2] to [kg m-2 s-1]. Units are converted to mm/day in GEOS-Chem.	Soil NOx emissions Wet deposition
QV2M	kg kg-1	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	Specific humidity at 2 m above the displacement height		Kept for diagnostics
Q850	kg kg-1	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	Specific humidity at 850 hPa		Dust mobilization
SEAICE00	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has < 10% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Diagnostics
SEAICE10	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 10-20% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE20	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 20-30% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE30	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 30-40% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE40	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 40-50% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE50	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 50-60% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE60	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 60-70% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE70	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 70-80% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE80	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has 80-90% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SEAICE90	1	-	Fraction of grid box that has > 90% sea ice coverage	We create this by binning FRSEAICE.	Arctic simulations Planeflight diagnostic
SLP	hPa	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	Sea level pressure	Original units of SLP are Pa. We convert Pa -> hPa because GEOS-Chem expects hPa.	Kept for diagnostics
SNODP	m	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Snow depth		Kept for diagnostics
SNOMAS	kg m-2	tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx	Total snow storage on land		Dust mobilization Hg simulations Dry deposition
SWGDN	W m-2	tavg1_2d_rad_Nx	Surface incident shortwave flux	GEOS-Chem carries this as State_Met%RADSWG	Soil NOx emissions Hg simulations Dry deposition
TO3	Dobsons	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	Total column ozone		Used as input to photolysis
TROPPT	hPa	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	T based tropopause pressure	Original units of TROPPT are Pa. We convert Pa -> hPa because GEOS-Chem expects hPa.	Used to determine tropopause height
TS	K	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	Surface skin temperature	GEOS-Chem carries this as State_Met%TSKIN	CH4 simulation Hg simulation Sea salt emissions
T2M	K	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	2-meter air temperature	GEOS-Chem carries this as State_Met%TS GEOS-Chem uses T2M as a proxy for surface air temp.	Many locations
T10M	K	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	10-meter air temperature		Dust mobilization
U10M	m s-1	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	10-meter eastward wind		Dry deposition Dust mobilization Emissions Sea salt aerosols Hg simulations
USTAR	m s-1	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Surface velocity scake (aka friction velocity)		Dry deposition
V10M	m s-1	tavg1_2d_slv_Nx	10-meter northward wind		Dry deposition Dust mobilization Emissions Sea salt aerosols Hg simulations
Z0M	m	tavg1_2d_flx_Nx	Roughness length, momentum		Dry deposition

--Bob Y. 14:02, 21 October 2013 (EDT)

A3cld fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Cloud parameters Data are 3-dimensional, stored at the midpoint of each vertical level
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3cld.025x03125.CH.nc  (Native resolution, nested CH grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3cld.025x03125.EU.nc  (Native resolution, nested EU grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3cld.025x03125.NA.nc  (Native resolution, nested NA grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3cld.2x25.nc  (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3cld.4x5.nc  (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	01:30, 04:30, 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 19:30, 22:30 GMT Timestamps represent the center of the 3-hour averaging period.

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
CLOUD	1	tavg3_3d_rad_Nv	Total cloud fraction in grid box	We regrid CLOUD w/ Hongyu Liu's algorithm.	Photolysis Chemistry
OPTDEPTH	1	none	Total in-cloud optical depth (visible band)	We create OPTDEPTH = TAUCLI + TAUCLW. We regrid OPTDEPTH w/ Hongyu Liu's algorithm.	Photolysis Chemistry
QCCU	1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Cloud condensate mixing ratio, convective updraft	We regrid QCCU w/ Hongyu Liu's algorithm.	Kept for diagnostics
QI	kg kg-1	none	Cloud ice water mixing ratio	We create QI = QIAN + QILS, then regrid.	Chemistry Aerosol microphysics
QL	kg kg-1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Cloud liquid water mixing ratio - anvils	We create QL = QLAN + QLLS, then regrid.	Chemistry Aerosol microphysics
TAUCLI	1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	In-cloud ice cloud optical thickness (visible band)	We use TAUCLI to create OPTDEPTH. We regrid TAUCLI w/ Hongyu Liu's algorithm.	Kept for diagnostics
TAUCLW	1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	In-cloud liquid cloud optical thickness (visible band)	We use TAUCLW to create OPTDEPTH. We regrid TAUCLW w/ Hongyu Liu's algorithm	Kept for diagnostics
			These fields are only used to create other A3cld fields.
QIAN	kg kg-1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Cloud ice water mixing ratio - anvils	We only use QIAN to construct QI. We do not save QIAN to the A3cld files.
QILS	kg kg-1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Cloud ice water mixing ratio - large-scale	We only use QILS to construct QI. We do not save QILS to the A3cld files.
QLAN	kg kg-1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Cloud liquid water mixing ratio - anvils	We only use QLAN to construct QL. We do not save QLAN to the A3cld files.
QLLS	kg kg-1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Cloud liquid water mixing ratio - large-scale	We only use QLLS to construct QL. We do not save QLLS to the A3cld files.

--Bob Y. 14:06, 21 October 2013 (EDT)

A3dyn fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Dynamical fields (e.g. winds, relative humidity, detrainment fluxes) Data are 3-dimensional, stored at the midpoint of each vertical level
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3dyn.025x03125.CH.nc (Native resolution, nested CH grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3dyn.025x03125.EU.nc (Native resolution, nested EU grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3dyn.025x03125.NA.nc (Native resolution, nested NA grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3dyn.2x25.nc (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3dyn.4x5.nc (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	01:30, 04:30, 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 19:30, 22:30 GMT Timestamps represent the center of the 3-hour averaging period.

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
DTRAIN	kg m-2 s-2	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Detrainment cloud mass flux		Cloud convection
OMEGA	Pa s-1	tavg3_3d_asm_Nv	Vertical pressure velocity		Kept for diagnostics
RH	1	tavg3_3d_cld_Nv	Relative humidity	GMAO computes RH as follows: T > 273.16 K: w/r/t liquid T < 253.16 K: w/r/t ice 253.16 K <= T <= 273.16K: weighted avg w/r/t both liquid and ice	Chemistry Wet deposition Aerosol therm. equilib. Aerosol microphysics
U	m s-1	tavg3_3d_asm_Nv	Eastward component of wind		Advection
V	m s-1	tavg3_3d_asm_Nv	Northward component of wind		Advection

--Bob Y. 14:16, 21 October 2013 (EDT)

A3mstC fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Precipitation and sublimation fields Data are 3-dimensional, stored at the midpoint of each vertical level
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstC.025x03125.CH.nc (Native resolution, nested CH grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstC.025x03125.EU.nc (Native resolution, nested EU grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstC.025x03125.NA.nc (Native resolution, nested NA grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstC.2x25.nc (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstC.4x5.nc (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	01:30, 04:30, 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 19:30, 22:30 GMT Timestamps represent the center of the 3-hour averaging period.

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
DQRCU	kg kg-1 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Nv	Convective rainwater source		Conv. updraft scavenging
DQRLSAN	kg kg-1 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Nv	Large-scale rainwater source		Wet deposition
REEVAPCN	kg kg-1 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Nv	Evaporative submlimation of convective precipitation		Conv. updraft scavenging
REEVAPLS(AN)	kg kg-1 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Nv	Evaporation of precipitating LS & anvil condensate	In the GEOS-FP raw data files, this field is named REEVAPLSAN. In the files created for GEOS-Chem, we change the field name to REEVAPLS. GEOS-Chem requires 8-character met field names for backwards compatibility.	Wet deposition

--Bob Y. (talk) 19:14, 3 August 2015 (UTC)

A3mstE fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Precipitation and convection fields Data are 3-dimensional, stored at the edges of each vertical level
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstE.025x03125.CH.nc  (Native resolution, nested CH grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstE.025x03125.EU.nc  (Native resolution, nested EU grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstE.025x03125.NA.nc  (Native resolution, nested NA grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstE.2x25.nc  (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.A3mstE.4x5.nc  (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	01:30, 04:30, 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 19:30, 22:30 GMT Timestamps represent the center of the 3-hour averaging period.

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
CMFMC	kg m-2 s-2	tavg3_3d_mst_Ne	Upward moist convective mass flux		Cloud convection
PFICU	kg m-2 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Ne	3d flux of ice convective precipitation		Conv. updraft scavenging
PFILSAN	kg m-2 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Ne	3d flux of ice non-convective precipitation		Wet deposition
PFLCU	kg m-2 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Ne	3d flux of liquid convective precipitation		Conv. updraft scavenging
PFLLSAN	kg m-2 s-1	tavg3_3d_mst_Ne	3d flux of liquid non-convective precipitation		Wet deposition

--Bob Y. 14:18, 21 October 2013 (EDT)

I3 fields

Overview:

Quantities archived in this file type:	Pressure, temperature, humidity Data are 3-dimensional, stored at the midpoint of each vertical level
File naming convention:	GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.I3.05x0625.CH.nc  (Native resolution, nested China grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.I3.05x0625.EU.nc  (Native resolution, nested Europe grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.I3.05x0625.NA.nc  (Native resolution, nested North America grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.I3.05x0625.SE.nc  (Native resolution, nested SE Asia grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.I3.2x25.nc  (2° x 2.5° global grid) GEOSFP.YYYYMMDD.I3.4x5.nc  (4° x 5° global grid)
Timestamps:	00:00, 03:00, 06:00, 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00 GMT Timestamps represent instantaneous ("snapshot") values every 3 hours.

List of GEOS-FP data fields in this file type:

Field	Units	Collection	Description	Notes	Where used in GEOS-Chem?
PS	hPa	inst3_3d_asm_Nv	Surface pressure	Original units of PS are Pa. We convert Pa -> hPa, because GEOS-Chem expects hPa.	Advection Many other locations
PV	K m2 kg-1 s-1	inst3_3d_asm_Nv	Ertel potential vorticity	This field is labeled EPV in the GEOS-FP raw data files. GEOS-Chem renames this to "PV" for backwards compatibility with older met products.	Kept for diagnostics
QV	kg kg-1	inst3_3d_asm_Nv	Specific humidity	In GEOS-Chem: QV at time t is converted to g/kg and saved into State_Met%SPHU1; QV at time t+3hr is converted to g/kg and saved into State_Met%SPHU2; QV is then interpolated to the current time.	Chemistry Wet deposition PBL mixing
T	K	inst3_3d_asm_Nv	Temperature	In GEOS-Chem: T @ time t is saved into State_Met%TMPU1; T @ time t+3h is saved into State_Met%TMPU2; T is then interpolated to the current time.	Many locations

--Bob Y. (talk) 19:17, 3 August 2015 (UTC)