gov.noaa.ncdc:C00975 eng; USA utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact 2025-12-01T18:57:15 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA), Version 2 IGRA 2 2023-02-01 revision 2011-01-06 publication Version 2 doi:10.7289/V5X63K0Q NCEI DSI 6353_01 gov.noaa.ncdc:C00975 Access Identifier igra NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information publisher Durre, Imke NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Physical Scientist principalInvestigator Durre, Imke NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Physical Scientist author Yin, Xungang NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information principalInvestigator Yin, Xungang NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information author Vose, Russell NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Division Chief collaborator Vose, Russell NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Division Chief author Applequist, Scott NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Physical Scientist collaborator Applequist, Scott NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Physical Scientist author Arnfield, Jeff NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information collaborator Arnfield, Jeff NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information author Korzeniewski, Bryant NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information collaborator Korzeniewski, Bryant NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information author Hundermark, Bruce NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information collaborator Hundermark, Bruce NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information author tableDigital Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) Version 2 consists of quality-controlled radiosonde observations of temperature, humidity, and wind at stations across all continents. Data are drawn from more than 30 different sources. The earliest year of data is 1905, and the data are updated on a daily basis. Record length, vertical extent and resolution, and availability of variables varies among stations and over time. In addition to the merged and quality-controlled set of soundings, several supplementary products are included: sounding-derived moisture and stability parameters for each suitable sounding; monthly means at mandatory pressure levels; the Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC) in which post-1997 data are based on IGRA 2; and station history information derived from documented changes in instruments and observing practice as well as from instrument codes received along with the sounding data. The change to Version 2.2 includes two additional data streams which permits further updating of the IGRA data records that use the new BUFR format. Version 2.2 began in 2023. The data are intended for use for any application or analysis that requires historical radiosonde observations. Known applications of IGRA one include products of homogenized radiosonde data, air pollution modeling, reanalyses, wind energy research, climate assessments, and many others. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Customer Engagement Branch 1-828-271-4800 1-828-271-4876 151 Patton Avenue Veach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468 Asheville NC 28801-5001 USA NCEI.IGRA@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov HTTPS Web Browser NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information. information 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern pointOfContact daily https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C00975-8.png Upper air balloon PNG Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Geopotential Height Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Indicators > Humidity Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Atmospheric - Upper-air - Upper-air Temperature Atmospheric - Upper-air - Upper-air Wind Speed And Direction Atmospheric - Upper-air - Upper-air Water Vapour theme Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) 2017 publication Release 2017 World Meteorological Organization, United Nations https://public.wmo.int/en/programmes/global-climate-observing-system/essential-climate-variables HTTP Information GCOS Essential Climate Variables Overview of the GCOS Essential Climate Variables. information custodian Geographic Region > Global Land place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Vertical Location > Boundary Layer Vertical Location > Land Surface Vertical Location > Troposphere Vertical Location > Stratosphere stratum Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Passive Remote Sensing > Profilers/Sounders > Radiosondes instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Balloons/Rockets > Radiosondes Balloons/Rockets > PIBAL > Pilot Balloons platform Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Point Resolution dataResolution Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Hourly - < Daily dataResolution Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Hourly - < Daily dataResolution Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2018 revision Version 8.6 Global Change Data Center, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/gcmd/global-change-master-directory-gcmd-keywords HTTPS Web Browser Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. information publisher Data have not been adjusted for inhomogeneities due to station relocation, equipment changes, or changes in observing practice. NCEI scientists have applied a comprehensive set of quality control procedures to the data to remove gross errors. However, they did not attempt to remove jumps and other discontinuities caused by changes in instrumentation, observing practice, or station location. Users studying long-term trends may wish to use the NOAA Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC) or one of the available non-NOAA IGRA-derived, homogeneity-adjusted radiosonde datasets. otherRestrictions Cite as: Durre, Imke; Yin, Xungang; Vose, Russell S.; Applequist, Scott; Arnfield, Jeff; Korzeniewski, Bryant; Hundermark, Bruce. (2016) Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA), Version 2. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. DOI:10.7289/V5X63K0Q [access date]. otherRestrictions Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. Overview of the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive 2006 publication American Meteorological Society publisher https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/JCLI3594.1 Web Browser Overview of the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive Overview of the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive IGRA 1. information crossReference sciencePaper Enhanced radiosonde data for studies of vertical structure 2008 publication American Meteorological Society publisher http://www.jstor.org/stable/26220887 Web Browser Enhanced radiosonde data for studies of vertical structure Durre, I., and X. Yin, 2008: Enhanced radiosonde data for studies of vertical structure. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 89(9), 1257-1262. information crossReference sciencePaper A DIGITIZED METADATA SET OF GLOBAL UPPER-AIR STATION HISTORIES 1996-02 publication Environmental Research Laboratories author https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/images/gaffen1996.pdf HTTPS Web Browser A DIGITIZED METADATA SET OF GLOBAL UPPER-AIR STATION HISTORIES Information on IGRA Metadata information crossReference userGuide IGRA Station listing DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce author https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/integrated-global-radiosonde-archive/doc/igra2-station-list.txt HTTPS Web Browser IGRA Station listing Detailed listing of stations used within IGRA data set. information crossReference userGuide textTable eng; USA climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere The data were processed under Linux using a variety of Fortran 95 programs and bash scripts. Data sources were organized into a directory structure in which each source subdirectory is named with an eight-character data source code. In a few cases, when data sources of the same format covered mutually exclusive geographical regions, they were combined into what was from then on referred to as a single IGRA 2 data source. The IGRA 2 data SourceCodes are listed in the online documentation in the IGRA FTP directory. 1 -180.0 180.0 -90.0 90.0 ground condition 1905-01-01 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information distributor In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. XML HTML ASCII Text https://doi.org/10.7289/V5X63K0Q HTTPS Landing Page NCEI Dataset Landing Page Landing page for the dataset. information 1 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/weather-balloon/integrated-global-radiosonde-archive HTTPS Information Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) Description of the data and related resources. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/integrated-global-radiosonde-archive/ HTTPS Download NCEI Direct Download Direct download for the IGRA data files. download https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/integrated-global-radiosonde-archive/doc/ HTTPS Documentation Direct Download (Documentation Files) Direct download for the documentation. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/igra/igra2-readme.txt HTTPS Documentation Dataset README Please refer to the README file for more information about the dataset. information dataset Various data sources contribute to IGRA 2, along with several sources of metadata. The level of knowledge about each individual data source varies depending on the documentation and metadata that were provided along with the data. All data included in IGRA 2 were required to have adequate documentation of their digital format. Only observed values were included; estimated values were not. All stations included in IGRA 2 were required to be identified by either a known station identifier or by a station name, coordinates, and elevation. The data processing applied to the sources in order to create IGRA 2 are described in the Dataset Description Document. First, all data sets were formatted into a common data format, duplicate soundings and data levels were removed or combined, and station metadata was collected for as many source stations as possible, and the format of this metadata was standardized across data sources. Then, the standardized source data were integrated into one data set and passed through a sequence of quality control procedures. Finally, some station records were composited with data from very nearby stations with non-overlapping periods of record. Then derived moisture instability parameters are calculated from this step as part of the daily update process to the final IGRA 2 sounding data. Monthly means of geopotential height, temperature, zonal and meridional wind components, and vapor pressure are calculated for the surface and standard pressure levels at 0000 and 1200 UTC. This step is performed on the sixth day of every month for data ending with the previous month. The data and station metadata need to be in a standard format in preparation for later processing steps. Integration yields a data set with one observation per location, date, and time. Quality control procedures remove gross data problems. Composite step yields longer data records. The derived moisture instability parameters are useful for studies of the planetary boundary layer as well as for analyses of various measures of atmospheric water vapor content and stability. Monthly means are particularly useful for studies of long-term changes. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information processor Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive Product Description 2023 publication NOAA National Centers for Environmental Infromation publisher https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/integrated-global-radiosonde-archive/doc/igra2-product-description.pdf HTTPS Web Browser Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive Product Description Source dataset product description information Product version progressed from 2.0 to 2.2. The change to Version 2.2 includes two additional data streams which permits further updating of the IGRA data records that use the new BUFR format. 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z processor Radiosonde and pilot balloon data from land stations and Volunteer Observing Ships U.S. Air Force Upper Air Data Set (Ds3 Format) 2009 igra 2 source code usaf-ds3 U.S. Air Force 14th Weather Squadron resourceProvider 1 -180 180 -90 90 1973 2008 Radiosonde and pilot balloon observations from land stations and Volunteer Observing Ships, transmitted in Traditional Alphanumeric Code (TAC) and provided to NCEI by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) NCEI Real-Time NCEP GTS Messages (TAC format) NCEI DSI-6330, IGRA 2 source code ncdc-gts DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher 1 -180 180 -90 90 2000 Radiosonde and pilot balloon observations from land stations and Volunteer Observing Ships, transmitted by observing stations in BUFR and received daily at NCEI from the National Weather Service's Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG) NWSTG BUFR Reports DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher 1 -180 180 -90 90 2017 to Present Radiosonde and pilot balloon observations from land stations and Volunteer Observing Ships, transmitted in BUFR and received at NCEI from the European Centres for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) once a month ECMWF BUFR Reports DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher 1 -180 180 -90 90 2017 to Present Pilot balloon observations for the United States digitized by the Climate Data Modernization Program CDMP U.S. Winds Aloft from Monthly Forms and Daily Computation Sheets IGRA 2 data SourceCodes cdmp-usm (created from two original data sources from the same types of forms), cdmp-us2, and cdmp-us3 DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce originator 1 -172 -66 18 72 1918 1960 Radiosonde and pilot balloon observations for Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Tanzania, Zambia, digitized by the Climate Data Modernization Program CDMP African forms IGRA 2 data SourceCodes cdmp-adp (created from five original sources), .cdmp-amr (created from 2 original sources), cdmp-mgr, cdmp-zdm DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce originator 1 -18 51 -35 38 1946 2004 Radiosonde and pilot balloon data supplied by National Weather Service, some U.S. military, and U.S.-operated Caribbean stations, as well as, historically, some Canadian sites Non-real-time data and monthly packages in NCEInon-real-time transfer format (NWS terminology); NCEI U.S. Rawindsonde Data (NCEI DSI-6301) ongoing NCEI DSI-6212 and DSI-6212 (real-time) and DSI-6301 (final archive form); IGRA 2 SourceCodes ncdc-nws (real-time) and NCEI 6301 (archived) DOC/NOAA/NWS > National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce originator 1 -180 180 -90 90 1946 Global Telecommunications System messages received at Roshydromet Roshydromet GTS or Russian GTS NCEI DSI-6314; IGRA 2 source codencdc6314 DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher 1 -180 180 -90 90 1998 2010 Historical radiosonde and pilot balloon data with global coverage, obtained from NCAR; humidity from NCAR MIT data not included due to data problems. NCEI "Global U/A Cards" (NCEI DSI-6310); NCAR C-Cards Raob Data; NCAR MIT Upper Air Data (DS 370.0) 2009 publication IGRA 2 data SourceCodes ncar-ccd, ncar-mit UCAR/NCAR > National Center for Atmospheric Research, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research publisher 1 -180 180 -90 90 1949 1966 Data archived at NCEI (then NCDC) during their early phase of the Comprehensive Aerological Reference Data Set (CARDS) project in so-called TD63 format "Global U/A Cards", "Argentina National", "Korea National", "Australian GTS", "Australian U/A Thermo/Winds Merged", "Brazilian Upper Air", "Global Upper Air Cards" 1995 publication NCEI DSI-6310, DSI-6316, DSI-6319, DSI-6322, DSI-6323, DSI-6324, and DSI-6326, corresponding to IGRA 2 now SourceCodes ncdc6310, ncdc6316, ncdc6319, ncdc6322, ncdc6323, ncdc6324, ncdc632 respectively DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce publisher 1 -180 180 -90 90 1943 1993 Marine and ice island data archived at NCEI "Marine Upper Air" and "Upper Air Russian Ice Island" (v2.0) NCEI DSI-6210 and DSI-6355; IGRA 2 source code ncdc6210 and ncdc6355 NCEI publisher https://nsidc.org/data/nsidc-0008 Web Browser "Marine Upper Air" and "Upper Air Russian Ice Island" (v2.0) special report information 1 -180 180 65 90 1946 1993 Some stations from the Comprehensive Historical Upper Air Network Comprehensive Historical Upper Air Network 2009 publication v1.01, .rdc files IGRA 2 data source code chuan101 Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland originator 1 -180 180 -90 90 1905 2007 Upper-air data, except those for moving ships, digitized for the ERA-CLIM reanalysis project, covering many parts of the world ERA-CLIM Historical Upper Air Data 2014 publication doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.821222; IGRA 2 source code erac-hud Earth System Science Data publisher http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.821222 Web Browser ERA-CLIM Historical Upper Air Data Dataset website information 1 -180 180 -90 90 1909 1972 Radiosonde data from stations located in the artic, except those obtained from NCDC by the data set creator Historical Arctic Radiosonde Archive IGRA 2 source code ngdc-har NSIDC > National Snow and Ice Data Center distributor https://doi.org/10.5067/FQZA3330CVPO Web Browser Historical Arctic Radiosonde Archive Dataset Landing Page for source data. information 1 -180 180 -90 90 1948 1996 Antarctic data provided by the British Antarctic Survey UK READER Upper Air Data 2009 publication IGRA 2 source code bas-data BritishAntarctic survey publisher http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met/READER/ Web Browser UK READER Upper Air Data general information about the data information 1 -180 180 -90 90 1948 2008 Radiosonde and pilot balloon observations for West Africa collected by a joint data rescue project involving Meteo-France, CNRS and ASECNA in the 80's. Meteo-France African Temperature-Humidity Soundings and Winds Aloft IGRA 2 source code mfwa-ptu and mfwa-wnd Meteo-France originator 1 -18 51 -35 38 1940 1965 Rawinsonde observations collected operationally by the Indonesian Meteorological and GeophysicalAgency (BMG) and acquired by Okamoto et al. (2003) IORGC/JAMSTEC Data for Indonesia IGRA 2 source code iorgc-id Institute of Observational Research for Global Change (IORGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) distributor 1 -180 180 -90 90 repository NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015. 2015-04-22T00:00:00 asNeeded Bulk metadata change applied on 2023-06-23. See version control repository history for metadata change details.