NOAA LAPS Atmospheric Analyses for Cold Land Processes

Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) atmospheric analyses combine numerous observed meteorological datasets into a collection of 4-D analyses. The dataset is produced by NOAA's Forecast Systems Laboratory and is associated with the Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX). One platform lists a last updated date of 2026-03-13, while another indicates a much older date of 2003-08-31.

Use Cases

• Analyzing surface air temperature and dew point temperature patterns over snow and ice regions.
• Studying soil moisture and land surface temperature interactions with atmospheric water vapor.
• Validating model predictions of atmospheric pressure and surface winds against integrated observational analyses.
• Investigating cloud dynamics and their relationship with thermal infrared spectral data.

Strengths

• Integrates multiple observed meteorological datasets into a unified 4-D analysis.
• Covers a wide range of atmospheric and surface variables including winds, temperature, clouds, and soil moisture.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflict: one source indicates a last updated date of 2026-03 13, while another shows 2003-08-31, casting doubt on data currency.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and exact column names are not provided across the available sources.

Provenance

Source

NOAA's Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL).

Collection Method

Combination of numerous observed meteorological datasets into atmospheric analyses.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-13 03:30:08.580232

Geography

null