Global analyses of tropospheric geopotential height, temperature, winds, relative humidity, and vertical motion from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). The data covers the First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) Special Observation Periods 1 and 2. It was produced by the GFDL and last updated in November 1979.
Use Cases
- Analyze global wind patterns and vertical motion fields to study tropospheric dynamics during FGGE.
- Validate modern reanalysis products against historical temperature and geopotential height analyses.
- Study the spatial distribution of relative humidity for climate model evaluation in the 1978-1979 period.
- Examine correlations between geopotential height and temperature fields for specific atmospheric events.
Strengths
- Covers two dedicated Special Observation Periods (SOP 1 & 2) for focused analysis.
- Provides multiple atmospheric variables (height, temperature, winds, humidity, motion) for a holistic view.
- Global spatial coverage enables planetary-scale climate studies.
Limitations
- Data is over 40 years old and may not reflect current atmospheric conditions or modern analysis techniques.
- Specific row counts, column details, and data resolution are unknown.
- Limited to a specific 12-month period (Dec 1978 - Nov 1979), reducing long-term trend analysis utility.
Provenance
- Source
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL).
- Collection Method
- Global atmospheric analyses generated for the First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE).
- Time Range
- December 1978 to November 1979.
- Freshness
- Data is historical; last updated 1979-11-30.
- Geography
- Global.