GFS Variables and Levels - greencoder/gfstext GitHub Wiki

Taken from GFS Inventory: http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/products/gfs/gfs_upgrade/gfs.t06z.pgrb2b.0p25.f000.shtml

Table of Params and Units: http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/docs/on388/table2.html

Grib2 Specification: http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/docs/grib2/grib2_doc.shtml

Good Intro to Grib2 (PDF): ftp://ftp.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wd51we/wgrib2/intro_grib2.pdf

Variable	Description	Units	Level
4LFTX	Best (4 layer) Lifted Index	K	180-0 mb above ground
5WAVH	5-wave geopotential height	gpm
ABSV	Absolute Vorticity	/s	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
ACPCP	Convective precipitation	kg/m2
ALBDO	Albedo	%
APCP	Total Precipitation	kg/m2	surface
CAPE	Convective Available Potential Energy	J/kg	180-0 mb above ground, 90-0 mb above ground, surface, 255-0 mb above ground
CFRZR	Categorical Freezing Rain	non-dim	surface
CICEP	Categorical Ice Pellets	non-dim	surface
CIN	Convective Inhibition	J/kg	180-0 mb above ground, 90-0 mb above ground, surface, 255-0 mb above ground
CLWMR	Cloud Mixing Ratio	kg/kg	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
CPOFP	Percent frozen precipitation	%	surface
CPRAT	Convective Precipitation rate	kg/m2/s
CRAIN	Categorical Rain	non-dim	surface
CSNOW	Categorical Snow	non-dim	surface
CWAT	Cloud water	kg/m2
CWORK	Cloud work function	J/kg
DLWRF	Downward Long-Wave Rad. Flux	W/m2	surface
DPT	Dew Point Temperature	K	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 2 m above ground, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
DSWRF	Downward Short-Wave Radiation Flux	W/m2	surface
FLDCP	Field Capacity ((soil moisture)	fraction
GFLUX	Ground Heat Flux	W/m2	surface
GUST	Wind Speed (Gust)	m/s	surface
HGT	Geopotential Height	gpm	cloud base, 125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, surface, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 0C isotherm, cloud ceiling, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, highest tropospheric freezing level, 525 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 263 K level, 425 mb, equilibrium level, 253 K level, 850 mb, 600 mb, level of adiabatic condensation from sfc, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, cloud top, 150 mb, 550 mb
HINDEX	Haines Index	Index 1-6
HLCY	Storm Relative Helicity	m2/s2	3000-0 m above ground, 1000-0 m above ground
HPBL	Planetary Boundary Layer Height	m	surface
ICAHT	ICAO Standard Atmosphere Reference Height	m
ICEC	Ice Cover	proportion	surface
ICSEV	Icing severity	non-dim
LAND	Land Cover (0=sea, 1=land)	Proportion	surface
LFTX	Surface Lifted Index	K	surface
LHTFL	Latent Heat Net Flux	W/m2	surface
MSLET	Mean Sea Level Pressure (NAM Model Reduction)	Pa
O3MR	Ozone mixing ratio	kg/kg
PEVPR	Potential evaporation rate	W/m2
PLPL	Pressure of level from which parcel was lifted	Pa	255-0 mb above ground
POT	Potential Temperature	K	2 m above ground
PRATE	Precipitation Rate	kg/m2/s	surface
PRES	Pressure	Pa	cloud base, highest tropospheric freezing level, surface, cloud top, 0C isotherm
PRMSL	Pressure reduced to MSL	Pa
PWAT	Precipitable Water	kg/m2	entire atmosphere (considered as a single layer)
RH	Relative Humidity	%	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 475 mb, 500 mb, 0C isotherm, highest tropospheric freezing level, 100 mb, 450 mb, 400 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 2 m above ground, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 325 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 350 mb, 75 mb, 750 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
SHTFL	Sensible Heat Net Flux	W/m2	surface
SNOD	Snow Depth	m	surface
SOILW	Volumetric Soil Moisture Content	fraction	0-0 m below ground, 0.01-0.01 m below ground, 0.1-0.1 m below ground, 0.3-0.3 m below ground, 0.6-0.6 m below ground, 0.04-0.04 m below ground, 3-3 m below ground, 1.6-1.6 m below ground, 1-1 m below ground
SPFH	Specific Humidity	kg/kg	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 2 m above ground, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
SUNSD	Sunshine Duration	s
TCDC	Total Cloud Cover	%	entire atmosphere
TMAX	Maximum temperature	K
TMIN	Minimum temperature	K
TMP	Temperature	K	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, surface, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 2 m above ground, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
TOZNE	Total ozone	Dobson
TSOIL	Soil Temperature Validation to deprecate	K	0-0 m below ground, 0.01-0.01 m below ground, 0.1-0.1 m below ground, 0.6-0.6 m below ground, 0.3-0.3 m below ground, 0.04-0.04 m below ground, 3-3 m below ground, 1.6-1.6 m below ground, 1-1 m below ground
U-GWD	Zonal flux of gravity wave stress	N/m2
UFLX	Momentum flux, u component	N/m2
UGRD	U-Component of Wind	m/s	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 10 m above ground, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 80 m above ground, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 850 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
ULWRF	Upward Long-Wave Rad. Flux	W/m2	top of atmosphere, surface
USTM	U-Component Storm Motion	m/s	0-6000 m above ground
USWRF	Upward Short-Wave Radiation Flux	W/m2	surface
V-GWD	Meridional flux of gravity wave stress	N/m2
VFLX	Momentum flux, v component	N/m2
VGRD	V-Component of Wind	m/s	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 10 m above ground, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 80 m above ground, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 850 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
VRATE	Ventilation Rate	m2/s
VSTM	V-Component Storm Motion	m/s	0-6000 m above ground
VVEL	Vertical Velocity (Pressure)	Pa/s	125 mb, 950 mb, 975 mb, 375 mb, 875 mb, 575 mb, 925 mb, 725 mb, 650 mb, 1013.2 mb, 50 mb, 250 mb, 400 mb, 500 mb, 100 mb, 350 mb, 450 mb, 325 mb, 200 mb, 700 mb, 800 mb, 825 mb, 1000 mb, 225 mb, 750 mb, 625 mb, 275 mb, 900 mb, 525 mb, 425 mb, 850 mb, 600 mb, 175 mb, 675 mb, 775 mb, 300 mb, 475 mb, 75 mb, 150 mb, 550 mb
VWSH	Vertical speed shear	1/s
WATR	Water runoff	kg/m2
WEASD	Water Equivalent of Accumulated Snow Depth	kg/m2	surface
WILT	Wilting Point	fraction	surface
WIND	Wind Speed	m/s	10 m above ground