Monthly Temperature and Solar Insolation Data for Northern Minnesota

Northern Minnesota weather data from 1976 to 1986 includes monthly summaries of daily average temperature (minimum, maximum, average) and solar insolation. Measurements were collected by the National Weather Service in International Falls and by University of Minnesota researchers using calibrated instruments at Fall Lake Dam. This dataset is hosted by ORNL_CLOUD and appears on NASA EarthData and Data.gov.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term temperature trends using monthly minimum, maximum, and average values.
• Studying solar energy potential and variability via calibrated insolation measurements.
• Validating regional climate models for northern Minnesota using a decade of observational data.
• Correlating temperature and solar radiation patterns across seasons over an 11-year period.

Strengths

• Provides an 11-year continuous time series (1976-1986) for climatological analysis.
• Insolation data is collected with a Yellow Springs solar cell calibrated against a professional-grade Eppley Pyranometer.
• Dataset is cross-listed on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA EarthData, Data.gov), indicating vetting and importance.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row counts are unspecified across all sources, limiting precise structural understanding.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata: one source lists 2026-03-12 (likely a system refresh), another lists 1986-12-31 (end of data collection).

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 with a calibrated Yellow Springs solar cell at Fall Lake Dam.

Time Range

1976-1986

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:07:25.426260

Geography

International Falls and Winton (Fall Lake Dam), Minnesota, USA.