**National Climatic Data Center**

**DATA DOCUMENTATION**

**FOR**

**DATA SET 9645 (DSI-9645)**

# World Weather Records -- NCAR Surface

**(World Monthly Surface Station Climatology)**

**December 23, 2002**

National Climatic Data Center

151 Patton Ave.

Asheville, NC 28801-5001 USA

**Table of Contents**

[Topic Page Number]{.underline}

1\.
Abstract\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
3

2\. Element Names and Definitions**:**
\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.... 4

3\. Start
Date\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.... 6

4\. Stop
Date\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\..... 6

5\.
Coverage\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...
6

6\. How to order
data\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 6

7\. Archiving Data Center.
\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 7

8\. Technical
Contact\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 7

9\. Known Uncorrected
Problems\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 7

10\. Quality
Statement\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 7

11\. Essential Companion Data
Sets\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 8

12\.
References\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....
8

Tables

Table 1. Identification
Format\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 9

Table 2. The Standard Monthly Parameters \...\...\...\...\...\...\... 11

Table 3A. Data prior to
1961\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.... 12

Table 3B. Data since 1961
\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 13

Table 4. Display Code Character Set and Octal Equivalent\...\... 14

Table 5A. Area - North America (12n-90n,40w-170w)\...\...\...\.... 15

Table 5B. Area - northern hemisphere, excluding North America 16

Table 5C. Area - southern hemisphere, plus 0-12n, 40w-170w \... 17

**1. [Abstract]{.underline}:** The [National Center for Atmospheric
Research](http://www.ncar.ucar.edu/ncar/) (NCAR) has world monthly
surface station climatological data for over 3900 different stations
(2500 in more recent years) up through 1998. Data for some stations goes
as far back as the mid-1700\'s. See Tables 5A - 5C for data availability
by decade. Most of the data was obtained directly from the National
Climatic Data Center (NCDC), Asheville, North Carolina. However, much of
the data prior to 1951 came from John Wolbach of Harvard College
Observatory, who contracted to have this data punched at NCDC. The first
six months of 1961 were punched at NCAR. Sharon Nicholson, Florida State
University, provided African precipitation data to extend the records of
over 250 stations. (For any specific use of the African precipitation
data, please credit Sharon Nicholson). Dennis Shea, NCAR, has been a
valuable source for data obtained directly from various countries. See
note 5 for data publications. The standard parameters available are sea
level pressure, station pressure, temperature, and precipitation. After
1960, additional available parameters include moisture and percent
sunshine.

There are several specialized sets in this same global format that are
available separately, as follows:

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

\| \| Approximate \| \| \|

\| Region \| \# of Stations \| Parameters \| Periods of Record \|

\| \| \| \| \|

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

\| \| \| \| \|

\|USA \| 3900 \| Temperature, Precipitation\| 1941 - 1980\|

\|Canada \| 3900 \| Temperature, Precipitation\| Late 1800\'s - 1982\|

\|India \| 4000 \| Precipitation \| 1901 - 1970\|

\|Australia\| 14000 \| Precipitation \| Late 1800\'s - 1982\|

\|Africa \| 1000 \| Precipitation \| Late 1800\'s - 1973\|

\|China \| 90 \| Precipitation \| 1951 - 1980\|

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

The above Africa set is Sharon Nicholson\'s total set, excluding the
stations having special flags which are not part of this format (her
complete set with all flags is available in a separate format). The
stations having WMO numbers have been added to the global set where they
extended the period of record as indicated before. Also, approximately
400 stations with WMO numbers from the Australian set have been added to
the global set.

The data has been reformatted and is available in either a packed binary
or a character format. The missing codes and the biases put on the data
(to keep all numbers positive integers) are the same in either format.
After unpacking (or decoding), the true data value is obtained as
follows:

True value = unpacked (or decoded) value - bias

Missing codes which are unique from actual data values have been chosen
for missing parameters. The missing codes contained in the tables are
after the bias has been subtracted.

Most users receive the character format version which is described after
the binary packed format. However, the packed binary format includes

information about missing codes and biases, and comments about the data
that are necessary for a complete understanding of the character format
content. The specifics about bits and words may be ignored if the
character format is being used.

**2. [Element Names and Definitions]{.underline}:**

Character Format Received by Most Users

Information about missing codes and biases, and comments about the data
are contained in the packed binary version section. Logical records are
50 characters in length. They are blocked together into physical records
5000 characters in length (100 logical records per physical record)
except for the last physical record on each tape, which may have fewer
than 100 logical records. The logical records are sorted in ascending
order by WMO number, year, month, and record type. See notes 1 and 2.
Logical records for which all parameters are missing have been
eliminated.

There are eight types of logical records, 0 through 7. An explanation
and character breakdown for each is given below.

Type 0 - primary identification record; this record occurs whenever
there is a change in any one of the following parameters - source of
data, source of identification, WMO#, latitude, longitude, elevation,
721#, 995#. See Table 1.

character 1, type 0

characters 2-7, WMO#

characters 8-11, year

characters 12-13, month (1-12)

character 14, source of data

character 15, ship indicator

character 16, source of ID

characters 17-20, latitude

characters 21-25, longitude

characters 26-29, elevation

characters 30-35, 721#

characters 36-44, 995#

characters 45-50, blanks

Type 1 - secondary identification record; always occurs after Type 0.

character 1, type 1

characters 2-13, same as type 0

characters 14-43, name

characters 44-50, blanks

Types 2-5 - record of height parameters (Table 3). When they exist,
these records will occur only once for each year. Types 3-5 occur only
when there are additional heights associated with Sfc pressure,
temperature, and precipitation; see text following Table 3.

character 1, type 2, 3, 4, or 5

characters 2-13, same as Type 0

characters 14-19, height of ground above mean sea level

characters 20-25, height of barometer above mean sea level

characters 26-31, height above MSL to which station pressure is reduced

characters 32-37, height of thermometer above ground

characters 38-43, height of thermometer above MSL

characters 44-49, height of rim of precipitation gauge above ground

character 50, blank

Type 6 - record of standard parameters for the month given (Table 2)

character 1, type 6

characters 2-13, same as type 0

characters 14, SLP indicator

characters 15-19, SLP

character 20, previous pressure indicator

characters 21-25, station pressure

characters 26-29, height

characters 30-33, temperature

characters 34-39, precipitation

characters 40-50, blanks

Type 7 - record of additional data for the month given (Table 3a)

character 1, type 7

characters 2-13, same as type 0

characters 14-17, temperature departure

character 18, moisture indicator

characters 19-22, relative humidity or vapor pressure

characters 23-26, R.H. or V.P. departure

characters 27-28, days of precipitation 1 mm.

characters 29-32, precipitation departure

character 33, quintile

characters 34-35, \# of observations/month

characters 36-38, sunshine duration

characters 39-42, sunshine % of average

characters 43-46, sea temperature

characters 47-50, sea temperature departure

**NOTE 1:** In most cases the units digit of the WMO number is 0, and
the leftmost 5 digits are the normal WMO number obtained from the
various sources indicated in Table 1. For some stations there was no WMO
currently in use, so one was created from a non-zero units digit
(usually 7), along with the actual WMO number of a nearby station. This
is an arbitrary solution, but the resulting number was checked for
uniqueness, and it facilitates sorting the data and guarantees a
satisfactory ordering.

**NOTE 2:** This data set includes monthly means and annual means,
10-year monthly means and 10-year annual means, and 30-year monthly
means and 30-year annual means. The value stored for the year
deter-mines which of the above three types the record is. The annual,
10-year and 30-year means have been dropped from the character version
because of volume considerations.

For records containing the monthly means and annual means, the year is
as normal, e.g. 1967.

For records containing the 10-year monthly means and 10-year annual
means, the year is the last year of the 10 years plus 1000, e.g.,

1960 1000

Last year + bias = 2960

of 10 years Packed yearly value

For records containing the 30-year monthly means and the 30-year annual
means, the year is the last year of the 30 years plus 2000, e.g.,

1960 2000

Last year + bias = 3960

of 30 years Packed yearly value

After 1960, Note 2 does not apply to the data, and all parameters in the
thirteenth month (annual means) are set to missing.

**NOTE 3** - (applies to binary packed format only): In general the
month is 1, indicating the identification data is to be used for the
entire year. However, some stations changed positions, numbering schemes
or some other identifying parameter during the year. In these cases the
month (not 1) identifier indicates the first month in this record for
which the identifi-cation is to be used. The identification for months
in this record prior to the month identifier is the same as in the
previ-ous year.

**NOTE 4** - (applies to binary backed format only): The name is in
Control Data Corporation (CDC) display code. Every 6 bits is one display
code character, whose octal representation is given in the following
Table 4.

**3. [Start Date]{.underline}:** 17319999. See Tables 5A - 5C for data
availability by decade

**4. [Stop Date]{.underline}:** Ongoing. See Tables 5A - 5C for data
availability by decade

**5. [Coverage]{.underline}:** Global

a.  Southernmost Latitude: 90S

b.  Northernmost Latitude: 90N

c.  Westernmost Longitude: 180W

d.  Easternmost Longitude: 180E

**6. [How to Order Data]{.underline}:**

Ask NCDC's Climate Services about the cost of obtaining this data set.

Phone: 828-271-4800

FAX: 828-271-4876

E-mail: [**NCDC.Orders@noaa.gov**](mailto:NCDC.Orders@noaa.gov)

**7. [Archiving Data Center]{.underline}:**

National Climatic Data Center

Federal Building

151 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-5001

Phone: (828) 271-4800**.**

**8. [Technical Contact]{.underline}:**

National Climatic Data Center

Federal Building

151 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-5001

Phone: (828) 271-4800**.**

> NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
>
> Scientific Computing Division
>
> Data Support Section
>
> P. O. Box 3000
>
> Boulder, CO 80307

**9. [Known Uncorrected Problems]{.underline}:** In the cases where 6
height values are given for each of 4 parameters, it was discovered that
the values given for a particular height were different for the
different parameters, i.e., height of barometer above mean sea level
associated with standard pressure = 17.7 m, but height of barometer
above mean sea level associated with temperature = 78.9 m. This
discrepancy has currently not been resolved, and all the height values
are carried along.

Therefore, records prior to 1961, with additional data will be either:

23 words long (1410 bits of data and 62 unused bits, indicator = 0) or

27 words long (1716 bits of data and 12 unused bits, indicator = 1).

**10. [Quality Statement]{.underline}:** The data through 1973 was
scanned for gross format errors in card punching, and several hundred
errors were corrected. Extreme values were inspected on the basis of
being 4 or 5 standard deviations from the long period monthly mean. Many
such deviations are real; but some were obviously the result of
card-punching or publication errors, and some values were so extreme
they were set to missing. Some of the data received on tape from NCDC
overlaps that received on earlier tapes. These overlaps are considered
to be updates and are merged with or replace the data previously
received. NCAR has an available list of all changes and corrections
made. We would appreciate receiving any additions or corrections from
users in the form of station number, year, month, old value, and new
value.

There are gaps in a number of the station records that should be filled.
NCDC estimates that half of these are available from published sources
in the USA, but that it would require considerable expenditure to search
for and enter this data.

**11. [Essential Companion Datasets]{.underline}:** None. There are
however, several sources:

World Weather Records,\* \"\--1920\", Smithsonian Miscellaneous
Collections, Vol. 79, 1927, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

World Weather Records,\* 1921-1930, Smithsonian Miscellaneous
Collections, Vol. 90, 1934, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

World Weather Records,\* 1931-1940, Smithsonian Miscellaneous
Collections, Vol. 105, 1947, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

World Weather Records, 1941-1950, U.S. Weather Bureau, 1959, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

World Weather Records, 1951-1960 (6 volumes), Environmental Data
Services, 1966, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

World Weather Records, 1961-1970 (4 volumes), Environmental Data and
Information Service, 1981-1983, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington,
D.C. (Asia and Africa currently being prepared and not available.)

**12. [References]{.underline}:** No information provided with original
documentation.

**TABLE 1. Identification Format.**

**(First 332 bits of every logical record)**

\# of Bits

\# of Preceding Missing

Parameter Bits This Parameter Code Bias Comments

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Word count 12 0 NA NA The number of 64-bit words

used by RPTIN\* in this logical record

Reserved 4 12 NA NA

Format \# 6 16 NA NA 0

Source of data 2 22 NA NA 0 - NCDC

1 - Wolbach, MIT(from NCDC)

2 - from individuals

3 - from country

Indicator (ship) 1 24 NA NA 0 - non-ship

1 - ship

Source of 2 25 NA NA 0 - missing

Identification 1 - library tape from NCDC

2 - from data source 2

3 - World Weather Records

(51-60), (61-70)

publications; and ETAC

compiled, Navy

published World Index;

Clayton\'s Weather

Records

WMO \# 21 27 NA NA 6-digit WMO; see Note 1

Year 12 48 NA NA Four digits; see Note 2

Month 4 60 NA NA First month to which

identification applies;

see Note 3

Latitude 11 64 -999 1000 1/10\'s of degrees, north

positive, south negative

Longitude 12 75 -1999 2000 1/10\'s of degrees, west

positive, east negative

Elevation 14 87 -999 1000 meters

Name 180 101 Blanks NA Display code (CDC);

see Note 4

Card deck 20 281 0 NA NCDC numbering scheme

721 stn \# for monthly publication

Card deck 30 301 0 NA NCDC numbering scheme

995 stn \# for World Weather Records

Additional data 1 331 NA NA 0 - no additional data

indicator 1 - record has additional

data

\*RPTIN is the NCAR unblocking routine, the counterpart of RPTOUT.

The next 975 bits are always present and contain the standard parameters
included for each month.

**TABLE 2.**

**The Standard Monthly Parameters**

\# of Missing

Parameter Bits Code Bias Comments

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Sea level 1 NA NA 0 - actual SLP

pressure 1 - estimated SLP

indicator #1

Sea level 15 20000 0 1/10\'s of mb, SLP unless indicated other-

pressure wise by SLP indicator #2

Sea level 2 NA NA 0 - sea level pressure

pressure 1 - P at constant Z

indicator #2 2 - Z at constant P

when indicator is 0, height is set to

missing

Station 15 20000 0 Pressure in 1/10\'s of mb

Pressure

Height 13 5000 0 Geopotential meters

Temperature 11 990 1000 1/10\'s of degree C

Precipitation 18 200,000 0 1/10\'s of mm.,

trace is indicated by 150,000

The above 75 bits are repeated 13 times (975 total) once for each of the
12 months of the year and 1 more time for an annual mean (precipitation
value is annual total).

If the last bit in the identification section is 0, then this concludes
the record which is 21 words long (1307 bits of data and 37 unused
bits).

If the last bit in the identification section is 1, then the record
contains additional data which is one of two formats. Prior to 1961
additional data may consist of 103 or 409 bits, according to Table 3.
From 1961 additional data consists of 1209 bits, according to Table 3a.

**TABLE 3A. (prior to 1961)**

\# of Missing

Parameter Bits Code Bias Comments

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Additional data 1 NA NA 0 - one set of heights

format indicator for all parameters

1 - one set of heights

for each parameter

Height of ground above 17 100000 10000

mean sea level

Height of barometer 17 100000 10000 Tenths of meters.

above mean sea level If the above indicator

is 1, there is a set

Height above MSL 17 100000 10000 of these 6 heights

which station pressure for each parameter

reduced in order - SLP,

sfc pressure,

Height of thermometer 17 100000 10000 temperature, and

above ground precipitation.

Height of thermometer 17 100000 10000

above MSL

Height of rim of precip. 17 100000 10000

gauge above ground

This height data was received from Wolbach at MIT (punched at NCDC). In
the cases where 6 height values are given for each of 4 parameters, it
was discovered that the values given for a particular height were
different for the different parameters, i.e., height of barometer above
mean sea level associated with standard pressure = 17.7 m, but height of
barometer above mean sea level associated with temperature = 78.9 m.
This discrepancy has currently not been resolved, and all the height
values are carried along.

Therefore, records prior to 1961, with additional data will be either;

23 words long (1410 bits of data and 62 unused bits, indicator = 0) or

27 words long (1716 bits of data and 12 unused bits, indicator = 1).

**TABLE 3B. (From 1961)**

\# of Missing

Parameter Bits Code Bias Comments

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Temperature 11 990 1000 1/10\'s degree C

departure

from normal

Moisture indicator 1 NA NA Following 2 parameters are,

0 - Relative humidity

1 - Vapor pressure

Relative humidity 127 0 Whole %

or 11

Vapor pressure 1000 0 1/10\'s of mb

Relative humidity 200 100 Whole %

departure from normal

or 11

Vapor pressure 1000 1000 1/10\'s of mb

departure from normal

\# days with

precipitation 1 mm. 6 63 0

Precipitation 12 2000 2000 Whole mm.

Departure from normal

Quintile of 3 7 0 0 - smaller than any other

precipitation value in 30-year period

occurrence in 1 - occurred 1-6 times

30-year period 2 - occurred 7-12 times

3 - occurred 13-18 times

4 - occurred 20-24 times

5 - occurred 25 or more

6 - larger than any other

value in 30-year period

Number of observations 6 63 0

per month

Sunshine duration 10 999 0 hours

Sunshine % of average 10 1000 0 whole percent

Sea temperature\*\* 11 990 1000 1/10\'s of degree C

Sea temperature from 11 990 1000 1/10\'s of degree C

departure normal\*\*

\*\* Usually present only for ships, but occurs on occasion with some
coastal stations.

These 103 bits are repeated 13 times (1339 total), once for each of the
12 months and one more time for the annual mean. Therefore, records from
1961 on, with additional data, are 42 words (2646 bits of data and 42
unused bits).

### TABLE 4. Display Code Character Set and Octal Equivalent

> \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--
>
> \| Character Octal Equivalent\|
>
> \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--
>
> \| A thru Z 01 thru 32 \|
>
> \| 0 thru 9 33 thru 44 \|
>
> \| + 45 \|
>
> \| - 46 \|
>
> \| \* 47 \|
>
> \| / 50 \|
>
> \| ( 51 \|
>
> \| ) 52 \|
>
> \| \$ 53 \|
>
> \| = 54 \|
>
> \| blank 55 \|
>
> \| , 56 \|
>
> \| . 57 \|
>
> \| \|
>
> \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

**Table 5A: Area - North America (12n-90n,40w-170w)**

The following table indicates the data coverage by decade

explanation of symbols

recs - no. of logical records in the decade (station/years)

s - no.of stations in the decade

sslp - no.of stations in the decade with sea level pressures

mslp - no.of months of slp in the decade

sp - no.of stations in the decade with pressures

mp - no.of months of pressure in the decade

st - no. of stations in the decade with temperatures

mt - no.of months of temperature

sr - no. of stations in the decade with precipitation

mr - no.of months of precipitation

decade recs s sslp mslp sp mp st mt sr mr

1991-1998 2252 351 349 22890 348 18043 350 23689 344 23630

1981-1990 2235 310 294 21572 294 21518 310 23919 308 23731

1971-1980 2075 232 191 19122 185 18093 231 23001 226 22243

1961-1970 4287 446 272 28357 216 23908 390 43173 439 49523

1951-1960 3958 409 223 25039 190 21924 363 40822 391 44718

1941-1950 2596 280 165 16818 147 15816 262 28257 271 29785

1931-1940 2127 230 95 9374 138 14734 206 22500 226 24723

1921-1930 1929 199 65 7290 121 13979 174 19880 196 22382

1911-1920 1708 179 35 3965 114 13108 154 17308 176 19776

1901-1910 1550 165 31 3449 106 11892 142 15520 161 17855

1891-1900 1232 137 25 2814 93 10007 122 12967 133 14137

1881-1890 1032 114 24 2623 75 7653 100 10338 110 11651

1871-1880 682 91 18 1220 53 3966 74 6070 84 7285

1861-1870 265 33 1 120 1 56 20 1924 28 2654

1851-1860 254 29 1 36 0 0 17 1610 23 2384

1841-1850 194 23 0 0 0 0 14 1335 17 1658

1831-1840 125 17 0 0 0 0 11 945 12 946

1821-1830 87 10 0 0 0 0 7 751 6 441

1811-1820 28 8 0 0 0 0 6 239 3 168

1801-1810 10 1 0 0 0 0 1 120 1 83

1791-1800 12 2 0 0 0 0 2 125 0 0

1781-1790 18 3 0 0 0 0 2 131 1 72

1771-1780 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 69 0 0

1761-1770 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 12 1 60

1751-1760 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 120

1741-1750 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 120

1731-1740 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 36

total data

coverage 28693 678 465 164689 452 194697 605 294705 665 320181

**Table 5B: Area - northern hemisphere, excluding North America**

The following table indicates the data coverage by decade

explanation of symbols

recs - no. of logical records in the decade (station/years)

s - no.of stations in the decade

sslp - no.of stations in the decade with sea level pressures

mslp - no.of months of slp in the decade

sp - no.of stations in the decade with pressures

mp - no.of months of pressure in the decade

st - no. of stations in the decade with temperatures

mt - no.of months of temperature

sr - no. of stations in the decade with precipitation

mr - no.of months of precipitation

decade recs s sslp mslp sp mp st mt sr mr

1991-1998 9038 1522 1471 80775 1491 80779 1521 83569 1517 82499

1981-1990 8378 1063 988 77768 998 79018 1058 82381 1058 81328

1971-1980 9083 1207 1052 81177 1060 80806 1157 94020 1191 95790

1961-1970 12338 1340 1060 107000 375 38762 1291 134114 1329 139004

1951-1960 11072 1144 804 90581 650 71297 1069 121258 1134 128742

1941-1950 5461 632 328 31301 325 32064 470 46643 621 63342

1931-1940 5041 556 167 16830 222 23874 345 36545 550 58878

1921-1930 4195 462 123 14114 210 23479 287 31538 459 49190

1911-1920 3350 380 72 8092 185 20627 251 28394 349 35958

1901-1910 2915 337 65 6818 179 19432 235 25327 306 31145

1891-1900 2175 245 45 4619 146 16186 188 20530 217 22645

1881-1890 1708 191 22 2229 117 12043 154 16158 167 18094

1871-1880 1071 128 15 1560 63 5605 89 8192 119 11806

1861-1870 669 91 9 960 31 2729 50 4267 81 6884

1851-1860 432 51 7 756 18 1615 30 3062 42 4036

1841-1850 273 33 5 432 7 766 19 2118 24 2110

1831-1840 210 23 2 240 5 600 16 1793 13 1195

1821-1830 184 20 2 240 5 600 14 1584 10 974

1811-1820 162 18 2 240 5 479 13 1440 7 605

1801-1810 124 14 2 240 3 264 11 1186 4 420

1791-1800 113 12 2 240 2 240 10 1116 3 360

1781-1790 109 11 2 240 2 240 9 1079 3 300

1771-1780 68 9 3 252 2 240 7 684 1 120

1761-1770 39 6 2 132 2 156 5 379 1 82

1751-1760 15 2 1 72 1 72 2 180 0 0

total data

coverage 78223 2283 2004 526908 1960 511973 2242 747557 2273 835507

**Table 5C: Area - southern hemisphere plus 0-12n,40w-170w**

the following table indicates the data coverage by decade

explanation of symbols

recs - no. of logical records in the decade (station/years)

s - no.of stations in the decade

sslp - no.of stations in the decade with sea level pressures

mslp - no.of months of slp in the decade

sp - no.of stations in the decade with pressures

mp - no.of months of pressure in the decade

st - no. of stations in the decade with temperatures

mt - no.of months of temperature

sr - no. of stations in the decade with precipitation

mr - no.of months of precipitation

decade recs s sslp mslp sp mp st mt sr mr

1991-1998 4345 803 747 32315 760 32728 785 34265 789 33848

1981-1990 5702 1090 604 40516 667 42914 698 46539 1038 53493

1971-1980 8788 1094 578 43212 594 42909 654 49561 1071 94950

1961-1970 9623 1106 587 51296 337 31645 696 64082 1089 107136

1951-1960 9106 973 307 31903 313 31760 526 55086 943 105883

1941-1950 6659 727 112 11959 109 11944 256 27312 718 77900

1931-1940 6005 648 63 6628 74 8039 196 21079 642 70618

1921-1930 4139 451 48 5286 49 5391 96 10901 446 48567

1911-1920 3788 412 38 4271 46 5116 89 9768 407 44277

1901-1910 3326 366 31 3013 41 4297 77 7966 361 38765

1891-1900 2607 297 20 1873 25 2365 48 4625 294 30595

1881-1890 1754 217 14 1216 14 1133 30 2780 213 20091

1871-1880 879 127 9 1014 7 743 20 2058 123 9998

1861-1870 355 63 8 753 5 540 15 1437 61 3909

1851-1860 113 23 3 192 3 168 7 344 21 1159

1841-1850 62 7 1 117 0 0 1 119 6 598

1831-1840 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 53

total data

coverage 67256 1803 1062 235564 1094 221692 1272 337922 1721 741840