NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Total Solar Irradiance (TSI), NRLTSI Version 2.1

Total Solar Irradiance CDR

Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) image.

This Climate Data Record (CDR) contains total solar irradiance (TSI) as a function of time created with the Naval Research Laboratory model for spectral and total irradiance (Version 2.1). Version 2.1 improves the scientific quality of the earlier Version 2.0 based on new research to achieve high accuracy and improved understanding of uncertainties with the Solar Irradiance CDR. Total solar irradiance is the total, spectrally integrated energy input to the top of the Earth's atmosphere, at a standard distance of one Astronomical Unit from the Sun. Its units are W per m2. The dataset was created by Judith Lean (Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory), Odele Coddington and Peter Pilewskie (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Science, University of Colorado). The daily- and monthly-averaged TSI data range from 1882 to the present, and annual-averaged TSI data begin in 1610. The data file format is netCDF-4 following CF metadata conventions. The dataset is accompanied by algorithm documentation, data flow diagram and source code for the NOAA CDR Program.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2017): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Total Solar Irradiance (TSI), NRLTSI Version 2.1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V56W985W [access date].

Dataset Identifiers

doi:10.7289/V56W985W
NCEI DSI 3630_02
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01541
total-solar-irradiance

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

C01541

XML


Download Data	NCEI Direct Download (Dataset Files) (download) Direct download for the dataset. NCEI THREDDS (download) THREDDS Data Server (TDS) for the dataset. AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket.
Distribution Formats	NetCDF-4 (Version: 4)
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	NOAA Climate Data Records Program NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1 (828) 271-4800 solar_contacts@noaa.gov


Time Period	1882-01-01 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	N: 90.0 S: -90.0 E: 180.0 W: -180.0
Spatial Coverage Map


General Documentation	NCEI Dataset Landing Page Landing page for the dataset. NCEI CDR Information Page CDR overview and documentation. Registry of Open Data on AWS Information on AWS data access. Azure Landing Page (Region: us-east) Information on Microsoft Azure data access.
Processing Documents	CDR Source Code CDR Source Code (download) This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment. CDR Data Flow Diagram CDR Data Flow Diagram Flowcharts for the CDR product.
Associated Resources	NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI), NRLSSI Version 2.1 https://doi.org/10.7289/V53776SW Landing page for the related dataset.


Publication Dates	publication: 2017-12-01
Edition	Version 2.1
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Status not available
Data Update Frequency	Quarterly
Purpose	The purpose of this Climate Data Record is to provide a continuous and long-term record of total solar irradiance (TSI) for scientists and modelers in the solar, atmospheric and chemistry sciences as well as the energy industry.
Use Limitations	For a complete description of the use limiataions for this CDR, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.


Dataset Citation	Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2017): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Total Solar Irradiance (TSI), NRLTSI Version 2.1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V56W985W [access date].
Cited Authors	Coddington, Odele UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Lean, Judith L. DOD/USNAVY/NRL/SSD > Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Defense Lindholm, Doug UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Pilewskie, Peter UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Snow, Martin UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado NOAA CDR Program
Principal Investigators	Lean, Judith L. DOD/USNAVY/NRL/SSD > Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Defense Pilewskie, Peter UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Collaborators	Coddington, Odele UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Lindholm, Doug UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Snow, Martin UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado NOAA CDR Program
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information


Theme keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Earth Science > Sun-Earth Interactions > Solar Activity > Solar Irradiance
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 UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Platform keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords SORCE > Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment
Place keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Geographic Region > Global
Project keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords NOAA OneStop Project


Use Constraints	Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2017): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Total Solar Irradiance (TSI), NRLTSI Version 2.1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V56W985W [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.

Use Constraints

Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2017): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Total Solar Irradiance (TSI), NRLTSI Version 2.1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V56W985W [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.

Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement	The data were produced by the Naval Research Laboratory and the University of Colorado, and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Version 2.1 indicates the current version of the Naval Research Laboratory solar variability models, denoted NRLTSI2 and NRLSSI2, for total solar irradiance and solar spectral irradiance, respectively. This version labeling distinguishes the models from their original formulation, NRLTSI and NRLSSI (i.e,. Version 1, or original version). The Solar Irradiance Climate Data Record transitioned to the NOAA CDR program is specific to Version 2.1, although the original formulation of the model has created solar irradiance records used in many previous climate modeling studies, including for the IPCC.
Processor	UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Processing Steps	For a complete description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram.
Processing Documents	CDR Source Code CDR Source Code (download) This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment. CDR Data Flow Diagram CDR Data Flow Diagram Flowcharts for the CDR product.
Source Datasets	Naval Research Laboratory Total Solar Irradiance version 2.1 (NRLTSI2) model Description of Source: Solar activity indices (University of Bremen Mg II index and USAF white-light sunspot regions) Description of Source: Bolometric linear regression coefficients Description of 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.

Last Modified: 2025-12-01T18:15:59

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