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	m 2 /s 2	Geopotential at 300 hPa
500_geopotential	m 2 /s 2	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	m 2 /s 2	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