This dataset only runs to 1998. For more recent data, we suggest you use the CRU TS dataset which includes a number of variables including monthly precipitation and is available here.
An historical monthly precipitation data set for global land areas from 1900 to 1998, gridded at two different resolutions (2.5° latitude by 3.75° longitude and 5° latitude/longitude) has been constructed and is available for use in scientific research. When using these datasets, you should cite the following publications:
| Data file | Version | Uncompressed size (MB) |
|---|---|---|
| g55wld0098.dat.gz (binary) | v1.0, March 1999 | 5.8 |
| g55wld0098.zip (winzipped) | v1.0, March 1999 | 5.8 |
| A documentation file (5 degree) should be viewed and copied as this contains details about the data set, the data format and conditions of use. | ||
| Data file | Version | Uncompressed size (MB) |
|---|---|---|
| gu23wld0098.dat.gz (binary) | v1.0, March 1999 | 10.8 |
| gu23wld0098.zip (winzipped) | v1.0, March 1999 | 10.8 |
| A documentation file (2.5 by 3.75 degree) should be viewed and copied as this contains details about the data set, the data format and conditions of use. | ||
A monthly blended land and ocean precipitation data set for the extended tropical region (30°N to 30°S) from 1974 to 1994, gridded at the resolution 2.5° latitude by 3.75° longitude is also available. When using this datasets, you should cite the following publication:
| Data file | Version | Uncompressed size (MB) |
|---|---|---|
| gu23trp7494.dat.gz (binary) | v1.0, Feb 1998 | 3.7 |
| A documentation file (tropical land & ocean) should be viewed and copied as this contains details about the data set, the data format and conditions of use. | ||
gu23wld0098.dat and g55wld0098.dat replace earlier versions which you may have previously used (e.g. G55WLD0092.DAT, GU23WLD0096.DAT, etc.) and contain more extensive spatial and temporal data coverage than earlier versions.
The development and maintenance of all these precipitation data sets was undertaken by the Climatic Research Unit and led by Mike Hulme. It was partly supported by the UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Contract No. DETR 1/1/85).
The construction of global climatologies for multiple variables including precipitation and at a resolution of 0.5° has been funded by NERC and other agencies. This resulted in a new 0.5° resolution climatology for all land areas extending back to 1901, called CRU TS, and available here.
These datasets are made available under the Open Database License. Any rights in individual contents of the datasets are licensed under the Database Contents License under the conditions of Attribution and Share-Alike.
Updated: October 2015, Tim Osborn