DOE Data Explorer title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Historical Sunshine and Cloud Data in the United States (revised 1991) (NDP-021)

Abstract

This data base presents monthly sunshine data from 240 U.S. stations (including Puerto Rico and nine Pacific Islands) and monthly cloud amount data from 197 U.S. stations. The longest periods of record are 1891 through 1987 for the sunshine data and 1871 through 1987 for the cloud data. The sunshine data were derived from measurements taken by a variety of sunshine-recording instruments. The cloud data were derived from land-based estimates of fractional cloud amount, which were made with observation practices that have varied during the period of record. Station number, station name, latitude, and longitude are given for all stations in each network. The sunshine data include monthly and annual total hours of recorded sunshine, monthly and annual maximum possible hours of sunshine, monthly and annual percentages of possible sunshine (hours recorded/hours possible), and dates of use for specific types of sunshine recorders at each station. The cloud data contain monthly and annual cloud amount (in percent of sky cover).For access to the data files, click this link to the CDIAC data transition website: http://cdiac.ess-dive.lbl.gov/ndps/ndp021.html

Authors:
;
  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center
Publication Date:
Other Number(s):
osti:1394922; doi:10.3334/CDIAC/CLI.NDP021; cdiac:doi 10.3334/CDIAC/cli.ndp021
Research Org.:
Environmental System Science Data Infrastructure for a Virtual Ecosystem (ESS-DIVE) (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
U.S. DOE > Office of Science (SC) > Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Keywords:
Cloud Amount; Sunshine; Cloud Data; NDP-021; ADJUST; CLDPCT; FLAG1; FLAG2; FLAG3; FLAG4; HRSSUN; MAXSUN; MEAN; MON; PWBAN; STNAME; SUNPCT; TOTAL; WBAN; YEAR
OSTI Identifier:
1394922
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/cli.ndp021

Citation Formats

Steurer, P. M., and Karl, T. R. Historical Sunshine and Cloud Data in the United States (revised 1991) (NDP-021). United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.3334/CDIAC/cli.ndp021.
Steurer, P. M., & Karl, T. R. Historical Sunshine and Cloud Data in the United States (revised 1991) (NDP-021). United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/cli.ndp021
Steurer, P. M., and Karl, T. R. 2018. "Historical Sunshine and Cloud Data in the United States (revised 1991) (NDP-021)". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/cli.ndp021. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1394922. Pub date:Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018
@article{osti_1394922,
title = {Historical Sunshine and Cloud Data in the United States (revised 1991) (NDP-021)},
author = {Steurer, P. M. and Karl, T. R.},
abstractNote = {This data base presents monthly sunshine data from 240 U.S. stations (including Puerto Rico and nine Pacific Islands) and monthly cloud amount data from 197 U.S. stations. The longest periods of record are 1891 through 1987 for the sunshine data and 1871 through 1987 for the cloud data. The sunshine data were derived from measurements taken by a variety of sunshine-recording instruments. The cloud data were derived from land-based estimates of fractional cloud amount, which were made with observation practices that have varied during the period of record. Station number, station name, latitude, and longitude are given for all stations in each network. The sunshine data include monthly and annual total hours of recorded sunshine, monthly and annual maximum possible hours of sunshine, monthly and annual percentages of possible sunshine (hours recorded/hours possible), and dates of use for specific types of sunshine recorders at each station. The cloud data contain monthly and annual cloud amount (in percent of sky cover).For access to the data files, click this link to the CDIAC data transition website: http://cdiac.ess-dive.lbl.gov/ndps/ndp021.html},
doi = {10.3334/CDIAC/cli.ndp021},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

Works referencing / citing this record:

Cloud cover variations over the United States: An influence of cosmic rays or solar variability?
journal, July 2001