dataset · Europe
Alpine gridded monthly precipitation data since 1871 derived from in-situ observations
This dataset, also known as the Long-term Alpine Precipitation Reconstruction (LAPrec), provides gridded fields of monthly precipitation for the Alpine region (eight countries). The dataset is derived from station observations and is provided in two issues: LAPrec1871 starts in 1871 and is based on data from 85 input series; LAPrec1901 starts in 1901 and is based on data from 165 input series. This allows user flexibility in terms of requirements defined by temporal extent or spatial accuracy. L
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Licence: CC-BY-4.0
Evidence quality: 38.9
Listed in cds public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- monthly precipitation (gridded fields)
- Coverage docs-verified
- Alpine region (approximately 43–49°N, 4–17.5°E, land area only) · 1871 to 2023
- Resolution docs-verified
- 5 km horizontal; monthly temporal
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Every second year (by end of February each second year)
- Formats docs-verified
- NetCDF4
- Access docs-verified
- CC-BY licence (CC-BY-4.0 per entry metadata). Docs do not state whether download is free; page shows Login/Register.
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Long-run precipitation context for climate-change assessments in Alpine transboundary catchments · Historical monthly rainfall variability check for hydrological model calibration in continental Europe · Wet-season trend analysis for water resources studies outside the UK
- Audience llm-inferred
- climate scientists · hydrologists · water resources engineers · GIS analysts
Limitations
- Constraints llm-inferred
- Alpine region only (approx. 43–49°N, 4–17.5°E); no UK coverage · Land area only · Monthly temporal resolution only; no daily data · Two issues with different start years and station inputs (LAPrec1871: 85 series; LAPrec1901: 165 series), so results depend on the issue chosen · Updated only every second year, so recent years may lag · Requires NetCDF handling and CF-convention-aware tooling
Evidence
- https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/api/catalogue/v1/collections/insitu-gridded-observations-alpine-precipitation
- https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/datasets/insitu-gridded-observations-alpine-precipitation
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.