NASA GISTEMP: Global Surface Temperature Analysis Since 1880

NASA GISS Surface Temperature (GISTEMP) analysis measures changing global surface temperature with monthly resolution from 1880 onward. The dataset is produced by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies using adjusted data from the Global Historical Climatology Network, US Historical Climatology Network, and Antarctic station data. It is updated monthly by the GISS team, though the CDIAC presentation is updated annually.

Use Cases

• Modeling global climate change based on monthly temperature resolution since 1880.
• Analyzing long-term temperature anomalies based on the global station network data.
• Validating climate model projections against the historical temperature record.
• Studying regional temperature variations based on the adjusted GHCN and Antarctic station data.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous monthly temperature record starting from 1880.
• Integrates data from multiple authoritative sources including GHCN, USHCN, and SCAR Antarctic stations.
• Analysis methodology is documented in peer-reviewed publications (Hansen et al., 1999, 2001).
• Updated monthly by the GISS team, ensuring regular data refreshes.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date for the specific hosted version is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA GISS)

Collection Method

Analysis of adjusted temperature data from GHCN, USHCN, and Antarctic station networks.

Time Range

1880 to present

Freshness

Updated monthly by the GISS analysis team.

Geography

Global