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IMPORTANT: This table is out of date.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CRU TS 1.0 0.5° globe 1901-1995 time-series pre, tmp, dtr, wet, vap, cld, frs New et al, 2000 this site, but superseded by CRU TS 2.0 except for wet and frs
CRU TS 1.1 0.5° globe 1996-1998 time-series pre, tmp New et al, 2000; extended this site, but superseded by CRU TS 2.0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TYN CY 1.0 country 1901-1998 countries pre, tmp, dtr, wet, vap, cld, frs Mitchell et al, 2002 superseded by TYN CY 1.1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

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.

Variable abbreviations

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

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.