Table of climate grids and derived data-sets
IMPORTANT: This table is out of date. Please use the CRU HRG page instead
This table presents the complete set of high-resolution climate grids available through the Climatic Research Unit and the Tyndall Centre, and some data-sets based on those grids. Some data-sets are available from this website; others are available from the Climatic Research Unit. Following the proliferation of gridded data-sets and their by-products, we have developed a consistent form of identification for these data-sets to provide greater clarity to users. We recommend that any users of these data-sets should use these labels to refer to these data-sets.
You must cite the referenced paper in any publications.
data-set | space | time | variety | variables | reference | availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CRU CL 1.0 | 0.5° globe | 1961-1990 | climatology | pre, wet, tmp, dtr, tmx, tmn, vap, spc, cld, frs, wnd | New et al, 1999 | this site |
CRU CL 2.0 | 10' globe | 1961-1990 | climatology | pre, wet, tmp, dtr, rhm, ssh, frs, wnd | New et al, 2002 | this site |
CRU TS 1.0 | 0.5° globe | 1901-1995 | time-series | pre, tmp, dtr, wet, vap, cld, frs | New et al, 2000 | this site, but superseded by CRU TS 2.0 except for wet and frs |
CRU TS 1.1 | 0.5° globe | 1996-1998 | time-series | pre, tmp | New et al, 2000; extended | this site, but superseded by CRU TS 2.0 |
CRU TS 1.2 | 10' Europe | 1901-2000 | time-series | pre, tmp, dtr, vap, cld | Mitchell et al, 2003 | this site |
CRU TS 2.0 | 0.5° globe | 1901-2000 | time-series | pre, tmp, dtr, vap, cld | Mitchell et al, 2003 | this site |
TYN SC 1.0 | 10' Europe | 2001-2100 | scenarios | pre, tmp, dtr, vap, cld | Mitchell et al, 2003 | this site |
TYN SC 2.0 | 0.5° globe | 2001-2100 | scenarios | pre, tmp, dtr, vap, cld | Mitchell et al, 2003 | this site |
TYN CY 1.0 | country | 1901-1998 | countries | pre, tmp, dtr, wet, vap, cld, frs | Mitchell et al, 2002 | superseded by TYN CY 1.1 |
TYN CY 1.1 | country | 1901-2000 | countries | pre, tmp, dtr, wet, vap, cld, frs, tmn, tmx | Mitchell et al, 2003 | this site |
TYN CY 2.0 | country | 2070-2099 | countries | pre, tmp | Mitchell et al, 2002; extended | this site |
TYN CY 3.0 | country | 2000-2100 | countries | pre, tmp, dtr, vap, cld | Mitchell et al, 2003 | this site |
Please note that all data-sets are limited to the land surface only; the ocean grid boxes are left blank. The 'global' domain also excludes Antarctica.
Labelling convention
The identifying label is made up of:
Types of dataset
Variable abbreviations
References
Conditions of use
These datasets are provided for all to use, provided the sources are acknowledged. Acknowledgement must include the citation of the paper referenced. The website can also be acknowledged if deemed necessary. I will endeavour to update the majority of the data pages at timely intervals although this cannot be guaranteed by specific dates.
climate data-set
nature
purpose
CL (climatology)
The average climate in the recent past. These are high-resolution grids.
Allows spatial comparisons of environmental features; the dependency of certain features on climate may be assessed.
TS (time-series)
Month-by-month variations in climate over the last century or so. These are high-resolution grids.
Allows the comparison of variations in climate with variations in other phenomena.
SC (scenarios)
A set of scenarios of possible climates in the future, using data from climate models. These are high-resolution grids.
Allows environmental impact models to consider month-by-month changes in climate from the past, through the present, and into the future.
Future uncertainties are represented through scenarios.
CY (countries)
Country averages, based on aggregating grid cells together from the grids in CL, TS, or SC.
Allows international comparisons to be made, in conjunction with socio-economic data such as GDP, population, land area, etc.
label
variable
units
cld
cloud cover
percentage
dtr
diurnal temperature range
degrees Celsius
frs
frost day frequency
days
pre
precipitation
millimetres
rhm
relative humidity
percentage
ssh
sunshine duration
hours
tmp
daily mean temperature
degrees Celsius
vap
vapour pressure
hecta-Pascals
wet
wet day frequency
days
wnd
wind speed
metres per second
WHOLE PAPER AS PDF
ABSTRACT (AND WHOLE PAPER FOR SUBSCRIBERS)
ABSTRACT (AND WHOLE PAPER FOR SUBSCRIBERS)
ABSTRACT