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Data Sources Summary

GLDAS Forcing Datasets

This page provides information for forcing and land surface datasets used in GLDAS. Tables are given to summarizes attributes of the data and when available links to original data sources as well as web pages describing additional procedures for data processing and usage are provided.

Atmospheric Forcing Datasets


DATASET NAMEDATASET TYPEPARAMETERSDOMAINSPATIAL RESOLUTION TIME RECORDTEMPORAL RESOLUTION
NCEP's Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS)Model DerivedMeteorology ForcingGlobalGaussian (~0.313 degree)Jan. 2000 - Current3-hourly
NASA's Goddard EOS Data Assimilation System (GEOS)Model DerivedMeteorology ForcingGlobal1.25 x 1.00 degreeDec. 2000 - Current3-hourly
The European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF)Model DerivedMeteorology ForcingGlobalGaussian (~0.25 degree) Sept. 2001 - Current3-hourly
Naval Research Laboratory PrecipitationSatellite ObservedMean rain rate60N - 60S0.25 x 0.25 degreeJune 2001 - Current6-hourly
NASA/GSFC TRMM 3B42RT Realtime Huffman PrecipitationSatellite ObservedMean rain rate60N - 60S0.25 x 0.25 degree Feb. 2002 - Current3-hourly
PERSIANN PrecipitationSatellite ObservedMean rain rate60N - 60S0.25 x 0.25 degree Jan. 2002 - Currenthourly
Disaggregated CMAP PrecipitationMerged Satellite/Gauge Mean rain rateGlobalGaussian (~0.313 degree) Jan. 2001 - Current6-hourly
Air Force Weather Agency Agricultural Meteorology modeling system (AFWA AGRMET) RadiationSatellite ObservedShortwave, LongwaveGlobal 0.25 x 0.25 degreeMarch 2001 - Currenthourly
NOAA/CPC CMORPH PrecipitationSatellite ObservedMean rain rate60N - 60S 8 kmDec. 2002 - Current30 minute
NASA/GSFC TRMM 3B42(V6) PrecipitationCalibrated satellite estimatesMean rain rate60N - 60S 0.25 x 0.25 degreeJan. 1998 - Current3-hourly


Land Surface Datasets


DATASET TYPEDOMAINSPATIAL RESOLUTION TIME RECORDTEMPORAL RESOLUTION
University of Maryland Vegetation ClassificationGlobal 1 kmStaticStatic
Boston University Leaf Area Index (derived from both AVHRR and MODIS)Global 1 km1981-Current (AVHRR), 2000-Current (MODIS)Monthly
Soils Database from Reynolds, Jackson, and Rawls (1999)Global 5 minuteNot applicableNot applicable
Elevation Database from GTOPO30Global 30 secondNot applicableNot applicable


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