Maintained by:
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA). The
WDC for Meteorology, Asheville is operated by, and collocated with, the National Climatic
Data Center (NCDC).
Summary of Data Held:
Various data sets and from international programs and experiments, including meteorological
and nuclear radiation data for International Geophysical Year (see IGY Annals Vol. 26);
Global Atmospheric Research Program, World Climate Research Program, World Climate Data
and Monitoring Program; and data exchanged with WDC-USA by participating countries.
International Geophysical Year (IGY). Global meteorological and nuclear radiation data
and data products, 1957-1958.
International Quiet Sun Year (IQSY). Global meteorological data and data products,
1964-1965.
Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP):
GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE) 1974; First GARP Global
Experiment (FGGE) 1978-1979; Winter and Summer Monsoon Experiments
(WMONEX, SMONEX) for 4-month periods within FGGE; Alpine Experiment (ALPEX) for
2-month period in 1982.
The World Climate Research Program (WCRP):
International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). Global analyses of
satellite radiance measurements, 1982-2000. Data products are archived at ISCCP Central
Archive and are available from WDC-USA.
Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) for specified ocean area, 1985-1994; TOGA
Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment for a 12-month period in 1992-1993, including
a 4-month intensive campaign in the Western Pacific. Global Precipitation Climatology
Project (GPCP). Monthly precipitation data from surface, radar and satellite measurements
for 1986 onwards. World Climate Data and Monitoring Program (WCDMP). Baseline Data sets
prepared in cooperation with WMO, WDCB and WDCD and exchanges with participating countries.
Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN). Comprehensive monthly global baseline climate
data set of temperature, precipitation, and pressure. The earliest record dates from 1697.
Comprehensive OceanAtmosphere Dataset (COADS) from ships and buoys, some dating from the
1850s. Comprehensive Aerological Reference Dataset (CARDS) from radiosondes and
rawinsondes, and station histories, 1948-1995.
High altitude rocketsonde data for 1959-1976.
Ozone Data for the World from 1965, Atmospheric Environment Service, Department of the
Environment, Canada, in cooperation with WMO.
Solar Radiation and Radiation Balance Data from World Radiation Data Center, St.
Petersburg, Russia, in cooperation with WMO, from 1964. Synoptic Data for surface and
upper air observations, daily and monthly summaries, some in computer form, from countries
participating in data exchange activities with WDC-USA.
User Services: Open to visitors during normal working hours.
Advance notice is recommended. Facilities include computers, microfilm and microfiche
readers, printers and copiers. Services include data and map reproduction, statistical
analysis, library searches, certification of records. Referral service for data not held
by WDC-USA. Visiting scientists may be supported by parent organizations, WMO training
programs, or grants from U.S. National Research Council.
Publications: Monthly Climatic Data for the World, monthly
in cooperation with WMO, including climate data from World Weather Watch Program.
1961-1990 Global Standard Climate Normals in cooperation with WMO.
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