Climate Model Details

The models selected for inclusion in our survey were assessed and summarised in the following table.

Model / Agency

Model description
No. of Ensemble Members

Update frequency

Length of forecast

GPC for Long-Range Forecasts (WMO) *

Model Output (graphs and data)

 Verification

Additional comments

POAMA / Bureau of Meteorology

Coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM
33 member ensemble

Monthly

8 months

Y

NINO3.4
IOD

Verification

 

GEOS5 / NASA-GMAO (USA)

Coupled ocean-atmosphere-land model
12-15 member ensemble

Monthly

8 months

N

NINO3.4 & IOD(IDM)

Data

Verification

NINO3.4 and IOD available.

CFSv2 / NOAA-NCEP (USA)

Coupled ocean-atmosphere-land model
40 member ensemble

Daily

8 months

Y

NINO3.4

Verification

Forecast data not available publicly, only graph.

JMA/MRI-CGCM / JMA

Coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM
51 member ensemble

Monthly

6 months

Y

NINO3.4

Data

Verification

 

System 4 / ECMWF (EU)

Coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM
51 member ensemble

Monthly

6 months

Y

NINO3.4

Verification

NINO3.4 and IOD available.
Forecast data not available publicly, only graph.

GloSea5 / UKMO

Coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM
60 member ensemble

Monthly

5 months

Y

NINO3.4

Verification

Shorter forecast period compared to other models.
Forecast data not available publicly, only graph.

ARPEGE / MeteoFrance

Coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM
51 member ensemble

Monthly

6 months

Y

N/A

Verification

NINO3.4 and IOD available.
Forecast data and graph not available publicly.

CanSIPS / Meteorological Service of Canada

MME using two coupled ocean-atmosphere GCMs
20 member ensemble

Monthly

6 months

Y

NINO3.4

 

Verification

Data available via IRI multi model comparison page. Verification for ENSO is pp 12-15 of Tech note.

*Global Producing Centres for Long-Range Forecasts (World Meteorological Organisation)