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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

The 1991 - 2005 National Solar Radiation Data Base

The 1991-2005 National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) is an update of the 1961-1990 NSRDB released in 1992. This updated NSRDB dataset an hourly ground-based data set of solar and meteorological fields for 1454 stations. Eight hundred fifty eight sites have a complete 15-year period of record, and another 596 sites have data for at least 3 of the 15 years (though not necessarily serially complete). All of the 239 original NSRDB sites are included in the update. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) built the NSRDB, and the data were used to produce the DSI-3284 data set at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). DSI-3284 is NCDC's archive format for this data set, Each record contains a station's hourly values of solar and meteorological for each day. The elements within a record are delimited by commas.
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • NCEI DSI 3284
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00668
Distribution Formats
    Distributor Customer Engagement Branch
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    1-828-271-4800
    ncei.orders@noaa.gov
    Dataset Point of Contact Customer Engagement Branch
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    1-828-271-4800
    ncei.orders@noaa.gov
    Time Period 1991-01-01 to 2005-12-31
    Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
    West: 170.0
    East: -60.0
    South: 15.0
    North: 60.0
    Spatial Coverage Map
    Dataset Information
    General Documentation
    Publication Dates
    • publication: 2007-06-13
    Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
    Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
    Data Update Frequency As needed
    Purpose To make a wide range of climatic data available to researchers and the public.
    Cited Authors
    • User Engagement and Services Branch
      DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    Originators
    • User Engagement and Services Branch
      DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    Publishers
    • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
    Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Air Quality > Visibility
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Atmospheric Pressure Measurements
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Dew Point
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Total Precipitable Water
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Ceiling
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Frequency
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow
    • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds
    • Earth Science > Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Depth
    • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths
    Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
    • 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
    Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
    • Continent > North America > United States Of America
    Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
    • Earth Science > Land Surface
    • Vertical Location > Troposphere
    Keywords
    • Metadata_Not_Published
    Use Constraints
    • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Access Constraints
    • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, 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 information for: dataset
    Processing Steps
    • Not derived from another source.
    Lineage information for: repository
    Processing Steps
    • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - 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.
    Acquisition Information (collection)
    Instrument
    • > AEROSOL MONITOR
    • AWS > AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM
    • > PYRANOMETERS
    • > PSYCHROMETERS
    • > HYGROMETERS
    • > BAROMETERS
    • > AIRBORNE TRACKING SUNPHOTOMETER
    • > DRY BULB THERMOMETERS
    • > HUMIDITY SENSORS
    • > RAIN GAUGES
    • > SNOW MEASURING ROD
    • > TEMPERATURE SENSORS
    • > WIND VANES
    Platform
    • WEATHER STATIONS
    Last Modified: 2018-11-05
    For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.orders@noaa.gov