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    "Surface" temperature/wind doesnt show earth's surface values

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    • idefix37I Online
      idefix37 Sailor Moderator @sPhoenix
      last edited by idefix37

      @sPhoenix
      Hi
      NEMS-4 has a better resolution (4km) compared to ECMWF model. And also probably a better terrain resolution. But in Windy NEMS doesn’t show better temperature precision in mountain area. I don’t know why...
      If you want to know the temperature of a place whose altitude you know, just select the airgram close to this place.
      The altitude is given by the Atmospheric Pressure. For instance, at 700hPa (roughly 3000m) you get a best idea of the temperature than shown on the map.

      0_1516531979074_E9DD05DC-1EFA-4CFE-8C10-6D96BF63C8FA.jpeg

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      • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
        Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @sPhoenix
        last edited by

        @sphoenix
        https://community.windy.com/topic/4657/reference-altitude

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        • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
          Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @sPhoenix
          last edited by

          @sphoenix
          Also read that:
          https://community.windy.com/topic/4513/what-elevation-for-spot-forecasts

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          • S Offline
            sPhoenix @idefix37 | Premium
            last edited by

            @idefix37

            Hi,
            sorry i didnt mention that i also selected the NEMS4 model at windy. And i made the observation that it shows completely different surface values than other weather websited that use the same models - in alpine areas.

            This was very evident during the past days with strong winds. The windity map just didnt show these high gusts speed that you'd expect on mountains - while other weather websites with same models delivered far better results.

            The Airgram helps here - like the elevation slider, but it doenst show the elevation of the model data for this position. In fact, it seems that the pressure scale is hard coded? Otherwise it wouldnt make sense that the air pressure scale f.e. at Mont-Blanc starts at 1000hpa. I'd first need to calculate the current air pressure at the real surface level there.

            I just felt the urge to give this feedback. Because despite the really nice frontend, the great usability of windy.com and the state-of-the-art weather models this is quite a weakness if you look for forecasts in mountain areas.

            Regards,
            Simon

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            • S Offline
              sPhoenix @Gkikas LGPZ | Premium
              last edited by idefix37

              @Gkikas-LGPZ

              Thanks for the link. That's exactly the same issue in fact

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              • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @sPhoenix
                last edited by

                @sphoenix
                The actual altitude for Garmisch is 707m, but the ECMWF's reference altitude for G-P is 1369 m !
                0_1516538698852_5b78575a-800a-4bba-b110-616060444413-εικόνα.png

                Also for Zugspitze (actual=2962 m , model's reference alt.=1700m).
                Difference 1262m, temp. adjustment - 4 C (aprox).

                S Gkikas LGPZG idefix37I 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • S Offline
                  sPhoenix @Gkikas LGPZ | Premium
                  last edited by idefix37

                  @Gkikas-LGPZ
                  Thanks for this info.
                  It would be great if these adjustment (model - actual) would be included at windy.com

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                  • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                    Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @Gkikas LGPZ
                    last edited by

                    I correct:
                    Also for Zugspitze (actual altitude=2962 m , model's reference alt.=1700m).
                    Difference 1262m, temp. adjustment - 8,2 C
                    (as 6.5/1000 = 8.2/1262)

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                    • idefix37I Online
                      idefix37 Sailor Moderator @Gkikas LGPZ
                      last edited by idefix37

                      @Gkikas-LGPZ
                      Hi,
                      Could we know where do you find these graphics ?

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                      • idefix37I Online
                        idefix37 Sailor Moderator @sPhoenix
                        last edited by

                        @sphoenix
                        Yes it is a weakness in mountain areas, but ECMWF and GFS are global models designed to provide weather forecasts covering the globe, difficult to ask them for a better resolution. At least NEMS-4 must be more precise in alpine area... as claim Meteoblue. But difficult to see a difference with ICON-7. The best should be COSMO-1 (1.1km) covering the alpine arc, or AROME (1.3km) covering France and a little more.
                        My concern is more about the Freezing Altitude which is considered « above the ground » but not above the sea (amsl) by ECMWF and ICON. In mountain, in Germany, what is the Freezing Altitude reference, local ground or amsl?
                        Rgds
                        Alain

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                        • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                          Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @idefix37
                          last edited by

                          @idefix37
                          From ECMWF's application named "Forecaster" but it is not for public use,
                          you have to log in.
                          .

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                          • idefix37I Online
                            idefix37 Sailor Moderator @Gkikas LGPZ
                            last edited by idefix37

                            @Gkikas-LGPZ
                            thanks

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                            • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                              Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @idefix37
                              last edited by

                              @idefix37
                              You said: "We have here the same problem, with -9ºC in Chamonix (1050m) and -11ºC on top of Mont-Blanc (4850m) !".

                              I made a small research and I provide you the data and conclusions
                              (for ECMWF model).
                              Chamonix: model's "surface" =2137m, elevation=1036m (Δ= 1101)
                              Mont-Blanc:model's "surface" =2265m, elevation=4808m (Δ= - 2543)
                              Temperature adjustment
                              Chamonix: +7,1C
                              Mont-Blanc: -16,5 C.
                              Those "adjustments" take into account Standard Atmosphere's lapse rate (6,5/1000m).
                              In the real world, the lapse rate may vary from 9,8 °C/km in dry air
                              to around 5 °C/km for moist air (into clouds).

                              Hope it helps

                              Gkikas LGPZG S idefix37I 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                                Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @Gkikas LGPZ
                                last edited by

                                ... in the same way (adjustments in ºC) ...
                                for Vienna: +0,2 Innsbruck:+3,9 Praha: +0,4
                                Olympus Mt.peak (2917m), Greece: -10

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                                • S Offline
                                  sPhoenix @Gkikas LGPZ | Premium
                                  last edited by idefix37

                                  @Gkikas-LGPZ

                                  Wouldn't it be even more accurate to use the result of the model for the exact elevation?

                                  So for example Mont Blanc: The delta between ECMWF model elevation and real elevation:1101m:

                                  So to get the estimated temperature/wind at the summit: use the closest calcuated value to 1101m above model surface. That's certainly also not 100% correct, because it doesn't take surface effects into account, but maybe more accurate than to assume ISA.
                                  It don't have access to the ECMWF data, but here a snapshot from NEMS4 sounding for Mont blanc:
                                  0_1516617214983_Capture.JPG
                                  The NEMS4 model surface seems to be at ca 3200m according to this sounding, temperature around -5°C.
                                  At 4800m it shows like -15°C. So a delta of -10°C in this case.

                                  Regards,
                                  Simon

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                                  • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                                    Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @sPhoenix
                                    last edited by

                                    @sphoenix
                                    For Mont Blanc the Δ is 2543m

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                                    • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                                      Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @Gkikas LGPZ
                                      last edited by

                                      @sPhoenix
                                      At the "sounding" :
                                      3200m ... -5°C
                                      4800m ... -15°C
                                      4800-3200=1600m ..... ΔT=10
                                      10/1600 = 6,25/1000m = ISA (almost !)

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                                      • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                                        Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @sPhoenix
                                        last edited by

                                        @sphoenix
                                        Nice sounding! Is freely available ?

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                                        • S Offline
                                          sPhoenix @Gkikas LGPZ | Premium
                                          last edited by idefix37

                                          @Gkikas-LGPZ

                                          Yes almost ISA in this case, but just an example. But in most cases the ISA temperature delta would be good enough problably.

                                          This graph is from meteblue, it's only available for point+ subscriber i think.

                                          Regards,
                                          Simon

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                                          • Gkikas LGPZG Offline
                                            Gkikas LGPZ Moderator Meteorologist @sPhoenix
                                            last edited by

                                            @sphoenix
                                            Thank you

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