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Global Forecast System (GFS) 0.5 Degree

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: April 12, 2026 at 09:13 PM | Dataset Last Updated: February 01, 2006 at 12:00 AM
The Global Forecast System (GFS) is a weather forecast model produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Dozens of atmospheric and land-soil variables are available through this dataset, from temperatures, winds, and precipitation to soil moisture and atmospheric ozone concentration. The entire globe is covered by the GFS at a base horizontal resolution of 18 miles (28 kilometers) between grid points, which is used by the operational forecasters who predict weather out to 16 days in the future. Horizontal resolution drops to 44 miles (70 kilometers) between grid point for forecasts between one week and two weeks. The GFS model is a coupled model, composed of four separate models (an atmosphere model, an ocean model, a land/soil model, and a sea ice model), which work together to provide an accurate picture of weather conditions. Changes are regularly made to the GFS model to improve its performance and forecast accuracy. This dataset is run four times daily at 00z, 06z, 12z and 18z out to 192 hours with a 0.5 degree horizontal resolution and a 3 hour temporal resolution.

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Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Geopotential Height Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds > Boundary Layer Winds Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Boundary Layer Temperature Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Tropopause Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Thickness Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure

Complete Metadata
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accessLevel non-public
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describedByType application/octet-steam
description The Global Forecast System (GFS) is a weather forecast model produced by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Dozens of atmospheric and land-soil variables are available through this dataset, from temperatures, winds, and precipitation to soil moisture and atmospheric ozone concentration. The entire globe is covered by the GFS at a base horizontal resolution of 18 miles (28 kilometers) between grid points, which is used by the operational forecasters who predict weather out to 16 days in the future. Horizontal resolution drops to 44 miles (70 kilometers) between grid point for forecasts between one week and two weeks. The GFS model is a coupled model, composed of four separate models (an atmosphere model, an ocean model, a land/soil model, and a sea ice model), which work together to provide an accurate picture of weather conditions. Changes are regularly made to the GFS model to improve its performance and forecast accuracy. This dataset is run four times daily at 00z, 06z, 12z and 18z out to 192 hours with a 0.5 degree horizontal resolution and a 3 hour temporal resolution.
distribution 
                                            [
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identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/aim/iso/xml/C00634.xml
issued 2006-02-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
                                            [
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Geopotential Height",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds > Boundary Layer Winds",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Boundary Layer Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Tropopause",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Pressure Thickness",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure",
  "Earth Science > Land Surface > Land Use/Land Cover",
  "Earth Science > Land Surface > Soils > Soil Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Land Surface > Soils > Soil Moisture/Water Content",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Sea Surface Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Albedo",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Incoming Solar Radiation",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Longwave Radiation",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Outgoing Longwave Radiation",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Shortwave Radiation",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Atmospheric Stability",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Dew Point Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Potential Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Skin Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Dew Point Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Dew Point Temperature",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Processes > Evaporation",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Water Vapor",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Convection",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vorticity",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Profiles",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Wind Shear",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain > Freezing Rain",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Ice Pellets > Sleet",
  "Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow",
  "Earth Science > Terrestrial Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice > Albedo",
  "Earth Science > Terrestrial Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover",
  "Earth Science > Terrestrial Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Depth",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Sea Ice > Sea Ice Concentration",
  "Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Radiative Properties > Albedo",
  "Earth Science > Land Surface > Land Use/Land Cover > Land Use/Land Cover Classification > Vegetation Index",
  "Geographic Region > Global",
  "Vertical Location > Boundary Layer",
  "Vertical Location > Land Surface",
  "Vertical Location > Sea Surface",
  "Vertical Location > Troposphere",
  "Vertical Location > Stratosphere",
  "NCEP-GFS > NCEP Global Forecast System",
  "NOMADS > The NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System",
  "50 km - < 100 km or approximately .5 degree - < 1 degree",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NWS/NCEP > National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NWS/NCEP/EMC > Environmental Modeling Center, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce"
]
language 
                                            []
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2006-02-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
rights otherRestrictions
spatial 180.0,-90.0,-180.0,90.0
temporal 2006-02-01T00:00:00+00:00/2006-02-01T00:00:00+00:00
title Global Forecast System (GFS) 0.5 Degree

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