European model now being released ~4 hours earlier

• To: ldm-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: European model now being released ~4 hours earlier
• From: Gilbert Sebenste <sebenste@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2004 10:39:42 -0500 (CDT)

FYI...

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Gilbert Sebenste                                                     ********
(My opinions only!)                                                  ******
Staff Meteorologist, Northern Illinois University                      ****
E-mail: gilbert@xxxxxxx                                               ***
web: http://weather.admin.niu.edu                                      **
Work phone: 815-753-5492                                                *
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---------- Forwarded message ----------

>From the ECMWF:

NOTIFICATION FROM ECMWF:
On 29 June 2004 ECMWF implemented the Early Delivery Forecasting System
which comprises two main 6-hour 4D-Var analysis and forecast cycles for
00 and 12 UTC (DA stream) with two additional 12-hour 4D-Var analysis
(DCDA stream) and first guess forecast cycles. These additional cycles
are run with a delayed cut-off time of 14 hours (with respect to the
nominal analysis times). The analysis observation windows are 21-09 UTC
for the 00 UTC analysis and 09-21 UTC for the 12 UTC analysis. The first
guess forecasts are used to initialise the main operational 00 and 12
UTC assimilation and forecast cycles.  Trials have shown that the        
quality of the two first guesses is sufficiently high to allow an early
running of the 6-hour 4D-Var assimilations at around 0400 and 1600 UTC
without any loss in quality in the ensuing forecasts compared with the
previous operational system.

ECMWF products on the GTS are now inserted some three to four hours
earlier in line with the timing of the Early Delivery Forecasting
System.

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Gilbert's note: The U.S. receives the ECMWF via the GTS. I have noticed on 
my "last written to" date stamps that since June 29, the data is rolling 
in about 4 hours earlier. Yestrday, the 12Z run was completely in at 3:58 
PM CT (20:58Z)!

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Gilbert Sebenste                                                     ********
(My opinions only!)                                                  ******
Staff Meteorologist, Northern Illinois University                      ****
E-mail: gilbert@xxxxxxx                                               ***
web: http://weather.admin.niu.edu                                      **
Work phone: 815-753-5492                                                *
*******************************************************************************