Various data sets and data products from international programs and/or experiments, including meteorological and nuclear radiation data for International Geophysical Year (IGY)(see IGY Annuals, Vol.26); meteorological data and data products from Global Atmospheric Research Program, World Climate Research Program, World Climate Data and Monitoring Program; and data (including data publications) exchanged with the WDC by participating countries. Quality control is performed and documentation prepared by designated experiment centers or contributors before submission to WDC.
International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). Global analyses of satellite radiance measurements beginning 1 July 1982 and is planned to continue through 30 June 2000. All ISCCP data products are archived at the ISCCP Central Archive (ICA), at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and available from the NCDC or WDC for Meteorology, Asheville.
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) was established in 1992 to ensure that the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users. It is co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). GCOS is intended to be a long-term, user-driven operational system capable of providing the comprehensive observations required for monitoring the climate system, for detecting and attributing climate change, for assessing the impacts of climate variability and change, and for supporting research toward improved understanding, modelling and prediction of the climate system. It addresses the total climate system including physical, chemical and biological properties, and atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, cryospheric and terrestrial processes.
Please visit the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) GCOS page for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) information.
In response to requirements from the climatological community, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
program developed the GCOS Surface Network (GSN) which consists
of
989
meteorological surface reporting stations from 50 member states of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). CARDS data for 150 stations in the GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN) are available for download. The period of record currently extends from the late 1940s through 1999. These data have been quality-controlled by the CARDS Complex Quality Control system.
Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN)
dataset. GHCN is a comprehensive global baseline climate data set comprised of land surface station observations of temperature, precipitation, and pressure. All GHCN data are on a monthly basis with the earliest record dating from 1697.
NOAA Global Vegetation Index(GVI). The NOAA Global Vegetation Index User's Guide (July 1997 version) is a document that describes the Global Vegetation Index (GVI) Product that is archived by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). This user's guide includes descriptions of the First Generation version of the product which was produced from May 1982 through March 1985, in addition to the current Second Generation version (produced from April 1985 to the present), and the newly developed Third Generation product. These descriptions include the data formats and the equations that support the various versions.
High altitude rocketsonde data. Data for the period 1959-1976 are mostly on microfilm/microfiche. The data are also on magnetic tape from 1961.
International Geophysical Year (IGY). Global meteorological and nuclear radiation data and data products for the period 1 January 1957 to 30 June 1958.
International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY). Global meteorological data and data products for the period 1 July 1958 to 31 December 1959.
NOAA-K through NOAA-M polar orbiter series of satellites(KLM). The NOAA KLM User's Guide (September 2000 revision) is a document that describes the orbital and spacecraft characteristics, instruments, data formats, etc. of the NOAA-K through NOAA-M polar
orbiter series of satellites.
Ozone. Publications of "Ozone Data for the World" published by the Atmospheric Environment Service, Department of the Environment, Canada, in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (From 1965)
NOAA Polar Orbiter Data(POD). The NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide (November 1998 version) is a document that describes the orbital and spacecraft characteristics, instruments, data formats, etc. of the TIROS-N, NOAA-6
through NOAA-14 polar orbiter series of satellites.
Synoptic Data. Synoptic surface and upper air observations, and daily and monthly summaries in publications and some in computer form from various countries participating in data exchange activities with the WDC.
Summer Monsoon Experiment (SMONEX). Includes data collected and data products for the period 1 May 1979 to 31 August 1979 during FGGE and for the area 25 deg. S to 45 deg. N and 25 deg. E to 155 deg. E.
Solar radiation and Radiation Balance Data. Publication of "Solar Radiation and Radiation Balance Data" published by the World Radiation Data Center, St. Petersburg, Russia in cooperation with the WMO. (from 1964).
Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Program. Data and data products for the ocean area 30 deg. S to 30 deg. N and global for the atmosphere covering the period January 1985 to December 1994.
Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Program Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment
(TOGA COARE). Data and data products generally covered the period July 1992 to
June
1993 with an intensive observing period 1 November 1992 to 28 February 1993 in the Western Pacific Ocean within the area 10 deg. S - 10 deg. N and 140 deg. E - 180 deg. E. An archive of the atmospheric data will be established at the WDC during 1996. Inquiries for data availability will be referred to appropriate data sources.
The World Climate Data and Monitoring Program (WCDMP). Baseline Datasets. Baseline datasets prepared in cooperation with the WMO and contributed to by WDC and WDC visiting scientists and data exchanges with participating countries.
The World Climate Research Program (WCRP). The WCRP was established in 1980, under the joint sponsorship of International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and has also been sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO since 1993. The objectives of the programme are to develop the fundamental scientific understanding of the physical climate system and climate processes needed to determine to what extent climate can be predicted and the extent of man's influence on climate. The programme encompasses studies of the global atmosphere, oceans, sea and land ice, and the land surface which together constitute the Earth's physical climate system. WCRP studies are specifically directed to provide scientifically founded quantitative answers to the questions being raised on climate and the range of natural climate variability, as well as to establish the basis for predictions of global and regional climatic variations and of changes in the frequency and severity of extreme events.
Winter Monsoon Experiment (WMONEX). Includes data collected and data products for the period 1 December 1978 to 31 March 1979 during FGGE and for the area 50deg.S to 60 deg. N and 40 deg. E to 180 deg.