Available Datasets

Climate Reanalysis (monthly)

  • European Reanalysis Interim (ERA-Interim) | European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
    • State-of-the-art 3rd generation reanalysis (1979-present) with robust physics and data assimilation.
    • 0.75°x0.75° global grid with 60 vertical levels.
    • Well suited for climate study within the satellite era.
  • European Reanalysis 40-year (ERA-40) | European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
    • Moderate resolution 2nd generation reanalysis (1958-2001) known to perform better than first generation reanalyses (e.g., NCEP/NCAR V1).
    • 1.125°x1.125° global grid with 60 vertical levels.
  • Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) | NOAA National Climatic Data Center
    • State-of-the-art 3rd generation reanalysis with robust physics and data assimilation. Includes coupled ocean and sea ice models.
    • 0.5°x0.5° global grid with 64 vertical levels.
    • Well suited for climate study within the satellite era.
  • NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Version 1 (NCEP/NCAR V1) | NOAA Climate Prediction Center
    • Low resolution 1st generation reanalysis (1948-present).
    • 2.5°x2.5° global grid with 28 vertical levels.
    • Poor precipitation reproduction against observations; spherical harmonic artifacts in polar regions.
  • NCEP/DOE Reanalysis Version 2 (NCEP/DOE V2) | NOAA Climate Prediction Center
    • Low resolution 2nd generation reanalysis (1979-present).
    • 2.5°x2.5° global grid with 28 vertical levels.
    • Includes significantly better precipitation reproduction compared to the older NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis V1.
  • Modern Era Retrospective Reanalysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) | NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office
    • State-of-the-art 3rd generation reanalysis (1979-present) with robust physics and data assimilation.
    • 0.5°x0.667° global grid with 72 vertical levels.
    • Well suited for climate study within the satellite era.
  • MERRA + ERA-Interim Ensemble
    • Mini ensemble average of MERRA and ERA-Interim (1979-present) generated for Climate Reanalyzer.
    • 0.75°x0.75° global grid (that of ERA-Interim); surface parameters only.
  • 20th Century Reanalysis Version 2 (20CR V2) | NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory
    • Experimental reanalysis (1871-2010) that assimilates only surface observations of synoptic pressure, monthly sea surface temperature, and sea ice distribution.
    • 2°x2° global grid with 28 vertical levels.
    • Long temporal span, but less reliable compared to reanalysis models that assimilate radiosonde and satellite data.

Statistical Models (monthly)

  • Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM U.S.) | PRISM Climate Group
    • Continuos grid of surface parameters generated by interpolating between available station data (1895-present).
    • 4kmx4km grid spanning lower 48 U.S. states.
    • Uses algorithm to predict areas of temperature inversion and orographic rain effects.
    • Ideal for studies of temperature and precipitation across areas with sparse or non-existent station data.
  • Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature Version 3b (ERSST V3b) | NOAA National Climatic Data Center
    • Gridded statistical interpolation model using point data input from the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS).
    • 2°x2° global grid

General Circulation Models (monthly)

  • Community Climate System Model Version 3 (CCSM3) 20C3M+SRES-A2 | National Center for Atmospheric Research
    • CCSM3 is one of several general circulation models (GCMs) used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report 4 (released 2007) to predict changes to climate in response to industrial pollution and natural variability. Here we provide access to the ensemble average of modern control 20C3M (runs 1-5) and future emissions scenario SRES A2 (steep CO2 rise; runs 1-4) simulations. The modern control spans 1870-1999, and SRES A2 spans 2000-2099.
    • 1.4°x1.4° global grid
  • Community Climate System Model Version 4 (CCSM4) RCP-8.5.7 | National Center for Atmospheric Research
    • CCSM4 is one of several general circulation models (GCMs) used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report 5 (released 2013) to predict changes to climate in response to industrial pollution and natural variability. Here we provide access to a single ensemble member simulation (run 7; 2005-2099) of future emissions scenario RCP 8.5 (steep CO2 rise). More IPCC simulations will be added to Climate Reanalyzer as time permits.
    • 1°x1° global grid

Weather Forecast Models (hourly)

  • Global Forecast System (GFS) | NCEP/NOAA/NWS
  • HIRES North American Mesoscale (HIRES-NAM) | NCEP/NOAA/NWS
  • High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) | NCEP/NOAA/NWS
  • Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) | NCAR/NCEP
    • We run WRF to produce 48-hour downscale forecasts from GFS for several regional domains.

Weather Station Data (daily)

Related Information

  • Climate Reanalyzer generates graphics using NCAR Command Language (NCL)
  • Weather forecast model grids are obtained from the NOAA Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS)