dataset · Global

ERA5-Land monthly averaged data from 1950 to present

ERA5-Land is a reanalysis dataset providing a consistent view of the evolution of land variables over several decades at an enhanced resolution compared to ERA5. ERA5-Land has been produced by replaying the land component of the ECMWF ERA5 climate reanalysis. Reanalysis combines model data with observations from across the world into a globally complete and consistent dataset using the laws of physics. Reanalysis produces data that goes several decades back in time, providing an accurate descrip

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Source details

Licence: CC-BY-4.0

Evidence quality: 41

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: 10 m wind components (u, v) · 2 m temperature · 2 m dewpoint temperature · surface pressure · total precipitation · snowfall · snow depth · snow cover · snowmelt · total evaporation · evaporation from bare soil, open water, canopy and vegetation transpiration · potential evaporation · runoff (total, surface, sub-surface) · volumetric soil water (4 layers) · soil temperature (4 layers) · skin temperature · surface net and downward solar radiation · surface latent and sensible heat flux · leaf area index (high and low vegetation) · albedo (forecast, snow) · lake variables (bottom, mix-layer and total-layer temperature, ice depth, ice temperature, shape factor)
Coverage docs-verified: Global · January 1950 to present
Resolution docs-verified: 0.1° x 0.1° regular lat-lon grid (native 9 km reduced Gaussian grid); monthly temporal resolution
Update frequency docs-verified: Monthly, with a delay of 2-3 months relative to the actual date
Formats docs-verified: GRIB
Access llm-inferred: Free to use under CC-BY-4.0 licence; Copernicus CDS account login/registration appears to be required to download (inferred from the site's Login/Register navigation)

Useful for

Use cases llm-inferred: Long-term monthly temperature and precipitation context for flood risk or drainage baseline reports · Monthly soil moisture and evaporation context for groundwater recharge or water balance screening · Snow depth and snowmelt context for winter or spring hydrology reviews · Monthly climate baseline inputs for resilience and climate change allowance discussions
Audience llm-inferred: flood consultants · hydrologists · drainage engineers · environmental consultants · climate resilience analysts · GIS analysts

Limitations

Constraints llm-inferred: Monthly means only; sub-monthly (hourly) fields require the full ERA5-Land dataset · Native 9 km grid is regridded to 0.1°, which is too coarse for site-scale work · Reanalysis is model-based and combines observations with a model, so it is not a direct station record · Data lags real time by 2-3 months · Several quality dimensions are marked 'QA Not Passed' in the docs (e.g. Uncertainty, Discovery and Use, Scientific Basis) · CDS login is needed for download

Evidence

Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.