Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3

Daily Summaries

Map of GHCN-Daily stations

The Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily) dataset integrates daily climate observations from approximately 30 different data sources. Version 3 was released in September 2012 with the addition of data from two additional station networks. Changes to the processing system associated with the version 3 release also allowed for updates to occur 7 days a week rather than only on most weekdays. Version 3 contains station-based measurements from well over 90,000 land-based stations worldwide, about two thirds of which are for precipitation measurement only. Other meteorological elements include, but are not limited to, daily maximum and minimum temperature, temperature at the time of observation, snowfall and snow depth. Over 25,000 stations are regularly updated with observations from within roughly the last month. The dataset is also routinely reconstructed (usually every week) from its roughly 30 data sources to ensure that GHCN-Daily is generally in sync with its growing list of constituent sources. During this process, quality assurance checks are applied to the full dataset. Where possible, GHCN-Daily station data are also updated daily from a variety of data streams. Station values for each daily update also undergo a suite of quality checks.

Dataset Citation

Cite this dataset when used as a source: Menne, Matthew J., Imke Durre, Bryant Korzeniewski, Shelley McNeal, Kristy Thomas, Xungang Yin, Steven Anthony, Ron Ray, Russell S. Vose, Byron E.Gleason, and Tamara G. Houston (2012): Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. doi:10.7289/V5D21VHZ [access date].

Publications citing this dataset should also cite the following article: Matthew J. Menne, Imke Durre, Russell S. Vose, Byron E. Gleason, and Tamara G. Houston, 2012: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily Database. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 29, 897-910. doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-11-00103.1.

Dataset Identifier(s)

doi:10.7289/V5D21VHZ
NCEI DSI 9101_01
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00861

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.ncdc:C00861.xml

Dataset Information	GHCN-D Dataset Homepage Informational resources for the Global Historical Climatological Network - Daily (GHCN-D) dataset.
Online Access	NCEI FTP Server (download) GHCN-D Dataset files available for download via FTP. NCEI Climate Data Online Data Search (search) Search for the dataset via a text-based interface. NCEI Climate Data Online Map Server (search) Dynamic GIS mapping application to locate stations and data for selected layers. NCEI ArcGIS REST Services Directory (download) ArcGIS Server REST API for the dataset. KMZ file for dataset (download) Direct download link for KMZ file. GHCN-D PDF Sample (download) This sample data file shows how the data are formatted in PDF and is for example purposes only. GHCN-D CSV Sample (download) This sample data file shows how the data are formatted in CSV and is for example purposes only. GHCN-D fixed-length ASCII Sample (download) This sample data file shows how the data are formatted in fixed-length ASCII text and is for example purposes only.
Distribution Formats	CSV fixed-length ASCII text ArcGIS KMZ PDF
Distributor	DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Dataset Point of Contact	GHCN-Daily Operations Team DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce +1 828-271-4800 ncdc.ghcnd@noaa.gov
Contact Information -	No POCs available for this dataset

General Documentation

GHCN-Daily Landing Page
Global Historical Climate Network includes daily land surface observations from around the world. The GHCN-Daily was developed to meet the needs of climate analysis and monitoring studies that require data at a sub-monthly time resolution (e.g., assessments of the frequency of heavy rainfall, heat wave duration, etc.). The dataset includes observations from World Meteorological Organization, Cooperative, and CoCoRaHS networks. If observed, the station dataset includes max and minimum temperatures, total precipitation, snowfall, and depth of snow on ground. Some U.S. station data are typically delayed only 24 hours.
GHCN-Daily Station Inventory
Contains the name, country, most recent location, and network affiliation of each station.
NCEI Dataset Documentation
Documentation of the dataset including a data description, format layout and other metadata.

Processing Documents

GHCN-Daily Data Integration
- GHCN-Daily Data Integration
  Provides description of applied data integration.

GHCN-Daily Quality Control Methods
- GHCN-Daily Quality Control Methods
  Provides description of Quality Control methods.
GHCN-Daily Status Reports
- GHCN-Daily Status Reports
  Provides description of status and version changes.

Associated Resources

An overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily database
- AMS Journals Online: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily Database (download)
  File format options for full-text article.
Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 2 (Version Superseded)
- Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 2 (Version Superseded)
  For more information about the immediate predecessor to this version, please follow the link. This dataset has been superseded by a newer version. Users should not use this version except in rare cases (e.g., when reproducing previous studies that used this version).

Publisher	DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Principal Investigator	Menne, Matthew J. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Principal Investigator	Durre, Imke DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Korzeniewski, Bryant DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	McNeill, Shelley DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Thomas, Kristy DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Yin, Xungang DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Anthony, Steven DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Ray, Ron DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Vose, Russell S. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Gleason, Byron E. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborator	Houston, Tamara G. DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Date(s)	publication: 2012-09-24
Edition:	Version 3
Data Presentation Form:	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	On Going
Data Update Frequency:	Daily
Purpose:	Global Historical Climate Network includes daily land surface observations from around the world. The GHCN-Daily was developed to meet the needs of climate analysis and monitoring studies that require data at a sub-monthly time resolution (e.g., assessments of the frequency of heavy rainfall, heat wave duration, etc.). The dataset includes observations from World Meteorological Organization, Cooperative, and CoCoRaHS networks. If observed, the station dataset includes max and minimum temperatures, total precipitation, snowfall, and depth of snow on ground. Some U.S. station data are typically delayed only 24 hours.
Use Limitations	The dataset cannot be used to quantify all aspects of climate variability and change without any additional processing. In general, the stations providing daily observations were not managed to meet the desired standards for climate monitoring. Rather, the stations were deployed to meet the demands of agriculture, hydrology, weather forecasting, aviation, etc. GHCN-Daily data have not been homogenized to account for the potential artifacts associated with the various reporting practices at stations. Users must consider whether the potential for changes in systematic bias might be important for their particular application.

Time Period:	1880-01-01 to Present (time interval: 1-day)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates:	N: 83.0 S: -90.0 E: 180.0 W: -180.0
Spatial Coverage Map:

Theme keywords	EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE > SURFACE TEMPERATURE > MAXIMUM/MINIMUM TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE > SURFACE TEMPERATURE > AIR TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > PRECIPITATION > PRECIPITATION AMOUNT EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > PRECIPITATION > SOLID PRECIPITATION > SNOW EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW DEPTH
Data Center keywords	DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords	GEOGRAPHIC REGION > GLOBAL LAND
Stratum keywords	VERTICAL LOCATION > LAND SURFACE

Use Constraints

Cite this dataset when used as a source: Menne, Matthew J., Imke Durre, Bryant Korzeniewski, Shelley McNeal, Kristy Thomas, Xungang Yin, Steven Anthony, Ron Ray, Russell S. Vose, Byron E.Gleason, and Tamara G. Houston (2012): Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. doi:10.7289/V5D21VHZ [access date].

Publications citing this dataset should also cite the following article: Matthew J. Menne, Imke Durre, Russell S. Vose, Byron E. Gleason, and Tamara G. Houston, 2012: An Overview of the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily Database. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 29, 897-910. doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-11-00103.1.

NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NCEI makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Fees

In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free, however fees may apply for data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage Statement	The data were produced by and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processor	DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Processing Steps	The process of integrating data from multiple sources into the GHCN-Daily dataset takes place in three steps: 1) screening the source data for stations whose identity is unknown or questionable; 2) classifying each station in a source dataset either as one that is already represented in GHCN-Daily or as a new site; and 3) mingling the data from the different sources. Rationale: The first two integration steps are performed whenever a new source dataset or additional stations become available, while the actual mingling of data is part of the automated processing that creates GHCN-Daily on a regular basis. During each reprocessing cycle, the data are first passed through a "format checking program" that looks for problems such as impossible months or days, invalid characters in data fields, etc. Rationale: The primary purpose of the QC program is to ensure that the data integration procedures do not either introduce or retain records that violate the intended and documented GHCN-Daily data format. NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Processing Documents	GHCN-Daily Data Integration GHCN-Daily Data Integration Provides description of applied data integration. GHCN-Daily Quality Control Methods GHCN-Daily Quality Control Methods Provides description of Quality Control methods. GHCN-Daily Status Reports GHCN-Daily Status Reports Provides description of status and version changes.
Source Datasets	GHCN-Daily Source Data GHCN-Daily Source Data Provides description of various International source data used. Description of Source: Various International source datasets were used. Temporal extent used: 1880-01-01 to present Spatial extent used: N: 83.0 S: -90.0 E: 180.0 W: -180.0

Last Modified: 2016-05-05

For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncdc.metadata@noaa.gov