Click here to go to the EMC/MMAB homepage RTOFS (Atlantic) Model Data Downloads

Although the RTOFS (Atlantic) is an operational model, we cannot guarantee
the timeliness or accuracy of the model data and figures offered on this site.
Please see our disclaimer for more information.

Model data from the latest RTOFS (Atlantic) runs is available in GRIB (GRIdded Binary) format on the Marine Modeling and Analyses Branch FTP server, the NCEP NOMADS GDS/DODS data server, and the NCEP Central Operations Production FTP server, at the following URLs:

1. FTPPRD (NCO Production FTP Server, yesterday and today)
2. NOMADS (GDS/DODS) (09/07/06 onwards, some gaps, lat/lon and native grid)

• Notes and information on the RTOFS (Atlantic) model data.
• Notes and information on the RTOFS GRiB files and parameters.
• General information on working with GRiB files.
• Using Ferret to access RTOFS (Atlantic) model data on NOMADS/DODS.

Additional documentation on using NOMADS/DODS to obtain RTOFS model data is listed below. You may need to install the free Acrobat® Reader to view them.

• RTOFS file description for NOMADS
• How to get daily RTOFS data from DODS
• How to get hourly RTOFS data from DODS

In addition to the full-field data sets available from the MMAB FTP and NCEP NOMADS (GDS/DODS) servers several additional subregions are available through the NOMADS server. These are surface fields derived from the full-field data interpolated to a regular lat/lon grid.

A map of the surface field subregions interpolated to a regular lat/lon grid.
Click on image to enlarge.

The GRIB file name format is: ofs_atl_t00z.YYMMDD.ffff.grb

• YYYY = year
• MM = month
• DD = day
• ffff (nowcast/forecast) =
  • N000 (nowcast)
  • F024 (24-hour forecast)
  • F048 (48-hour forecast)
  • F072 (72-hour forecast)
  • F096 (96-hour forecast)
  • F120 (120-hour forecast)

Model Data Description

The full-field data sets on NOADS and the FTPPRD server are in the model's native orthogonal curvilinear coordinates in the horizontal, and are interpolated to 40 pressure levels in the vertical. Here is a list of the interpolated depths.

The following fields are included in the GRIB files:

Daily three-dimensional fields (40 pressure levels)

• Salinity (psu)
• In-Situ Temperature (C)
• Horizontal Velocities (m/sec)¹
• Vertical Velocity (m/sec)
• Mixed Layer Depth (m)
• Sea Surface Height (m, relative to geoid)

¹Note that the u and v horizontal velocities are in the frame of reference of the model grid, not rotated into lat/lon coordinates. Rotation routines in Fortran and MATLAB are available here.

Hourly surface fields

• Sea Surface Height (m, relative to geoid)
• Sea Surface Salinity (psu)
• Sea Surface Temperature (C)
• Sea Surface Horizontal Velocities (m/sec)¹
• Mixed Layer Thickness (meters)

¹Note that the u and v horizontal velocities are in the frame of reference of the model grid, not rotated into lat/lon coordinates. Rotation routines in Fortran and MATLAB are available here.