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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

United States Climate Reference Network (USCRN) Processed Data from the Version 2 USCRN Database

USCRN Database Version 2

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USCRN Processed data are interpreted values and derived geophysical parameters processed from raw data by the USCRN Team. Data were interpreted and ingested into a database, but are also available as netCDF files exported from the database. The "Version 2" of the dataset denotes the application of a new precipitation algorithm to calculate values. (See documentation for more information). Climate variable types include air temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, soil temperature, surface temperature, wetness, global solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind at 1.5 m above the ground. Many additional engineering variables are also available. These data have been decoded from the raw data streams, quality-flagged, and processed into level 1 hourly data (the only applied quality control is rounding some values as they enter the database), and includes additional calculated values such as precipitation (5-minute and hourly), hourly max/min temperature, average temperature (5-minute and hourly), soil moisture (volumetric water content, 5-minute values at the 5 cm depth and and hourly values at all depths) for all dielectric values in range, layer average soil moisture (5 minute and hourly), and layer average soil temperature (5 minute and hourly). It is the general practice of USCRN to not calculate derived variables if the input data to these calculations are flagged.
  • Cite as: Palecki, M.A., J.H. Lawrimore, R.D. Leeper, J.E. Bell, S. Embler, and N. Casey (2015): U.S. Climate Reference Network Processed Data from USCRN Database Version 2 [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5MS3QR9 [indicate access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00959
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Other Access
  • NCEI Customer Support (offlineAccess)
    Data in this archival information package are not currently available for public download from NCEI. Please contact NCEI Information Services directly for access to these data.
Distribution Formats
  • netCDF-3
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Customer Engagement Branch
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
1-828-271-4800
ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Time Period 2000-11-15 to Present (time interval: 1-hour)
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 172.0
East: -66.0
South: 18.0
North: 72.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2015-10-15
  • revision: 2016-05-12
Edition Version 2.1.1
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Daily
Supplemental Information
These data records are versioned based on the processing methods and algorithms used for the derivations. See documentation for more information.
Purpose USCRN's primary goal is to provide future long-term homogeneous observations of temperature and precipitation that can be coupled to long-term historical observations for the detection and attribution of present and future climate change. Each station location is carefully selected to capture the representative climate regions of the nation. Data from the USCRN/USRCRN will be used in operational climate monitoring activities and for placing current climate anomalies into an historical perspective. These files are in an easy-to-use standard format that will ensure users from many different backgrounds will be able to use the data for research or climate understanding.
Use Limitations
  • Data represent the best data available at the time of ingest. Data transmitted by the GOES Data Collection System is not considered as high a quality of the data downloaded directly from the station. As such, values may change over time as the higher quality raw data become available from stations' datalogger storage.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Palecki, M.A., J.H. Lawrimore, R.D. Leeper, J.E. Bell, S. Embler, and N. Casey (2015): U.S. Climate Reference Network Processed Data from USCRN Database Version 2 [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5MS3QR9 [indicate access date].
Cited Authors
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Michael Palecki
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Jay Lawrimore
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Ronald D. Leeper
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Jesse E. Bell
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Scott Embler
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Nancy Casey
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Originators
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Principal Investigators
  • Michael Palecki
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Collaborators
  • Jay Lawrimore
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Ronald D. Leeper
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Jesse E. Bell
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Scott Embler
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Nancy Casey
    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 > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Air Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Maximum/Minimum Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Surface Temperature > Skin Temperature
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Soils > Soil Moisture/Water Content
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Soils > Soil Temperature
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Surface Thermal Properties > Land Surface Temperature
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Air Temperature
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation
  • Terrestrial - Soil Moisture
  • Terrestrial - Land Surface Temperature
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) 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
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Meteorological Stations
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Anemometers
  • Pyranometers
  • Fan-aspirated Radiation Shield
  • Rain Gauges
  • Soil Temperature Probe
  • Soil Moisture Probe
  • Temperature Sensors
  • Humidity Sensors
  • Thermometers
  • Disdrometers
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Mid-Latitude
  • Continent > North America
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America > Hawaii
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America > Alaska
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • U.S. Climate Reference Network > USCRN
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 250 km - < 500 km or approximately 2.5 degrees - < 5.0 degrees
  • 1 meter - < 30 meters
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords
  • < 1 meter
  • 1 meter - < 10 meters
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • Hourly - < Daily
  • 1 minute - < 1 hour
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Boundary Layer
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Palecki, M.A., J.H. Lawrimore, R.D. Leeper, J.E. Bell, S. Embler, and N. Casey (2015): U.S. Climate Reference Network Processed Data from USCRN Database Version 2 [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5MS3QR9 [indicate access date].
  • USCRN Program requests that users of USCRN data reference the following journal articles when sourcing the data in publications: Diamond, H.J., T.R. Karl, M.A. Palecki, C.B. Baker, J.E. Bell, R.D. Leeper, D.R. Easterling, J.H. Lawrimore, T.P. Meyers, M.R. Helfert, G. Goodge, and P.W. Thorne, 2013: U.S. Climate Reference Network after one decade of operations: status and assessment. Accepted for publication in Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., doi: 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00170. Or, if emphasizing soil moisture/temperature data: Bell, J.E., M.A. Palecki, C.B. Baker, W.G. Collins, J.H. Lawrimore, R.D. Leeper, M.E. Hall, J. Kochendorfer, T.P. Meyers, T. Wilson, and H.J. Diamond. 2013: U.S. Climate Reference Network Soil Moisture and Temperature Observations. J. Hydrometeorol., doi: 10.1175/JHM-D-12-0146.1
  • 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 custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement Processed data are interpreted from raw satellite data which is transmitted by stations as a raw data stream to the NCEI, then the processed files are updated when new datalogger files are delivered. All data is passed through a basic Quality Assurance process, then flagged , if necessary. Some additional values are calculated from these interpreted values. See documentation for more information.
Processing Steps
  • The station transmits observations in near-real-time through the GOES Data Collection System (DCS). Multiple satellite ground systems receive the encoded data and send to the LRGS system. Once decoded, the data is then uploaded into the USCRN database. The database supplies data to users in various formats, including a netCDF format which is then archived.
  • Interpreted satellite data are replaced an a semi-annual basis by data received by datalogger files.
  • 2016-05-12T12:00:00 - 2016-05-12: Database updated to Version 2.1. See documentation for more details.
Processing Environment LRGS, Oracle database on Linux box
Source Datasets
  • United States Climate Reference Network (USCRN) Raw Data
    • NCEI Landing Page for USCRN Raw Transmitted Data
      Source dataset landing page with general information and access links for that dataset. Satellite data received through the LRGS system from satellite ground stations.
    • Description of Source: Data from remote stations transmitted via Satellite feed and/or Internet
  • United States Climate Reference Network (USCRN) Raw Observations from Datalogger
    • NCEI landing page for USCRN Raw Observations from Datalogger
      Source dataset landing page with general information and access links for that dataset. Datalogger data are considered "higher" quality data than satellite and as soon as datalogger values are available, they replace satellite values.
    • Description of Source: Data from remote stations downloaded directly from the station onto storage device which is then delivered to the archive.
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.
Last Modified: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov