BOREAS Follow-On HMet-02: Hourly Gridded Meteorological Data

BOREAS region surface weather data from 1994 to 1996 has been objectively analyzed into gridded datasets. The data includes hourly measurements for two study areas (NSA and SSA) and a regional grid, combining surface station observations with remote sensing retrievals. Meteorological variables likely contain surface air pressure, temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and incoming solar and infrared radiation.

Use Cases

• Modeling boreal forest carbon and water fluxes based on gridded meteorological drivers.
• Analyzing spatial patterns of precipitation and radiation across the BOREAS study areas.
• Validating remote sensing retrievals of solar radiation against surface station analyses.
• Studying diurnal and seasonal cycles of surface weather variables in a northern ecosystem.

Strengths

• Integrates multiple data sources, including surface stations and FSU GOES/BOREAS radar remote sensing products.
• Provides continuous hourly coverage for a three-year period (1994-1996).
• Offers data at multiple spatial scales: two focused study areas and a larger regional grid.

Limitations

• Specific column names and exact data formats are not detailed in the provided metadata.
• Conflicting metadata: one source lists a last updated date in 2026, while another lists 1997, creating uncertainty about data currency.
• The license is specified only as 'other-license-specified', requiring further investigation for reuse.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Generated by an objective analysis scheme using surface station data and remote sensing retrievals.

Time Range

1994-1996

Freshness

2026-03-13 (from datagov, though this conflicts with a 1997 date from nasa_earthdata)

Geography

BOREAS (Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study) region, including Northern Study Area (NSA), Southern Study Area (SSA), and a Regional grid.