dataset · Global

NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network- Hourly (GHCN-H)

The Global Historical Climatology Network hourly (GHCNh) is a next generation hourly/synoptic dataset that replaces the Integrated Surface Dataset (ISD). GHCNh consists of hourly and synoptic surface weather observations from fixed, land-based stations. <br /><br /> This dataset is compiled from numerous data sources maintained by NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and many other meteorological agencies (Met Services) around the world. These sources have been reformatted into a common data format and the

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Source details

Licence: NOAA data disseminated through NODD is made available under the [Creative Commons 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0-1.0) license](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=choos

Evidence quality: 54.5

Listed in aws-odr 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: hourly surface weather observations · synoptic surface weather observations
Coverage docs-verified: Global
Resolution llm-inferred: Hourly and synoptic observations at individual fixed stations (point data, not gridded)
Update frequency docs-verified: Daily
Access docs-verified: Free and open; no AWS account needed for S3 access (aws s3 ls --no-sign-request); CC0-1.0 public domain licence, attribution requested

Useful for

Use cases llm-inferred: Hourly air temperature and precipitation records as inputs for calibrating drainage or flood models where local gauges are sparse · Long-term historical weather context for climate-change or water resources assessments · Historical hourly weather series for comparing against site-specific monitoring records
Audience llm-inferred: hydrologists · drainage engineers · flood consultants · environmental consultants · climate analysts

Limitations

Constraints llm-inferred: Point observations from fixed stations only; no spatial interpolation or gridded product · Station record length and completeness vary; check period of record per station · Dataset description mentions marine data, but the stated observations are from land-based stations; confirm scope before use · Attribution to NOAA required for unaltered data; no implied endorsement; modified data must not be presented as original NOAA data · Data quality questions go to NOAA GHCN; delivery questions to the NODD team, with no service guarantees stated

Evidence

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