National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) Station Data Output for 1991 to 2010

National Solar Radiation Database

browse graphicImage of solar radiation.
The National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) was produced by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The NSRDB update is a collection of hourly values of the three most common measurements of solar radiation (i.e., global horizontal, direct normal, and diffuse horizontal) over a period of time adequate to establish means and extremes and at a sufficient number or locations to represent regional solar radiation climates. Nearly all of the solar data in the NSRDB are modeled, and only 40 sites have measured solar data - none of them with a complete period of record. Because of the data-filling methods used to accomplish the goal of serial completeness, NSRDB meteorological data are not suitable for climatological work. The meteorological fields in the NSRDB should be used only as ancillary data for solar deployment and sizing applications. Filled/interpolated meteorological data should not be used for climatic applications. (All such data are flagged.) The serially complete hourly data provided in the NSRDB update are provided in two output formats: 1) ground-based solar and meteorological dataset, and 2) 10 km gridded output produced by the SUNY model. The 1991-2010 NSRDB is an update of the 1991-2005 NSRDB released in 2006 and archived at NCDC. The updated NSRDB dataset an hourly ground-based data set of solar and meteorological fields for 1454 stations. The primary provider for ground-based data is NCDC, which are stored as site-year files in comma-separated value (CSV) American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format. Station identification numbers use the six-digit United States Air Force (USAF) station ID numbering scheme. The measured solar radiation data came from multiple sources, including: Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program, Department of Energy Florida Solar Energy Center, State of Florida Integrated Surface Irradiance Study and Surface Radiation Budget Measurement Networks, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Air Resources Laboratory and Earth System Research Laboratory Global Monitoring Division Measurement and Instrumentation Data Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory Network University of Texas Solar Energy Laboratory. All meteorological data were provided by the National Climatic Data Center from its Integrated Surface Hourly Database (ISD) product. The NSRDB Statistics Files hold summary statistics for all Class I and Class II stations. The Daily Statistics provide monthly and annual averages of solar radiation and several meteorological parameters for both annual and a 20 year roll-up. The Hourly Statistics provide average diurnal profiles by hour for each station year for each solar parameter. The Persistence Statistics provide multiple levels of persistence for up to 30 days for each station for each solar parameter. These Summary Statistics files are documented in the NSRDB User's Manual.
  • Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • NCEI DSI 3284_02
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C00843
Download Data
  • NCEI HTTP Server (download)
    Compressed solar-only station data files by station ID and summary statistics available for download via HTTP.
Distribution Formats
  • CSV
    • File Compression: GNU Zip
  • XML
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 Period1991-01-01 to 2010-12-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 60.0
S: 15.0
E: -60.0
W: 170.0
Spatial Coverage Map
Dataset Information
  • National Solar Radiation Database Landing Page
    The NSRDB 1991-2010 Update was produced by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in collaboration with several partners including the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. This is an update of the original 1961-1990 NSRDB and the 1991-2005 NSRDB. It provides estimates of solar radiation over a period of time and space adequate to establish means and extremes and at a sufficient number or locations to represent regional solar radiation climates. Nearly all solar data in the original and updated versions are modeled. Whereas the original version provided serially complete data for 239 stations, the update provides data for 1454. The update also contains modified solar models and a new gridded data product.>
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2012-06-01
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress StatusComplete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency As needed
PurposeThe NSRDB 1991-2010 Update was produced by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in collaboration with several partners including the NOAA National Climatic Data Center. This is an update of the original 1961-1990 NSRDB and the 1991-2005 NSRDB. It provides estimates of solar radiation over a period of time and space adequate to establish means and extremes and at a sufficient number or locations to represent regional solar radiation climates. Nearly all solar data in the original and updated versions are modeled. Whereas the original version provided serially complete data for 239 stations, the update provides data for 1454. The update also contains modified solar models and a new gridded data product.
Use Limitations
  • For a complete description of use limiataions for this CDR, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite this dataset when used as a source.
Cited Authors
  • DOE/NREL > National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Originators
  • DOE/NREL > National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Publishers
  • 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
Theme keywordsGlobal 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 > Terrestrial Hydrosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Depth
  • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Visible Wavelengths
Data Center keywordsGlobal 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 keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America
Stratum keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • 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: 2023-06-23
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