Produced by ECMWF, ERA5 climate reanalysis data utilises billions of quality-controlled observations from hundreds of different instruments in space and on the ground. It provides global, hourly estimates of atmospheric, ocean-wave and land-surface variables, extending over more than 80 years from January 1, 1940 onwards to the present. In this manner, ERA5 constitutes an invaluable dataset enabling a wide range of applications spanning multiple sectors. This study, commissioned by ECMWF, set out to assess the benefits and impacts resulting from the commercial, policy and research use of ERA5 reanalysis products.
The study, led by Evenflow and supported by ARMINES and Murmuration, deployed a combined bottom-up and top-down methodology, to analyse ERA5-induced benefits across six dimensions: economic, environmental, regulatory, societal, science and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Using these practices, we conducted more than 80 interviews with practitioners and carried out extensive desk research to probe into the value generated by ERA5. The methodology was applied to ten concrete cases spanning nine sectors: Energy, Health, Water Management, Agriculture, Tourism, ML/AI (Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence), Climate science-policy nexus, Media and public awareness and NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction). We synthesised the findings in a comprehensive report presenting the robust quantification of the ERA5-induced benefits, combined with powerful storytelling.