GLDAS_CLSM10_3H: Global Land Surface Variables at 3-Hourly, 1-Degree Resolution

NASA's Global Land Data Assimilation System Version 2.1 (GLDAS-2.1) provides 34 land surface fields simulated by the Catchment-F2.5 Land Surface Model. The dataset contains 3-hourly data at a 1.0 x 1.0 degree spatial resolution, covering the period from January 2000 to the present. It is forced with a combination of model and observational data, including NOAA/GDAS atmospheric fields and GPCP precipitation data.

Use Cases

• Modeling global soil moisture and temperature dynamics based on the 34 land surface fields.
• Analyzing precipitation and radiation impacts on terrestrial hydrology based on the combined meteorological forcing.
• Studying long-term land surface changes from 2000 to present based on the continuous temporal coverage.
• Validating other land surface or climate models based on the assimilated observational data sources.

Strengths

• Contains 34 distinct land surface fields for comprehensive land state analysis.
• Provides data from January 2000 to present, offering over two decades of continuous coverage.
• Post-processed with a MODIS land mask to correct data over inland water bodies.
• Forced with combined observational and model data (NOAA/GDAS, GPCP, AGRMET) for accuracy.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for specific ML tasks.
• Data products have a latency period (about 1.5 months for Early Products).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Simulated with the Catchment-F2.5 Land Surface Model in the Land Information System (LIS) Version 7, forced with combined meteorological data.

Time Range

January 2000 to present

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:30:10.345748; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global at 1.0 x 1.0 degree resolution