Copyright: Copyright © 2003-2008 by EarthInfo, Inc.
Citation: Copyright © 2003-2008 by EarthInfo, Inc.


Contents
EarthInfo GHCN Global Daily

Introduction

Product-Specific Features

Fields

Export Formats

Measurement Flags

Quality Flags

Navigation Chart


Database Categories

Please review the discussion of database categories under the "Category Groups: Name and Data" section in your CD² Reference Guide. The Global Daily Database is divided into five categories:

Name Categories

WMO Region/Continent

Country

Data Categories

Station

Parameter Index

Daily Data


Decimal Degrees

Longitude
Locations west of the prime meridian (0°) have negative longitudes to -180°, and locations east of the prime meridian have positive longitudes to +180°.

Latitude
Locations south of the equator have negative latitudes to -90° at the South Pole, and locations north of the equator have positive latitudes to +90° at the North Pole.


Export Formats

Below is the table of export formats available in Global Daily.

Category	ASCII	Binary	DBASE	Lotus
WMO Region/Continent	Xx	Xx	Xx	Xx
Country	Xx	Xx	Xx	Xx
Station	Xx	Xx	Xx	Xx
Parameter Index	Xx	Xx	Xx	Xx
Daily Data	Xx	Xx	Xx	Xx
	(X - fixed format,  x - FLEX format)
ASCII TABULAR

All Categories

The ASCII Tabular export format will export data in ASCII and preserve the tabular layout presented on the screen display. The result is identical to a File|Print selection from the menu, or by pressing Ctrl-P and selecting (F)ile as the direction for the output.

FLEX - Creating a Flexible Export

The initial Export Type Selection Screen may show some export types with the (FLEX) symbol in the export name, such as ASCII(FLEX). This indicates the export allows you to specify your own export format by selecting the fields you want, and the order you want to see them in an export file.

After selecting a flex format and  entering a name for the export output data file, the Export Field window opens. Pick the fields you want and in the order you want them exported.

In LOTUS(FLEX), you have the choice of orientation. If the default is horizontal, one of your options will be *VERTICAL*, and selecting it not only changes the orientation but replaces that option with *HORIZONTAL*. You can toggle back and forth.

When you are satisfied with your FLEX format design, select *DONE*. You will be prompted to enter a name for your flex export format definition, or to press Esc if you do not want it saved for future use. For ease of reference, describe the new format's structure in detail (you can use up to 24 characters in the name).

*PREVIEW* will display the first few records to be exported. Only the fields picked will be shown, and in the order you arranged. You may need to scroll to the right to see all of the fields. To remove any fields from your export, pick *DELETE*.  Highlight the field to delete and press Enter.

Reusing a Saved FLEX Format

The Export Format window also lists the names of any previously made FLEX formats you saved in this same category of records. If you select one of saved FLEX formats, you will be asked whether you wish to (L)oad, (R)ename, (D)elete, or (V)iew it.  Choose L, R, D, or V and proceed accordingly.

You can View a saved FLEX format to remind you of the fields and their order in the exported file, but the only way to "edit" a saved FLEX format is to Delete it and create a new one.

ASCII

All Categories

The ASCII export format will export pipe ("|") sign delimited data, unless reset by the user as described in the CD² Reference Guide. The ASCII export format orders the fields as follows:

ASCII WMO Region/Continent

WMO REGION NUMBER
WMO REGION NAME
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES
NUMBER OF STATIONS

ASCII Country

WMO REGION NUMBER
COUNTRY CODE
COUNTRY FIPS
COUNTRY NAME
NUMBER OF STATIONS

ASCII Station

COUNTRY CODE
STATION ID
STATION NAME
STATE/PROVINCE CODE
LONGITUDE
LATITUDE
ELEVATION

ASCII Parameter Index

COUNTRY CODE
STATION ID
PARAMETER
BEGIN YEAR
BEGIN MONTH
BEGIN DAY
END YEAR
END MONTH
END DAY
NUMBER OF RECORDS
% COVERAGE

ASCII Daily Data

COUNTRY CODE
STATION ID
PARAMETER
YEAR
DAYVAL_01
MQFLAG_01
>>>    and so forth until:
DAYVAL_31
MQFLAG_31

BINARY

Binary WMO Region/Continent

Variable Type	Field Name	Offset	Length
unsigned char	WMO Region Number	0	1
char	WMO Region Name	1	25
unsigned int	Number of Countries	26	2
unsigned int	Number of Stations	28	2
			Total = 30

Binary Country

Variable Type	Field Name	Offset	Length
unsigned char	WMO Region Number	0	1
unsigned int	Country Code	1	2
char	Country FIPS	3	2
char	Country Name	5	47
unsigned int	Number of Stations	52	2
			Total = 54

Binary Station

Variable Type	Field Name	Offset	Length
unsigned int	Country Code	0	2
char	Station ID	2	9
char	Station Name	11	30
char	State/Province Code	41	2
float	Longitude	43	4
float	Latitude	47	4
float	Elevation	51	4
			Total = 55

Binary Parameter Index

Variable Type	Field Name	Offset	Length
unsigned int	Country Code	0	2
char	Station ID	2	9
unsigned char	Parameter	11	1
unsigned int	Begin Year	12	2
unsigned char	Begin Month	14	1
unsigned char	Begin Day	15	1
unsigned int	End Year	16	2
unsigned char	End Month	18	1
unsigned char	End Day	19	1
unsigned long	Number of Records	20	4
unsigned char	% Coverage	24	1
			Total = 25

Binary Daily Data

Variable Type	Field Name	Offset	Length
unsigned int	Country Code	0	2
unsigned long	Station ID	2	9
unsigned char	Parameter	11	1
unsigned int	Year	12	2
unsigned char	Month	14	1
int	DayVal [31]	15	31 x 2 = 62
char	MQFlag [31]	77	31 x 2 = 62
			Total = 139

DBASE

DBASE WMO Region/Continent

Field Name	Size	Decimals	Field Type
WMO_NUM	1	0	N
WMO_NAME	25		C
WMO_NCTR	3	0	N
WMO_NSTA	5	0	N

DBASE Country

Field Name	Size	Decimals	Field Type
WMO_NUM	1	0	N
CTR_CODE	3	0	N
CTR_FIPS	2		C
CTR_NAME	47		C
CTR_NSTA	5	0	N

DBASE Station

Field Name	Size	Decimals	Field Type
CTR_CODE	3	0	N
STA_ID	9		C
STA_NAME	30		C
STE_PRO_CD	2		C
LONGITUDE	9	4	N
LATITUDE	8	4	N
ELEVATION	6	1	N

DBASE Parameter Index

Field Name	Size	Decimals	Field Type
CTR_CODE	3	0	N
STA_ID	9		C
PARAMETER	4		C
BEG_YEAR	4	0	N
BEG_MON	2	0	N
BEG_DAY	2	0	N
END_YEAR	4	0	N
END_MON	2	0	N
END_DAY	2	0	N
NUM_RECS	6	0	N
%_COVERAGE	3	0	N

DBASE Daily Data

Field Name	Size	Decimals	Field Type
CTR_CODE	3	0	N
STA_ID	9		C
PARAMETER	4		C
YEAR	4	0	N
MONTH	2	0	N
DAYVAL_01	6	1	N
MQFLAG_01	2		C
>>>    and so forth until:

DAYVAL_31	6	1	N
MQFLAG_31	2		C

LOTUS

All Categories

The field names have been shortened to meet Lotus requirements. These shorter names are listed below, and are displayed within Lotus itself. The named ranges for the Lotus export format are ordered as follows:

LOTUS WMO Region/Continent

WMO_NUM
WMO_NAME
WMO_NCTR
WMO_NSTA

LOTUS Country

WMO_NUM
CTR_CODE
CTR_FIPS
CTR_NAME
CTR_NSTA

LOTUS Station

CTR_CODE
STA_ID
STA_NAME
STE_PRO_CD
LONGITUDE
LATITUDE
ELEVATION

LOTUS Parameter Index

CTR_CODE
STA_ID
PARAMETER
BEG_YEAR
BEG_MON
BEG_DAY
END_YEAR
END_MON
END_DAY
NUM_RECS
%_COVERAGE

LOTUS Daily Data

CTR_CODE
STA_ID
PARAMETER
YEAR
MONTH
DAYVAL_01
MQFLAG_01
>>>    and so forth until:
DAYVAL_31
MQFLAG_31


Fields

This section describes the fields for each category of records in the left-to-right order that they appear on your screen.

Please refer to the "Move Keys and Display Types" section in the CD² Reference Guide. The Display Type and the contents of one record are printed beside each category name.

Name Categories

WMO Region/Continent	Type I - one WMO Region/Continent per record
Country	Type I - one Country per record

Data Categories

Station	Type I - one Station per record
Parameter Index	Type I - one Station/Parameter per record
Daily Data	Type II - one month of daily data values per record


Fields Country
Country Fields

Type I - one Country per record.

WMO#	World Meteorological Organization region number.
Country Code	3 digit country code  (first digit is the WMO region number).
Country FIPS	2 character FIPS country code.
Country Name	47 character country name.
Number of Stations	Number of stations with data for this country.


Fields Daily Data
Daily Data Fields

Type II - one month of daily data values per record.

Ctr	3 digit country code  (first digit is the WMO region number).
Station	9 character alphanumeric station ID. The first character is a network code that identifies the station numbering system used, and the remaining eight characters contain the actual station ID. The network code has the following three values: C = U.S. Cooperative Network identification number (last six characters of the station ID). W = WBAN identification number (last five characters of the station ID). 0 = other (station identified by up to eight alphanumeric characters).
Parm	Abbreviated parameter name for this record. Code Abbr Parameter Name Units 1 PRCP precipitation millimeters 2 SNOW snowfall   millimeters 3 SNWD snow depth millimeters 4 TMAX maximum temperature degrees C 5 TMIN minimum temperature degrees C 6 TOBS temperature at time of obs degrees C In Filter and Find, the parameter searches use the numerical code instead of the abbreviated name.
Year	Year  (1833 - 2008).
Mon	Month  (01 - 12).
Day01-Day31	31 daily data values with associated measurement flags and quality flags. Novals are displayed as "---" and exported as "-999.9". For each day the format is (xxxx.xyz) where xxx.x = value, y = measurement flag and z =quality flag


Fields Parameter Index
Parameter Index Fields

Type I - one Station/Parameter per record.

Ctr Code	3 digit country code  (first digit is the WMO region number).
Station ID	9 character alphanumeric station ID. The first character is a network code that identifies the station numbering system used, and the remaining eight characters contain the actual station ID. The network code has the following three values: C = U.S. Cooperative Network identification number (last six characters of the station ID). W = WBAN identification number (last five characters of the station ID). 0 = other (station identified by up to eight alphanumeric characters).
Parameter	Abbreviated parameter name for this record. Code Abbr Parameter Name Units 1 PRCP precipitation millimeters 2 SNOW snowfall   millimeters 3 SNWD snow depth millimeters 4 TMAX maximum temperature degrees C 5 TMIN minimum temperature degrees C 6 TOBS temperature at time of obs degrees C In Filter and Find, the parameter searches use the numerical code instead of the abbreviated name.
Begin Date	Begin year, month, and day of the period of record.
End Date	End year, month, and day of the period of record.
Number of Records	Number of daily data records for this station/parameter. Each record contains a month of 31 daily values with associated measurement flags and quality flags.
% Coverage	Percent coverage to nearest whole percent. Percent of days between the begin date and end date that have reported data.


Fields Station
Station Fields

Type I - one Station per record.

Ctr Code	3 digit country code  (first digit is the WMO region number).
Station ID	9 character alphanumeric station ID. The first character is a network code that identifies the station numbering system used, and the remaining eight characters contain the actual station ID. The network code has the following three values: C = U.S. Cooperative Network identification number (last six characters of the station ID). W = WBAN identification number (last five characters of the station ID). 0 = other (station identified by up to eight alphanumeric characters).
Station Name	30 character station name.
State/Province Code	2 character state code (United States) or province code (Canada) or blank.
Longitude	Longitude in decimal degrees .
Latitude	Latitude in decimal degrees .
Elev	Station elevation in meters. Novals are displayed as "---" and exported as "-999.9".

Additional fields in the Detailed View

GSN Flag	GSN flag: G = indicates that the station is part of the GCOS Surface Network (GSN). A blank value indicates a non-GSN station or WMO ID not available. The flag is assigned by cross-referencing the number in the WMO ID field with the official list of GSN stations.
HCN Flag	HCN Flag: H = indicates that the station is part of the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (HCN) A blank value indicates a non-HCN station.
WMO ID	The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) number for the station.


Fields WMO Region/Continent
WMO Region/Continent Fields

Type I - one WMO Region/Continent per record.

WMO Region Number	World Meteorological Organization region number. WMO regions correspond to the continents.
WMO Region Name	World Meteorological Organization region name.
Number of Countries	Number of countries with data for this WMO region.
Number of Stations	Number of stations with data for this WMO region.


Introduction

The EarthInfo GHCN Global Daily Database Guide presents important product-specific information, including database layout and export formats. The CD² Reference Guide contains the generic features of CD² and explains its commands. You need to know these commands in order to access the data on EarthInfo CDs, create the data subsets you want, and download them for subsequent use.

The Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) represents a multi-year effort of collecting, analyzing, and archiving global daily data into a single consistent format. All GHCN data are provided on a daily basis and are comprised of surface station observations of precipitation, snow, and temperature from stations located across the world. Data within the GHCN have been extensively checked through a series of quality control procedures to ensure erroneous values have been removed and/or identified. The GHCN currently has over 1.5 billion data values and that number is expected to increase as the GHCN expands in the future. The majority of daily data contained within this dataset were collected through cooperative research exchanges. In addition, many stations were collected through previously established data networks such as the GCOS Surface Network (GSN) and the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (HCN).

EarthInfo’s GHCN Global Daily Database was built using the data from GHCN - Daily Version 2.0. The database contains daily data values of precipitation, snowfall, snow depth, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and temperature at time of observation. The daily data is sorted by WMO region, country, station, parameter, year, and month. This database is published on 12 regional CDs.

Region 1	North America - United States (Pacific)
CA, OR, WA, AK, HI
Region 2	North America - United States (Mountain)
CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY
Region 3	North America - United States (Southwest)
AZ, NM, OK, TX
Region 4	North America - United States (Central)
IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Region 5	North America - United States (Midwest)
IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI
Region 6	North America - United States (Northeast)
CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, WV
Region 7	North America - United States (Southeast)
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN
Region 8	North America - Canada, Greenland

Region 9	North America - Central America, Caribbean Islands

Region 10	South America

Region 11	Africa, Europe

Region 12	Asia, Southwest Pacific, Antarctica


Measurement Flags

Flag	Description
	(blank) no measurement information applicable
B	precipitation total formed from two 12-hour totals
D	precipitation total formed from four 6-hour totals
T	trace of precipitation, snowfall, or snow depth


Navigation Chart

Click on a category name to see a description of the fields for that category.


Navigation Rules

The software as delivered will automatically run a query to extract the list of WMO Region/Continent numbers and names with data on the CD. This is the "Original Initial Query," and it starts you in the WMO Region/Continent category. You can start in any category by loading a saved set of that category's records, or by executing a query that accesses that category's records. See the Load (Ctrl-L or File|Open(Load)) and Create Query (Ctrl-C or File|New(Query)) commands in the CD² Reference Guide.

In addition to choosing your starting category, you choose the path to travel from category to category, so long as it conforms to the arrows in the Navigation Chart. Moving from one category to the next is called a "Step To" and is accomplished by clicking the Toolbar icon, selecting File|Step To from the menu, or by pressing Enter.

For example, start in WMO Region/Continent, mark the records you want by pressing the Spacebar, then Step To Country to view all the countries for the selected WMO regions. From Country, mark the records you want and Step To Station to view all the stations for the selected countries. From Station, mark the records you want and Step To Parameter Index to view the list of time series by station and parameter for the selected stations. From Parameter Index mark the records you want and Step To Daily Data to view the daily values by month for the selected time series.

Step Back by clicking the Toolbar icon, selecting File|Step Back from the menu, or by pressing Esc, which will take you back to the previous window. In the Navigation Chart, simply traverse an arrow opposite the way it is pointing for a Step Back.


Other Specific Items

The following commands are not deployed in Global Daily because they are either not required or not essential:

Analyze	(Ctrl-Y or File|Analyze)
Quality Toggle	(Ctrl-Q or View|Quality Toggle)
Units Toggle	(Ctrl-U or View|Quality Toggle)
Zero Toggle	(Ctrl-Z or View|Zero Toggle)

Note: a complete list of the CD² commands can be found in the CD² Reference Guide.


Product-Specific Features
EarthInfo GHCN Global Daily

Introduction

Product-Specific Features

Navigation Rules

Database Categories

Other Specific Items

Fields

Export Formats

Navigation Chart


Quality Flags

Flag	Description
	(blank) did not fail any quality assurance check
A	failed accumulation total check
C	failed intraday consistency check
D	failed duplicate check
F	failed value-measurement flagged consistency check
G	failed gap check
I	failed internal consistency check
K	failed streak/frequent-value check
M	failed megaconsistency check
N	failed naught check
O	failed climatological outlier check
R	failed lagged range check
S	failed spatial consistency check
T	failed temporal consistency check
W	temperature too warm for snow
X	failed bounds check