DSS presents the FNL (Final) Global Analyses on 1.0x1.0 degree global grids every six hours. These were prepared operationally by NCEP, interpolated from their GFS model. When the model is changed, the dataset will not be reprocessed. For example, one consequence of increasing model resolution, can change otherwise constant fields, such as topography. The NCEP documents About the Global Parallel System and EMC Model Documentation describe the model. Model changes are described here. For questions about the science of the GFS, contact the NCEP Science Liaison.

The analyses are available on the surface, 26 mandatory (and other pressure) levels from 1000mb to 10mb, boundary and some sigma layers, tropopause and a few others. Parameters include surface pressure, sea level pressure, geopotential height, temperature, sea surface temperature, soil values, ice cover, relative humidity, u- and v- winds, vertical motion, vorticity and ozone.

This dataset is in GRIB format. This is a popular dataset with MM5, WRF and RAMS users - see this. It is updated every 6 hours by DSS using files downloaded from the NCEP server. The data is free, through the "Data Access" tab above. MORE.