<p>I got it. In the inventory of the gfs grib file there is a parameter called <code>geopetenial height (HGT)</code> at the &quot;surface&quot; level. This is supposed to be the model's orography.
However, in the grib file, using <code>QGIS</code> to open it, the parameter is called <code>SFC</code> at the &quot;ground or water surface&quot; level.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-05T07:52:38.760Z
2024-08-05T07:52:38.760Z
smoff
<p>I'm looking for the model orography of <code>GFS</code> but cannot find it. I tried to download a GRIB file from <code>nomads</code> checking all parameters but it doesn't contain the orography. I need it because I do some hydrological modelling which relies on a much finer spatial resolution and I want do correct <code>GFS´s</code> parameters by a quite straight foreward downscaling method.</p>
<p>Does anyone know where I can find the model orography? The link provided by <a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/22548/what-is-the-vertical-offset-of-geopotential-height-from-ellipsoidal-height-in-gf">What is the vertical offset of geopotential height from ellipsoidal height in GFS?</a> does not exist anymore.</p>

<gfs>
GFS model orography
smoff
# GFS model orography

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-08-02)

I'm looking for the model orography of `GFS` but cannot find it. I tried to download a GRIB file from `nomads` checking all parameters but it doesn't contain the orography. I need it because I do some hydrological modelling which relies on a much finer spatial resolution and I want do correct `GFS´s` parameters by a quite straight foreward downscaling method.

Does anyone know where I can find the model orography? The link provided by [What is the vertical offset of geopotential height from ellipsoidal height in GFS?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/22548/what-is-the-vertical-offset-of-geopotential-height-from-ellipsoidal-height-in-gf) does not exist anymore.

**Tags:** gfs


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2024-08-05. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

I got it. In the inventory of the gfs grib file there is a parameter called `geopetenial height (HGT)` at the "surface" level. This is supposed to be the model's orography.
However, in the grib file, using `QGIS` to open it, the parameter is called `SFC` at the "ground or water surface" level.


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