Model specifications and data schema

The model that is accessible on Vertex AI is WeatherNext 2. The following tables outline the model specifications and data schema. Note that only some variables are available at a 1 hour temporal resolution, while the rest are at 6 hour.

Model specifications

WeatherNext 2 Specifications
Attribute Details
Architecture Functional Generative Network (paper)
Spatial Resolution 0.25°
Temporal Resolution Down to 1 hour

(customizable by user)
Forecast Initialization Frequency Times (UTC) Every 6 hours (00, 06, 12, 18 UTC)
Lead Times (Forecast Horizon) 15 days

(by default, customizable by user)
Locations Global
Training data ERA5 /HRES-fc0 (HRES-fc1to5 for 1hr model)
Initialization Inputs for Generating Forecasts HRES-fc0
Output Format 64 members, 4 models 16 members each

(by default, customizable by user)
Historical Data Ability to generate historical forecasts for Jan 2024 - present

for backtesting

Data schema

Data at 1hr forecast granularity

Weather Model Variables
Variable name Units Description
300_geopotential m2/s2 Geopotential at 300 hPa
500_geopotential m2/s2 Geopotential at 500 hPa
300_temperature K Temperature at 300 hPa
500_temperature K Temperature at 500 hPa
1000_u_component_of_wind m/s U wind component at 1000 hPa
1000_v_component_of_wind m/s V wind component at 1000 hPa
100m_u_component_of_wind m/s 100 meter U wind component
100m_v_component_of_wind m/s 100 meter V wind component
10m_u_component_of_wind m/s 10 meter U wind component
10m_v_component_of_wind m/s 10 meter V wind component
2m_temperature K 2 meter temperature
mean_sea_level_pressure Pa Mean sea level pressure
sea_surface_temperature K Sea surface temperature

Data at 6hr forecast granularity

Weather Model Output Variables and Levels
Variable name Units Description Level
total_precipitation_6hr m Total accumulated precipitation Surface (6-hour accumulation)
mean_sea_level_pressure Pa Mean sea level pressure Sea Level
2m_temperature K Air temperature 2 meters
10m_u_component_of_wind m/s Eastward wind component 10 meters
10m_v_component_of_wind m/s Northward wind component 10 meters
100m_u_component_of_wind m/s Eastward wind component 100 meters
100m_v_component_of_wind m/s Northward wind component 100 meters
{level}_geopotential m2/s2 Geopotential height 1000, 925, 850, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 hPa
{level}_specific_humidity kg/kg Specific humidity 1000, 925, 850, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 hPa
{level}_temperature K Temperature 1000, 925, 850, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 hPa
{level}_u_component_of_wind m/s Eastward wind component 1000, 925, 850, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 hPa
{level}_v_component_of_wind m/s Northward wind component 1000, 925, 850, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 hPa
{level}_vertical_velocity Pa/s Vertical velocity 1000, 925, 850, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 hPa