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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Global Historical Climatology Network-hourly (GHCNh), Version 1

GHCNh; GHCN hourly

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Global Historical Climatology Network-hourly (GHCNh) is a multisource collection of weather station (meteorological) observations from the late 18th Century to the present from fixed weather stations over land across the globe. It is replacing the Integrated Surface Dataset (ISD) and will be used to generate the Local Climatological Data and Global Summary of the Day datasets. The hourly dataset is constructed to align with GHCN daily. Version 1 contains approximately 110 separate data sources and will be updated daily using the United States Air Force and NOAA Surface Weather Observations data streams. GHCNh v1 contains the following variables: altimeter; dew_point_temperature; precipitation; pressure_3hr_change; pres_wx_AU1; pres_wx_AU2; pres_wx_AU3; pres_wx_AW1; pres_wx_AW2; pres_wx_AW3; pres_wx_MW1; pres_wx_MW2; pres_wx_MW3; relative_humidity; Remarks; sea_level_pressure; sky_cov_baseht_1; sky_cov_baseht_2; sky_cov_baseht_3; sky_cover_1; sky_cover_2; sky_cover_3; station_level_pressure; dry bulb temperature; visibility; wet_bulb_temperature; wind_direction; wind_gust; wind_speed.
  • Cite as: Menne, Matthew J.; Noone, Simon; Casey, Nancy W.; Dunn, Robert H.; McNeill, Shelley; Kantor, Diana; Thorne, Peter W.; Orcutt, Karen; Cunningham, Sam; Risavi, Nicholas. 2023. Global Historical Climatology Network-Hourly (GHCNh). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/jp3d-3v19. [access date]
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01688
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact GHCNh Group Account
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.ghcnh@noaa.gov
Time Period 1750-01-01 to Present (time interval: 1-hour)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180.0
East: 180.0
South: -90.0
North: 90.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2023
Edition Version 1
Dataset Progress Status Status not available
Data Update Frequency Daily
Purpose These data are available to the public for a wide variety of uses including scientific research and analysis
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Menne, Matthew J.; Noone, Simon; Casey, Nancy W.; Dunn, Robert H.; McNeill, Shelley; Kantor, Diana; Thorne, Peter W.; Orcutt, Karen; Cunningham, Sam; Risavi, Nicholas. 2023. Global Historical Climatology Network-Hourly (GHCNh). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/jp3d-3v19. [access date]
Cited Authors
  • Menne, Matthew J.
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Noone, Simon
    National University of Ireland Maynooth
  • Casey, Nancy W.
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Dunn, Robert H.
    UK Met Office Hadley Centre
  • McNeill, Shelley
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Kantor, Diana
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Thorne, Peter W.
    National University of Ireland Maynooth
  • Orcutt, Karen
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Cunningham, Sam
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
  • Risavi, Nicholas
    NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Principal Investigators
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Atmospheric/Ocean Indicators > Humidity Indices
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Sea Level Pressure
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds
  • Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Surface Winds > Wind Speed/Wind Direction
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 Commerc
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Meteorological Stations
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Rain Gauges
  • Thermometers
  • Barometers
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global Land
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • GHCN > Global Historical Climatology Network
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords
  • Hourly - < Daily
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Menne, Matthew J.; Noone, Simon; Casey, Nancy W.; Dunn, Robert H.; McNeill, Shelley; Kantor, Diana; Thorne, Peter W.; Orcutt, Karen; Cunningham, Sam; Risavi, Nicholas. 2023. Global Historical Climatology Network-Hourly (GHCNh). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/jp3d-3v19. [access date]
  • 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.
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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: 2026-05-06T14:53:33
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