This course is a 5-day online training providing an introduction to ECMWF data services and the main tools used to access, process and visualise ECMWF data.
Every day is dedicated to a different topic, and participants may apply to attend the entire training week, or apply only to individual sessions that are of interest and benefit to them.
The training focuses on practical workflows for retrieving data from the ECMWF archive and working with meteorological data formats using modern software tools.
Participants will gain hands-on experience with the Meteorological Archival and Retrieval System (MARS), ECMWF’s primary archive for meteorological data, and the Earthkit Python ecosystem, which provides tools for working with ECMWF datasets. The course will also introduce ecCodes, the ECMWF software package for decoding and encoding meteorological data formats such as GRIB and BUFR.
The course will be delivered as a mixture of presentations (via Teams) and practical sessions, with additional support provided through Teams breakout rooms.
The target audience are users from ECMWF Member and Co-operating States who work with ECMWF data or plan to access the ECMWF archive and data services in their workflows.
Prerequisites
In order to follow the course, participants will need to have the access to MARS archive and ECMWF dissemination services.
Prior knowledge of Linux (Unix) and Python is an advantage to follow the course. Basic Linux skills will be useful for navigating EMCWF computing environment and running command-line MARS tools. Python will be used during the practical sessions for accessing, processing and visualising ECMWF data using Earthkit and ecCodes libraries.
All lectures will be given in English.
All lectures will be recorded and published on the ECMWF YouTube channel.
Application process
Every day of the training is dedicated to a different topic, please carefully read the below descriptions of the topic that will be taught each day.
There are 2 different application options:
- You may apply to attend the full course, if all sessions are relevant for you. In that case, please make sure to underline how this is the case in your application.
- You may apply only for the individual days of interest or relevance to you.
Please choose only one of the two above application options.
In case you'd like to change application options after you have applied, please get in touch with us at training@ecmwf.int.
Application forms:
- Full course application
- Individual days application: please use the daily links in the descriptions below
Day 1 - Introduction to working with MARS archive
Monday 12 October 13:00 BST - 16:30 BST
This day introduces participants to ECMWF’s Meteorological Archival and Retrieval System (MARS), the primary system used to access ECMWF forecast and archived data.
Participants will learn how the archive is structured and how to retrieve data efficiently using MARS requests. The sessions will cover the basic concepts of the MARS language, common retrieval workflows, and best practices for constructing efficient queries.
The day includes several hands-on exercises where participants will practise retrieving data and integrating MARS access into their workflows.
In order to participate in this part of the course, participants will need to have the access to MARS archive. To find out how to gain the access, please visit our website.
Speakers: TBC
Apply for Day 1
Day 2 - Advanced MARS workflows, best practices and common use cases
Tuesday 13 October 8:30 BST - 16:30 BST
The second day continues the exploration of the MARS archive with a stronger focus on practical exercises and real-world workflows.
Participants will learn more advanced retrieval techniques, how to optimise requests, and how to integrate MARS into automated scripts and data-processing pipelines. Additional time will be dedicated to hands-on sessions where participants can practise working with different types of ECMWF datasets and discuss common retrieval challenges.
In order to participate in this part of the course, participants will need to have the access to MARS archive. To find out how to gain the access, please visit our website.
Speakers: TBC
Apply for Day 2
Day 3 - Tools for working with ECMWF Data: Earthkit
Wednesday 14 October 8:30 BST - 16:30 BST
This day introduces EarthKit, ECMWF’s Python ecosystem for working with meteorological data.
Participants will learn how to use different EarthKit components to access, process and visualise ECMWF data. The sessions will include demonstrations and exercises using:
-
earthkit-data for accessing and loading meteorological datasets
-
earthkit-plots for creating visualisations
-
earthkit-geo for providing geospatial computations
- earthkit-transforms for transformations of data in specific domains
The training focuses on building practical Python workflows for analysing and visualising ECMWF data.
Speakers: TBC
Apply for Day 3
Day 4 - Tools for working with ECMWF Data: Earthkit and ecCodes
Thursday 15 October 8:30 BST - 16:30 BST
This day continues with the introduction to EarthKit ecosystem for working with meteorological data. The sessions will include demonstrations and exercises using:
- earthkit-meteo for meteorological computations using array input (Numpy, Torch and CuPy) and output
- earthkit-hydro for common hydrological functions
The second part of the day will be dedicated to ecCodes, ECMWF’s software package for decoding, inspecting and processing meteorological data formats such as GRIB and BUFR.
An update on the ongoing transition to GRIB2 will be covered during this day.
Speakers: TBC
Apply for Day 4
Day 5 - ECMWF Data Services applications
Friday 16 October 8:30 BST - 12:30 BST
The final day introduces selected ECMWF data service applications for users receiving real-time data through dissemination services.
The focus will be on the ECMWF’s new unified application for managing real-time data requirements, which is the result of a recent merge of the Product Requirements Editor (PREd) and the ECMWF Production Data Store (ECPDS).
This day is aimed at users who manage or plan to manage real-time data delivery of ECMWF data in their organisations.
In order to participate in this part of the course, participants will need to have the access to PREd and ECPDS. To find out how to gain the access, please visit our website.
Speakers: TBC
Apply for Day 5