Exploring High-Resolution Historic Weather Data Sources for Urban Climate Studies Beyond ERA5

Urban climate studies require high-resolution historical weather data to investigate the impact of urbanization on local weather patterns. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) provides one of the most comprehensive datasets for global weather analysis, known as the ERA5 dataset. However, the spatial resolution of ERA5 is not high enough for urban climate studies. This article explores alternative sources of high-resolution historical weather data for urban areas beyond the ERA5 dataset.

The need for high resolution historical weather data

Urbanization has a significant impact on local weather patterns, resulting in the urban heat island effect, increased air pollution, and altered precipitation patterns. To study these effects, researchers need high-resolution historical weather data for urban areas. Such data can be used to study temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and other weather parameters at fine spatial and temporal scales. These data can help identify trends and patterns in weather parameters that are specific to urban areas.

Alternative sources of high resolution historical weather data

While ERA5 provides a comprehensive dataset for global weather analysis, its spatial resolution is not high enough for urban climate studies. Alternative sources of high-resolution historical weather data for urban areas include

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a number of weather data products for researchers, including the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCND) dataset. The GHCND dataset contains daily observations from over 100,000 weather stations worldwide and covers a range of weather parameters, including temperature, precipitation, and wind speed. While the spatial resolution of the GHCND dataset is not as high as ERA5, it provides a good alternative for researchers studying urban climate at regional or national scales.

Another dataset provided by NOAA is the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS), which provides gridded, high-resolution meteorological data for North America. The NLDAS dataset contains hourly data with a spatial resolution of 0.125 degrees (about 13 km), making it a valuable resource for researchers studying urban climate at fine scales.

Weather underground

Weather Underground is a commercial weather service that provides a range of weather data products, including historical weather data for urban areas. The Weather Underground dataset includes data from over 250,000 personal weather stations worldwide, as well as data from official weather stations. The dataset covers a range of weather parameters, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation, and provides hourly data at a spatial resolution of approximately 1 km. While the Weather Underground dataset is not free, it is a valuable resource for researchers studying urban climate at a fine scale.

The Conclusion

In summary, while the ERA5 dataset provides a comprehensive dataset for global weather analysis, its spatial resolution is not high enough for urban climate studies. Alternative sources of high-resolution historical weather data for urban areas, such as NOAA and Weather Underground, can provide valuable resources for researchers studying urban climate at the regional or city scale. These datasets can help identify trends and patterns in weather parameters specific to urban areas, and help inform strategies for mitigating the effects of urbanization on local weather patterns.

FAQs

1. What is the ERA5 dataset, and why is it not suitable for urban climate studies?

The ERA5 dataset is a comprehensive dataset for global weather analysis provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). While it provides a wealth of data for researchers, its spatial resolution is not high enough for urban climate studies, which require data at a much finer scale.

2. What is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and what weather datasets do they provide for researchers?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a US-based organization that provides a range of weather data products for researchers. They provide the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCND) dataset, which includes daily observations from over 100,000 weather stations worldwide, and covers a range of weather parameters. They also provide the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) dataset, which provides gridded, high-resolution meteorological data for North America.

3. What is Weather Underground, and what historic weather data do they provide for urban areas?

Weather Underground is a commercial weather service that provides a range of weather data products, including historic weather data for urban areas. The Weather Underground dataset includes data from over 250,000 personal weather stations worldwide, as well as data from official weather stations. The dataset covers a range of weather parameters, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation, and provides hourly data at a spatial resolution of approximately 1 km.

4. What is the importance of high-resolution historic weather data for urban climate studies?

High-resolution historic weather data is essential for urban climate studies because it allows researchers to investigate the effects of urbanization on local weather patterns at a fine spatial and temporal scale. Such data can help identify trends and patterns in weather parameters that are specific to urban areas and can inform strategies for mitigating the impacts of urbanization on local weather patterns.

5. How can high-resolution historic weather data for urban areas be used in research?

High-resolution historic weather data for urban areas can be used in research to investigate the effects of urbanization on local weather patterns, including the urban heat island effect, altered precipitation patterns, and increased air pollution. Such data can also be used to inform the development of urban planning and design strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of urbanization on local weather patterns.

6. Are there any free sources of high-resolution historic weather data for urban areas?

While some sources of high-resolution historic weather data for urban areas, such as Weather Underground, are commercial, there are also free sources available, such as the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Climate Data Online (CDO) dataset. The CDO dataset provides access to a range of weather data products, including daily observations from weather stations worldwide, at a spatial resolution of approximately 4 km.

7. What are some potential future developments in high-resolution historic weather data for urban areas?

As technology continues to advance, it is likely that more high-resolution historic weather data sources for urban areas will become available. For example, remote sensing technologies, such as satellite data and LiDAR, could provide valuable information on urban microclimates and weather patterns. In addition, crowd-sourced data from citizen science initiatives could help fill gaps in existing weather data and provide additional insights into urban climate dynamics.