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United States Climate Reference Network (USCRN) Quality Controlled Datasets

USCRN Products

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USCRN Products are available on public FTP and derived from the USCRN processed data. Available parameters include averages and calculated values for precipitation, air temperature, solar radiation, surface temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature on varying time scales. Products are available as sub-hourly, daily, hourly, and monthly products. It is the general practice of USCRN to not calculate derived variables if the input data to these calculations are flagged due to quality concerns. These data records are versioned based on the processing methods and algorithms used for the derivations, and data may be updated when final, higher-quality records are delivered manually from the stations. See documentation for more information.
  • Cite as: Palecki, M.A., J.H. Lawrimore, R.D. Leeper, J.E. Bell, S. Embler, and N. Casey (2013): U.S. Climate Reference Network Products [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5H13007 [indicate access date].
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Ordering InstructionsContact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
DistributorNOAA 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 Period2000-11-15 to Present
Spatial Reference Systemurn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 72.0
S: 18.0
E: -66.0
W: 172.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2013-06-19
  • revision: 2016-05-12
Dataset Progress StatusOngoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Weekly
Supplemental Information
These data records are versioned based on the processing methods and algorithms used for the derivations.
PurposeUSCRN'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. Raw satellite data is not considered as high a quality of the data downloaded directly from the station. As such, input values to the products may change over time as the higher quality raw data become available from stations' datalogger storage. Please review the documentation for more information.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Palecki, M.A., J.H. Lawrimore, R.D. Leeper, J.E. Bell, S. Embler, and N. Casey (2013): U.S. Climate Reference Network Products [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5H13007 [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/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, 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/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, 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 keywordsGlobal 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 - Wind Speed And Direction
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Precipitation
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Surface Radiation Budget (including Solar Irradiance)
  • Atmospheric - Surface - Water Vapour
  • Terrestrial - Soil Moisture
  • Terrestrial - Land Surface Temperature
Data Center keywordsGlobal 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 keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Meteorological Stations
Instrument keywordsGlobal 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 keywordsGlobal 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
  • U.S. Climate Reference Network > USCRN
Data Resolution keywordsGlobal 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 keywordsGlobal 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 (2013): U.S. Climate Reference Network Products [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5H13007 [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. 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 StatementUSCRN Products are calculated using processed data in the USCRN database. Data flagged for quality issues are not included in the products. As the processed input data may change, the products are calculated using the best available data at the time of access and may be updated over time.
Processing Steps
  • As soon as the raw data becomes available, it is processed on a linux box running USCRN and LRGS interpreter software. Data is then uploaded into a database. The database supplies data to users in various formats, including a netCDF format which is then archived.
  • 2013-06-19: USCRN Products were released to the public.
  • 2015-10-15: A new version of the USCRN database was released, resulting in updated precipitation values for all processed data and products. Please review documentation for more information.
  • 2016-05-12T12:00:00 - 2016-05-12: Source Database updated to Version 2.1. See documentation for more details.
Processing EnvironmentLRGS, Oracle database on Linux box
Source Datasets
  • United States Climate Reference Network (USCRN) Processed Data from the Version 1 USCRN Database
    • NCEI landing page for USCRN Processed Data from the Version 1 USCRN Database (Superseded)
      Source dataset (discontinued) landing page with general information and access links for that dataset. Until the version 2 release, this was the data used to create the USCRN Quality Controlled Products.
    • Description of Source: Processed Data from the USCRN database (interpreted from the raw data stream and flagged for quality) are used to calculate the Products.
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