PRECIS

I .Obtaining PRECIS

- installation software

- model executables, control code and source code

- ancillary files and sets of initial conditions for model runs

- three years worth of sample boundary data (additional data will be supplied on request)

- documentation

The PRECIS DVD will be supplied to institutions free of charge (subject to the terms of the PRECIS licence agreement) by the Hadley Centre only in conjunction with a PRECIS workshop . As well as giving users practice in setting up and running experiments, the workshop ensures that users are aware of the limitations and uncertainties associated with climate modelling systems such as PRECIS.

In keeping with the objectives behind the development of PRECIS, priority will be given to training users in developing* countries, providing funding can be found to deliver the courses.  We envisage training users in groups consisting of scientists from different countries within a region.  This is not only efficient but also promotes collaboration between countries.  (Regional model domains typically cover several countries and the work of running the model can be shared.) 

Users from institutions in developed* countries will be assessed a charge of 5000 euros plus 17.5% VAT.  This charge contributes to the costs of development and providing training.

For more information, please see our dissemination strategy document (download), or e-mail us: precis@metoffice.gov.uk.

*We take a developing country to be any country not included in Annex I to the UNFCCC (as amended in 1998), or any country included in Annex I that has an economy in transition. (A developed country is any country which is not a developing country).

II. I want PRECIS but I'm from a UNFCCC classed Annex I nation and don't have the funds to pay the development charge

Send an email to precis@metoffice.gov.uk.  It may be that an institution in your area has already made use of PRECIS and would be willing to share the output data from their PRECIS runs with you.  In this way you can obtain the data you need to carry out an impacts study without being subject to any development charge. 

III. Obtaining boundary data to drive PRECIS

PRECIS requires boundary data to create lateral boundary conditions.  Sample boundary data is included with the PRECIS DVD, but in order to fully utilise PRECIS a user will need further boundary data.

          Boundary data from the following experiments are currently available:

A three-member ensemble of control experiments (1960-1990)

A three-member ensemble of SRES* A2 scenario experiments (2070-2100)

A single SRES B2 scenario experiment (2070-2100)

ECMWF ERA-15 reanalysis experiment (1979-1993)

ECMWF ERA-40 reanalysis experiment (1957-2001), analysis data to 2005

            

*More information on SRES can be found at the IPCC data distribution centre or at the SRES home page.

Boundary data from other Global Climate models will be available in Q3 2006:

 

Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (Germany) ECHAM4 A2 scenario experiment (1960-2100)

Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (Germany) ECHAM4 B2 scenario experiment (1960-2100)

Work is underway to allow PRECIS to run using the following as well:

NOAA's National Center for Environmental Prediction  NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis experiment R2 (1979-2005)

NOAA's National Center for Environmental Prediction  NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis experiment R1 (1958-2005)

Boundary data consists of large files which can be anywhere from 1/4 to 1 GB each month.  As such the full datasets for all available experiments can be large - much too large to download.  The preferred method of delivery boundary data is for the user to be shipped the boundary data on an IDE hard drive.  The user will need to know or have access to someone who knows how to install a new hard drive in a computer system and mount the hard drive under Linux.  Users from countries classed as developed nations by the UNFCCC will be required to pay for the hard drive we send; all other users receive the hard drive and boundary data free.