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ModelProduct stream (audit scope)TierDomainWhen to useHow to compareProsConsHorizonTime stepGrids/resolutionWave/currentsRuns/dayEvidence URLConfidence
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EC_HRESECMWF Open Data IFS HRES subsetTier 1GlobalSynoptic truth anchor; offshore routing; frontal timing; pressure gradientsUse as anchor; compare ICON/GFS for timing; use regional mesoscale for coastal tactics; use ENS for uncertaintyBest large-scale skill & consistency; strong data assimilation; good for routing and go/no-go decisionsCoastal/terrain micro-features often need mesoscale overlay; variable set differs by vendor/license00/12: to 360h; 06/18: to 144h (per Open Data page)3-hourly to 144h; 6-hourly beyond (per Open Data page)Common distribution 0.25° lat/lon (Open Data); native grid higher (service-dependent)Open Data includes wave bulk + surface currents (sve/svn/zos)4 (00/06/12/18 UTC)https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/open-dataHIGH
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EC_ENSECMWF Open Data ENS subsetTier 1.5GlobalUncertainty/risk envelope; scenario planning; beyond day ~5 confidenceCompare spread with deterministic; identify regime shifts; use as confidence gate before tactical modelsBest uncertainty tool; helps avoid over-confidenceNot tactical; vendor packaging variesTo 360h (Open Data page)3-hourly to 144h; 6-hourly beyond (Open Data page)0.25° subset; full ENS product varies by serviceSubset includes some ocean vars; wave ensemble availability is service-dependent4 (00/06/12/18 UTC) (Open Data ENS subset)https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/open-dataHIGH
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UM_GlobalUK Met Office Global parameters doc (distribution-dependent)Tier 1GlobalCross-check ECMWF; front timing/gradient; strong mid-latitude performanceIf UKMO diverges from ECMWF, treat as meaningful uncertainty; check ENS spreadVery strong dynamics & gradientsAccess/packaging varies; not always available in all appsTypically ~7 days in many feeds (service-dependent)Hourly 0–48; 3-hourly 51–144; 6-hourly 150–168 (per Met Office doc)~10 km class (datasheet); distribution grid variesWaves/currents typically separate products in marine appsOperational; service-defined (doc covers parameter timing)https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/data/global-model-parameters-may-2019.pdfHIGH
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ICONDWD ICON global/ICON-EU schedule page (product-dependent)Tier 2Global / Regional (varies)Cross-check large-scale; coastal gradients; secondary confirmationIf ICON agrees with ECMWF on timing/strength, confidence increases; divergence = uncertaintyStrong coastal behavior in many regimesOver-energetic sometimes; product stream determines varsICON-EU to 120h; ICON global to 180h (per DWD schedule page)Hourly to ~78h; 3-hourly beyond (per DWD schedule page)~13 km global; finer for ICON-EU (product-dependent)Usually separate marine products4 main (00/06/12/18) + additional shorter cycles for ICON-EU (per DWD schedule)https://www.dwd.de/EN/ourservices/nwp_forecast_data/nwp_forecast_data.htmlHIGH
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GFSNOAA GFS 0.25° + parameter selection via NOMADSTier 2GlobalTrend spotting, ensembles/uncertainty context, long-range signalsUse against ECMWF/UKMO; treat large divergence as uncertainty; use WW3 for wavesWidely available; many variables; long horizonNoisier; weaker gradients vs ECMWF/UKMOTo 384h (16 days)Product-dependent; commonly 3-hourly to 240h then 12-hourly beyond (verify by file inventory)0.25° lat/lon (pgrb2.0p25); other grids existWaves from WW3/GFS-Wave (separate product). Currents from ocean models (RTOFS/CMEMS)4 (00/06/12/18 UTC)https://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/gribfilter.php?ds=gfs_0p25HIGH
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HRRRNOAA HRRR products pageTier 3Regional (US)0–24h inshore/coastal tactics; gusts; squalls; sea-breeze (US)Only trust if synoptic setup matches ECMWF/UKMO; use as tactical refinementExcellent short-range detail and gust structureDomain-limited; short horizon; can misbehave if parent pattern is wrongFH18 standard; FH48 extended at 00/06/12/18 (per NCO)Hourly~3 kmWaves/currents separate24 (hourly cycles)https://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/products/hrrr/HIGH
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HRDPSECCC/MSC HRDPS DatamartTier 3Regional (Canada)0–48h coastal/inshore detail (Canada); terrain/coastal effectsValidate synoptic setup with ECMWF/UKMO; use HRDPS for local refinementExcellent resolution; rich variable set (incl many levels)Domain-limited; time-step varies by productTo 48h (Datamart forecast hours)Variable-dependent; many surface fields are hourly (verify by directory)~2.5 km (0.0225°)Waves/currents typically separate4 (00/06/12/18 UTC)https://eccc-msc.github.io/open-data/msc-data/nwp_hrdps/readme_hrdps-datamart_en/HIGH
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Ocean Currents (Global)NOAA Global RTOFS (HYCOM)Marine add-onGlobal oceanSet & drift for routing; compare vs vendor-provided currentsCompare NOAA RTOFS vs Copernicus Mercator vs local tidal streams; look for agreement on jets/eddiesEddy-resolving global guidance; widely used backboneNot a tide model; nearshore tidal streams may be wrong without local hydrodynamicsUp to 8 days (per NOAA)Dataset-specific; NCEI notes 24h 3D + 1h surface for Atlantic RTOFS; global products vary~1/12° eddy-resolving (per NOAA)This *is* the currents product (u/v, SSH, etc.)Daily (operational; dataset-specific)https://polar.ncep.noaa.gov/global/HIGH
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Ocean Currents (Global)Copernicus Marine GLOBAL_ANALYSISFORECAST_PHY_001_024 (Mercator)Marine add-onGlobal oceanCurrents + SSH + 3D structure; alternative to RTOFSCross-check with RTOFS; consistent features increase confidenceHigh-quality operational ocean analysis+forecast; widely usedAccess requires Copernicus data store; not always packaged into sailing apps10-day forecast (per Copernicus)See PUM (product-dependent)1/12° (~0.083°)Currents, SSH, temp/salinityUpdated daily (10-day forecast)https://data.marine.copernicus.eu/product/GLOBAL_ANALYSISFORECAST_PHY_001_024/descriptionHIGH
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Tides & Tidal CurrentsNOAA CO-OPS predictions + metadata APIsMarine add-onUS stations (global varies by provider)Inshore gates, bars, channels; tidal streams; start-line/current strategyCompare harmonic station prediction vs gridded ocean model currents; use local knowledge and current atlasBest-in-class station tide/current predictions where stations existSparse offshore; not a gridded field; not usable alone offshoreStation-dependent; forecasts generated as requested6-minute or hourly products (per NOAA products page)Station-based; not griddedTidal height + tidal current predictions; harmonic constituents (harcon) for auditOn-demand predictions based on harmonic constituentshttps://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/products.htmlHIGH
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