# ACCESS-rAM3: Release Information

**URL:** <https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-release-information/4308>\
**Category:** ACCESS-NRI Releases\
**Tags:** release, model, access-ram3\
**Created:** [16 April 2025 14:00 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-release-information/4308 "2025-04-16T14:00:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![heidi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/heidi/32/335_2.png) [@heidi](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/heidi)\
**Post date:** [10 December 2025 05:23 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-release-information/4308/7 "2025-12-10T05:23:47Z")

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This beta release is deprecated. The [2.0 release below](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-release-information/4308/8) should be used.

> **Beta release details**
>
> To receive email notifications when a new release is announced, please [watch this topic](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/docs?topic=792).
> 
> * * *
> 
> # ACCESS-rAM3
> 
> 🚀 **Release** : 2.0-beta
> 
> This an ACCESS-NRI supported release of ACCESS-rAM3, an implementation of the [UK Met Office (UKMO)](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/) regional nesting suite. More [information about the model is available on the ACCESS Hive Docs](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/models/access_models/access-ram/).
> 
> Importantly, unlike other models this is a suite that supports _creating_ regional atmosphere/land configurations in an Australian context. The suite enables the user to choose the time and location of interest that they wish to simulate, and automatically creates the necessary fields to initialise and drive the model.
> 
> **What can you expect to be able to do with this?**
> 
> A user should be able to
> 
> - take this suite and run it as-is, which will run a simulation of the Lismore storm event
> - modify the location of the whole simulation and the offset of the inner nest within the simulation
> - modify the simulation start time
> - Optionally use [OSTIA](https://data.marine.copernicus.eu/product/SST_GLO_SST_L4_NRT_OBSERVATIONS_010_001/description) sea-surface temperature and sea-ice fields for initial conditions and boundary conditions.
> 
> > ## ⚠ THIS IS A BETA RELEASE ⚠
> 
> > This is a beta release. It will be fit to use and test. Known issues are listed below, but there may be some issues that have not yet been discovered and fixed. The suite may change during the beta testing period as improvements are made. If that happens updates will made in this topic.
> > 
> > If you are testing this release and find a problem, please check it isn’t a known issue and if not either [make a topic on the ACCESS-Hive Forum](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/new-topic?category=atmosphere/regional-nesting-suite&tags=help,beta,feedback,access-ram) or reply to the [ACCESS-rAM3 Beta Feedback](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-2-0-beta-feedback/5675) topic.
> > 
> > A full release is envisaged in the near future, probably before the summer break depending on feedback received. There are likely to be changes to address issues identified in testing. When there is a full release this beta release will no longer be supported.
> > 
> > Definitions of release stages, what they mean is available on the Hive Docs:  
> > [Release stages - ACCESS-Hive Docs](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/about/releases/#release-stages-for-model-configurations)
> > 
> > For the reasons stated above **this beta release should be used for testing only** and is **not recommended for use in published research**.
> 
> ## Feedback
> 
> ACCESS-NRI is interested in all feedback, positive or negative, but in particular we would like to know:
> 
> - Are the [Run ACCESS-rAM3 instructions](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/models/run_a_model/run_access-ram/) on the Hive Docs clear and easy to follow? Is there anything unclear, missing or incorrect?
> 
> Please make suggestions or report problems in replies to the [ACCESS-rAM3 2.0-beta Feedback](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-2-0-beta-feedback/5675) topic.
> 
> ## How to use
> 
> - [How to run ACCESS-rAM3](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/models/run_a_model/run_access-ram3/)
> - [access-ram3-config docs](https://access-ram3-configs.access-hive.org.au/), which contains community contributions to ACCESS-rAM3 configuration documentation.
> 
> ## What’s new
> 
> ➕ Added option to use [RAL3.3](https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/18/3819/2025/gmd-18-3819-2025-discussion.html) (most recent version)  
> ➕ Updated UM atmosphere model to version 13.5  
> ➕ Removed anomalous rainfall spin-up in GAL9 nest  
> ➕ Ability to use daily-varying OSTIA (includes a new suite to generate OSTIA ancillaries)
> 
> ## Features
> 
> ✅ Relocatable domain (user defined)  
> ✅ Two-level nest, inner nest 2km resolution  
> ✅ Supports replace land/surface from ERA5-Land, BARRA-R2  
> ✅ Supports daily-varying OSTIA  
> ✅ Documentation (in preview mode)  
> ✅ Pre-compiled executable, build and deployed using ACCESS-NRI pipeline
> 
> ### Nesting suite
> 
> ✅ [u-by395/nci\_access\_ram3](https://code.metoffice.gov.uk/trac/roses-u/browser/b/y/3/9/5/nci_access_ram3)  
> ✅ Default performance: 1 model day / hour (wall time), 750SU / model day  
> ✅ Model data output usage: 3GB / model day (default, depends on STASHPACK choices)  
> ✅ Driving data usage: 20GB (Automatically cleaned. Only data for most recent model run. Can be deleted after run)  
> ✅ Temporary `work` file usage: 41G (Automatically pruned. Only data for most recent model run. Can be deleted after run)
> 
> ### Ancillary suite (run once per nest configuration)
> 
> ✅ [u-bu503/nci\_access\_ram3](https://code.metoffice.gov.uk/trac/roses-u/browser/b/u/5/0/3/nci_access_ram3)  
> ✅ Default performance: 70SU  
> ✅ Ancillary data usage: 90GB
> 
> ### OSTIA ancillary suite (run as needed to support nest configuration)
> 
> ✅ [u-dk517](https://code.metoffice.gov.uk/trac/roses-u/browser/d/k/5/1/7/nci_nri_ostia)  
> ✅ Default performance: 1 SU  
> ✅ Ancillary data usage: 1.2 GB
> 
> ### ACCESS-rAM3 scaling information
> 
> [This ACCESS-rAM3 scaling results notebook](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/access-model-scaling/blob/main/ACCESS-rAM3/u-by395/nci_access_ram3.ipynb) can be used to perform scaling studies on the Regional Nesting Suite forecast configuration.
> 
> ## Limitations
> 
> 🛑 Model calendar time is constrained by the time bounds of the forcing and boundary condition datasets.  
> 🛑 Support is provided for 24-hour run length. Minimum run length is 24 hours.  
> 🛑 Central location and grid box must match the grid of selected land surface initial condition data.
> 
> ## Known Issues
> 
> ⚠ Native netCDF formatted output has been disabled  
> ⚠ Nests must contain at least one land point with valid initial condition data. [Diagnosis and work-around is covered in troubleshooting documentation](https://access-hive.org.au/models/run-a-model/run-access-ram/#no-land-and-isolated-land-experiments).  
> ⚠ Some combinations of start date and location can generate unstable initial conditions. There are [work-arounds in the troubleshooting section of the documentation](https://access-hive.org.au/models/run-a-model/run-access-ram/#nans-in-error-term-in-bicgstab).  
> ⚠ There are occasional intermittent unreproducible errors where RAS jobs report being stuck but have in fact failed. [See diagnosis and solution in the troubleshooting section of the documentation](https://access-hive.org.au/models/run-a-model/run-access-ram/#stuck-cylc-tasks).  
> ⚠ Model outputs are stored in `/scratch` . Currently it is a user responsibility to copy this to long term storage if that is a requirement.  
> ⚠ Large amounts of driving data are created. All but the most recent run are automatically deleted. It is a user responsibility to delete final driving data when no longer required.  
> ⚠ The output logs for the u-dk517 jobs are more inline with the ancillary suite. The documentation needs to be updated to reflect the newer, more reliable and faster implementation of the suite.  
> ⚠ The GAL9 `umnsaa_pb` files have extra `t1min_0` time profile data due to the same STASHPACK6 being used for the GAL9 and RAL3p2 nests despite different STASH time profiles being required to produce outputs. This will be looked into at a later date.
> 
> ## Future developments
> 
> 🚧 Integration of [CABLE](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/models/model_components/land/) land-surface model  
> 🚧 GCM driving data is not supported in this release. This is being scoped for a possible future release.  
> 🚧 Currently there is UM fields file output only, there is no automated post-processing to netCDF.
> 
> ## Credits (Latest developments only)
> 
> ⭐ Based on the UKMO Regional Ancillary Suite (RAS) and Regional Nesting Suite (RNS)
> 
> ⭐ RAS pre-filled latest possible cylc7 head-of-trunk @cbengel. Urban ancillaries development @mlipson
> 
> ⭐ OAS suite development @cbengel, starting from u-cj933 daily-varying ERA5 ancillaries suite developed by @csu and distributed by @EmmaHoward @mlipson.  
> @MartinDix investigated OSTIA land/sea mask. Full suite review @mlipson
> 
> ⭐ RNS (general) Modified head-of-trunk in preparation for migration change back-to-trunk and changes to suite for Gadi site. Thanks to Claudio Sanchez and Anne McCabe, of the UKMO for advice on Gadi site suite changes. @cbengel migrated u-dg768 changes to u-by395 head-of-trunk. @cbengel reviewed and updated rose/cylc vk83 independent (unless using spack or replace land/surface). @cbengel updated settings related to OSTIA. Suite review @Scott
> 
> ⭐ RNS (spack executable) Build @paulleopardi @Aidan @harshula @TommyGatti.  
> Softlinking to spack directory in u-by395 @cbengel. Changes to rose/cylc UI handling of spack suggested by Claudio Sanchez, modified by @cbengel with further changes suggested by @Aidan
> 
> ⭐ RNS (GAL9 spinup issue) @coreyrobinson raised GAL9 level spinup issue, @bethanwhite discussed with UKMO staff. @cbengel modified rose/cylc suite with a work-around
> 
> ⭐ Update and review of ACCESS-rAM3 documentation on ACCESS-Hive docs @paigem @cbengel @heidi @atteggiani
> 
> ⭐ Initial content of access-ram3-configs community documentation @cbengel. Website infrastructure @atteggiani
> 
> ## Support
> 
> Replies to this topic are disabled.
> 
> If you have specific questions about **this release** please reply to the [ACCESS-rAM3 2.0-beta Feedback](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-ram3-2-0-beta-feedback/5675) topic.
> 
> As this is an alpha release for testing and feedback support is limited.
> 
> ## Resources
> 
> - [https://docs.access-hive.org.au/pr-previews/1035/models/access-ram/](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/pr-previews/1035/models/access-ram/)
> - [How to run ACCESS-rAM3](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/pr-previews/1035/models/run_a_model/run_access-ram3/)
> - [ACCESS-rAM3 model deployment repository](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-rAM3)
> - [RMED TRAC Ticket #665](https://code.metoffice.gov.uk/trac/rmed/ticket/665) to coordinate rAM3 changes
> - [UM support for native netCDF output](https://code.metoffice.gov.uk/doc/um/vn13.7/papers/umdp_C11.pdf) [disabled in this release]

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