The 3-D component of the STOFS, namely, STOFS-3D-Atlantic
provides users with the 24-hour nowcasts (analyses of near present conditions)
and up to 96-hour forecast guidance of the water level conditions, as well as
2- and 3-dimensional fields of water temperature, salinity, and currents.
STOFS-3D-Atlantic is run one time (on 12 UTC) per day. The system domain
encompasses the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast, and Puerto Rico, and Gulf of St.
Lawrence. The water levels produced by the STOFS-3D-Atlantic represent the
combined tidal and subtidal water surface elevations and are unanimously
referenced to xGEOID20B. STOFS-3D-Atlantic is providing a new variable called
“water level disturbance”, which is defined as water level height above xGEOID20B for topobathy below xGEOID20B (e.g.
ocean), and as water level height above ground for topobathy
above xGEOID20B
(e.g. land). Maximum height in the STOFS-3D-Atlantic grid is 10 m above xGEOID20B.
STOFS-3D-Atlantic employs the Semi-implicit Cross-scale Hydroscience Integrated System Model (SCHISM) as the
hydrodynamic model core. Its unstructured model grid consists of 2,926,236
nodes and 5,654,157 triangular or quadrilateral elements. The total number of
3D grid points is 31,307,038. Grid resolution is 1.5-2 km near the shoreline, ~600 m
for the floodplain, down to 8 m for watershed rivers (at least 3 nodes across
each river cross-section), and around 2-10 m for levees. Along the U.S. coastline,
the land boundary of the domain aligns with the 10-m contour above xGEOID20B, encompassing
the coastal transitional zone most vulnerable to coastal and inland flooding.
The number of vertical layers ranges from 49 in the deepest part of the Atlantic
Ocean to just 1 layer in floodplain areas. The model run uses a computational
time step of 150 s. In total, STOFS-3D-Atlantic currently simulates 1 day of
simulation in 0.40 wall clock hours on 4320 computational cores.
The files provided here include GRIB2 format for regional
grids and SHEF format for station time series; both GRIB2 and SHEF are
coincidentally provided to National Weather Service forecasters through AWIPS.
The files are also provided here in native netCDF
format, which include the full native resolution model grids and station time
series; and the geopackage (gpkg)
files for the field time series of water level
disturbance over the entire domain.
This service is made possible through a public-private
partnership enabled by the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD).
File
Format
The files are
in NETCDF, GRIB2, and SHEF format. Both NOAA and NASA provide
tools for accessing NETCDF files:
NOAA provides
tools for accessing GRIB2 files:
More details on
SHEF files are available here.
Access to the datasets is being provided on Amazon Web
Services (AWS) via Simple Storage Service (S3). Files can be downloaded via the
native AWS S3 API using tools such as the AWS CLI or AWS SDK libraries such as the Python boto3
package.
AWS S3 also provides direct HTTP access to the files, so
datasets can be downloaded using any HTTP client such as web browser. To make
discovering and accessing the data easier, a simple bucket explorer
web application is also provided which allows you to navigate through the
object key structure and download files using a web browser.
The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) for the S3 Bucket is: arn:aws:s3::: noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl.
Here is an example of using the AWS CLI to list a
particular day in the S3 bucket:
·
aws s3 ls
s3://noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl/stofs_3d_atl.YYYYMMDD
·
Where YYYY =
year, MM = month, DD = day
Additionally, an AWS Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Topic has also been created to provide automated notifications when new files
are added to the S3 Bucket. Users who operate their own infrastructure on AWS
can integrate directly with this SNS Topic to trigger automated workflows using
AWS Lambda or other services.
The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) for the SNS Topic is: arn:aws:sns:us-east-1:709902155096:NewICOGS3DObject.
NOAA's operational STOFS-3D-Atlantic output is available
here: s3://noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl/
NOAA's collaborator, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
(VIMS), runs a shadow model for STOFS-3D-Atlantic. Its output is available
here: s3://noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl-shadow-VIMS/
All of the text below
describes data organization only for NOAA's operational STOFS-3D-Atlantic.
Files are organized by day, i.e., all model outputs on a
particular day are included in that day's directory, e.g.:
·
stofs_3d_atl.YYYYMMDD
·
Where YYYY =
year, MM = month, DD = day
Within each directory, the below files are present. Use
this key to interpret file names:
·
CC is the model run cycle, 12, for the nowcast and forecast
runs
·
HHH is the nowcast hour (i.e., 023 - 000) or the forecast
hour (i.e., 000 – 096).
·
cwl stands for combined (subtidal plus
tidal) water level (unit: m) referenced to xGEOID20B.
·
maxele stands for
maximum water level elevation across entire forecast cycle
|
Content |
Resolution |
File Type |
|
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.conus.east.fHHH.grib2 |
Combined water level (m, xGEOID20B)
field on Regional Eastern CONUS gridded files |
2.5 km |
GRIB2 |
|
Hourly combined water level (m,
xGEOID20B) field on Regional Eastern CONUS gridded files for all forecast
hours |
2.5 km |
GRIB2 |
|
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.puertori.fHHH.grib2 |
Combined water level (m, xGEOID20B)
field on Regional Puerto Rico gridded files at forecast HHH |
1.25 km |
GRIB2 |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.puertori.cwl.grib2 |
Hourly combined water level (m,
xGEOID20B) field on Regional Puerto Rico gridded files for all forecast hours |
1.25 km |
GRIB2 |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.hotstart.stofs3d.nc |
Model
run hotstart file (this serves as the restart file,
to provide initial 3-D ocean state variables for the next cycle) |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
schout_adcirc_YYYYMMDD.nc |
Hourly fields of combined (subtidal plus
tidal) water level (m, xGEOID20B), maximum water level disturbance, time of
occurrence of maximum water level/maximum water level disturbance, and 10 m
wind field on ADCIRC-like triangular grid; totally three files for the
nowcast (n023 to n000), and forecast guidance days 1 (f001 to f024), 2 (f025
to f048), up to 4 (f073 to f096). |
Triangular
grid |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.field2d_fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast guidance (fhhh1 to fhhh2)
fields of combined water level (m, xGEOID20B), water temperature, salinity,
and horizontal water velocity at both surface and bottom, and horizontal
water velocity at 4.5 m below the water surface. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native
model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.field2d_nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast guidance (n023 to n000) fields
of combined water level (m, xGEOID20B), and water temperature, salinity,
horizontal water velocity at both surface and bottom, and horizontal water
velocity at 4.5 m below the water surface. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024}. |
Native
model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.out2d_fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast (f001 to f096) fields of
combined water level (m, xGEOID20B) and water-depth averaged horizontal water
velocity. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native
model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.out2d_nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast (n023 to n000) fields of
combined water level (m, xGEOID20B) and water-depth averaged horizontal water
velocity. hhh1_hhh2 denotes {001_012,013_024}. |
Native
model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.cwl.maxele.nc |
Maximum of nowcast and forecast (hours n023 to
n000, f001 to f096) combined water level (m, xGEOID20B) field |
Native
model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fcast.station.profile.nc |
Hourly forecast (f001 to f096) combined water
level (m, xGEOID20B) and horizontal 10 m wind velocity, and vertical profiles
of water temperature, salinity, horizontal water velocity at verification
sites |
-- |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.ncast.station.profile.nc |
Hourly nowcast (n023 to n000) combined water
level (m, xGEOID20B) and horizontal 10 m wind velocity, and vertical profiles
of water temperature, salinity, horizontal water velocity at verification
sites |
-- |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.points.cwl.nc |
Six-minute nowcast and forecast combined water
level (m, NAVD88) at verification sites |
-- |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.points.cwl.temp.salt.vel.nc |
Six-minute nowcast and forecast combined water
level (m, NAVD88), surface water temperature, surface salinity, and surface
horizontal water velocity at verification sites |
-- |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.zCoordinates_ fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast
(between hours f001 and f096) 3-D z-coordinates. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.zCoordinates_nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast
(between hours n023 and n000) 3-D z-coordinates. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.horizontalVelX_ fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast
(between hours f001 and f096) 3-D horizontal water velocity fields in
east-west direction. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.horizontalVelX_nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast (between
hours n023 and n000) 3-D horizontal water velocity fields in east-west
direction. hhh1_hhh2 denotes {001_012,013_024}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.horizontalVelY_ fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast
(between hours f001 and f096) 3-D horizontal water velocity fields in
north-south direction. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.horizontalVelY_ nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast
(between hours n023 and n000) 3-D horizontal water velocity fields in
north-south direction. hhh1_hhh2 denotes {001_012,013_024}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.salinity_ fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast
(between hours f001 and f096) 3-D salinity fields. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.salinity_nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast (between
hours n023 and n000) 3-D salinity fields. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.temperature_ fhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly forecast
(between hours f001 and f096) 3-D temperature fields. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024,025_036,037_048,049_060,061_072,073_084,085_096}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.fields.temperature_nhhh1_hhh2.nc |
Hourly nowcast
(between hours n023 and n000) 3-D temperature fields. hhh1_hhh2 denotes
{001_012,013_024}. |
Native model |
NetCDF |
|
30-minute
combined water level (ft, MLLW) at verification sites, for the entire
forecast period |
-- |
SHEF |
|
|
stofs_3d_atl.t12z.points.autoval.cwl.nc |
Six-minute
nowcast and forecast combined water level (m, NAVD88) at verification sites
(shortened station list used for NOAA autovalidation) |
-- |
NetCDF |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.disturbance.fHHH.gpkg |
Hourly
water level disturbance in the forecast period |
Native model |
GPKG |
|
stofs_3d_atl.tCCz.disturbance.nHHH.gpkg |
Hourly
water level disturbance in the nowcast period |
Native model |
GPKG |
|
wmo/shef_stofs_3d_atl.t12z.points.cwl |
30-minute
combined water level (ft, MLLW) at verification sites, for the entire
forecast period |
-- |
CWL |
|
wmo/grib2_stofs_3d_atl.t12z.puertori.cwl |
Hourly
combined water level (m, xGEOID20B) field on Regional Puerto Rico gridded
files for all forecast hours |
1.25 km |
CWL |
|
wmo/grib2_stofs_3d_atl.t12z.conus.east.cwl |
Hourly combined
water level (m, xGEOID20B) field on Regional Eastern CONUS gridded files for
all forecast hours |
1.25 km |
CWL |
|
rerun/ |
This
is the folder that holds the initial condition and forcing files for the
system run on YYYYMMDD. The files are stored for the NOAA internal reference.
Hence no further details are given here. |
-- |
-- |
|
../post_processing/ |
This is
the folder that holds post processing for STOFS-3D-Atlantic, including skill
assessment. The files are mainly stored for NOAA internal reference. Hence no
further details are given here. |
-- |
-- |
|
../para/ |
This
is the folder that holds the parallel run (i.e.
before the model or model upgrade is operational) for STOFS-3D-Atlantic. The
files are mainly stored for NOAA internal reference. Hence no further details
are given here. |
-- |
-- |
Autoval Coastline
File
https://noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html#STOFS-3D-Atl/coastline/coastline.dat
|
SCHISM Static
Files |
stofs-3d-atl v2.1: May 14,
2024 12 UTC cycle – present https://noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html#STOFS-3D-Atl/staticfiles/v2.1/ stofs-3d-atl v1.1: January 12,
2023 12 UTC cycle – May 13, 2024 12 UTC cycle https://noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html#STOFS-3D-Atl/staticfiles/v1.1/ |
|
File
Name |
Content |
|
stofs_3d_atl_albedo.gr3 |
Specification of the magnitudes of albedo |
|
stofs_3d_atl_diffmax.gr3 |
Specification of maximum diffusivity/viscosity |
|
stofs_3d_atl_diffmin.gr3 |
Specification of minimum diffusivity/viscosity |
|
stofs_3d_atl_drag.gr3 |
Bottom friction coefficient on model grid |
|
stofs_3d_atl_hgrid.2dm |
node centered spatial data and mesh connectivity |
|
stofs_3d_atl_hgrid.gr3 |
node centered spatial data and mesh connectivity |
|
stofs_3d_atl_hgrid.ll |
node centered spatial data and mesh connectivity |
|
stofs_3d_atl_param.nml_6globaloutput |
Parameter name list file. The corresponding file
for each run cycle is in rerun/ stofs_3d_atl.t12z.param.nml |
|
stofs_3d_atl_partition.prop |
Specification of model domain partition in support
of multi-processor parallel computation |
|
stofs_3d_atl_shapiro.gr3 |
Coefficient of the Shapiro filter |
|
stofs_3d_atl_station.in |
Specification of the locations and physical
parameters for the station time series output |
|
stofs_3d_atl_tvd.prop |
Specification of horizontal regions for various
types of numerical, horizontal transport schemes (e.g., upwind or TVD/WENO) |
|
stofs_3d_atl_vgrid.in |
Vertical grid file |
|
stofs_3d_atl_watertype.gr3 |
Specification of water types |
|
stofs_3d_atl_windrot_geo2proj.gr3 |
Angle differences between model’s y-axis and true
north |
For example:
·
noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl/stofs_3d_atl.20221220/stofs_3d_atl.t12z.conus.east.cwl.grib2
·
noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl/stofs_3d_atl.20221220/stofs_3d_atl.t12z.field2d_f001_012.nc
·
noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl/stofs_3d_atl.20221220/stofs_3d_atl.t12z.points.cwl.shef
·
noaa-nos-stofs3d-pds/STOFS-3D-Atl/stofs_3d_atl.20221220/stofs_3d_atl.t12z.disturbance.f005.gpkg
·
etc.
For questions regarding data content or quality, visit the STOFS site. For any questions regarding data delivery not associated with this platform or any general questions regarding the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD), email nodd@noaa.gov.