SNF: 1982 Weather and Solar Insolation Data

National Weather Service data from International Falls, Minnesota, is combined with precise solar insolation measurements from Fall Lake Dam, calibrated with an Eppley Pyranometer. This dataset provides daily climatology for a specific region in 1982, linking standard meteorological observations with specialized solar radiation data. The cross-platform presence on NASA and Data.gov platforms indicates its established use in earth science research.

Use Cases

• Analyzing daily precipitation trends based on NWS weather station data.
• Modeling solar energy potential using calibrated total solar insolation measurements.
• Correlating surface temperature with atmospheric water vapor indicators.
• Studying regional climatology for a specific year (1982) in northern Minnesota.

Strengths

• Includes calibrated solar insolation measurements using a Yellow Springs cell against an Eppley Pyranometer.
• Data is sourced from authoritative institutions: the National Weather Service and a University of Minnesota professor.
• Appears on multiple major data platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata), suggesting validation and reuse.

Limitations

• Conflicting last-updated dates: Data.gov lists 2026-04-09 (likely a metadata error), while NASA lists 1982-12-31.
• Column names and exact row counts are unknown, limiting understanding of data structure and completeness.
• Spatial representativeness is inferred, as the primary weather station is 80 miles from the study area (SNF).

Provenance

Source

National Weather Service (International Falls, MN) and Prof. Donald Baker, University of Minnesota.

Collection Method

Weather data collected by NWS; solar insolation measured at Fall Lake Dam with calibrated instruments.

Time Range

1982

Freshness

1982-12-31 23:59:59.999000

Geography

International Falls and Winton, Minnesota, USA, representative of the Superior National Forest (SNF) area.