Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC), Version 2

Dataset Identification:

Resource Abstract:
The Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC) consist of time series of radiosonde-based temperature anomalies for the years 1958-present in which the temporal inhomogeneities resulting from changes in instruments and observing practices have been reduced to the extent possible. Developed through a collaborative effort involving NOAA scientists from the Air Resources Laboratory, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and NCEI, the RATPAC time series are based on data from 85 stations distributed around global land areas and are available on 13 atmospheric pressure levels: the surface, 850, 700, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 70, 50, and 30 hPa. Two sub-products, RATPAC-A and RATPAC-B, were derived using different approaches to meet this need based largely in part on the Temporal Homogenization of Monthly Radiosonde Temperature Data (LKS) bias-adjusted dataset. RATPAC-A contains adjusted global, hemispheric, tropical, and extratropical mean temperature anomalies. From 1958 through 1995, the bases of the data are on spatial averages of LKS adjusted 87-station temperature data. After 1995, they are based on the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) station data, combined using a first difference method. RATPAC-B contains data for individual stations as well as large-scale arithmetic averages corresponding to areas used for RATPAC-A. The station data consist of adjusted data produced by LKS for the period 1958-1997 and unadjusted data from IGRA after 1997. The regional mean time series in RATPAC-B are based on arithmetic averaging of these station data, rather than the first difference method used to create RATPAC-A. The difference between this version and the original version of RATPAC is that the IGRA component of Version 2 is taken from IGRA v2 rather than IGRA v1.
Citation
Title Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC), Version 2
alternateTitle  RATPAC 2
creation  Date   2016-09
Edition Version 2.0
presentationForm  tableDigital
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
cited responsible party - originator
individual Name Durre, Imke
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Physical Scientist
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 828-271-4870
Address
electronic Mail Address imke.durre@noaa.gov
cited responsible party - collaborator
individual Name Yin, Xungang
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact information
Address
electronic Mail Address xungang.yin@noaa.gov
cited responsible party - collaborator
individual Name Vose, Russell
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Division Chief
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 828-271-4311
Address
electronic Mail Address russell.vose@noaa.gov
cited responsible party - collaborator
individual Name Applequiest, Scott
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Physical Scientist
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 828-271-4018
Address
electronic Mail Address Scott.Applequist@noaa.gov
cited responsible party -
organisation Name  
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA website for RATPAC
URL: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/weather-balloon/radiosonde-atmospheric-temperature-products-accessing-climate
protocol HTTP
link function information
Description Website for more information, documentation and background on the time series, with links to the data.
target application profile  Information
Topic Category:  climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Keywords:
Theme keywords (theme):
EARTH SCIENCE
EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE
EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE > UPPER AIR TEMPERATURE
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science and Services Keywords
revision  Date   2015-08-04
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
Theme keywords (theme):
Atmospheric - Upper-air - Upper-air Temperature
thesaurus name >
Title Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
publication  Date   2010
Edition GCOS-138 (August 2010)
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  UN/WMO > World Meteorological Organization, United Nations
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name GCOS Essential Climate Variables
URL: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/index.php?name=EssentialClimateVariables
protocol HTTP
link function information
Description Overview of the GCOS Essential Climate Variables.
target application profile  Web Browser
Location keywords:
GEOGRAPHIC REGION > GLOBAL LAND
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
revision  Date   2015-04-07
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
Stratum keywords:
VERTICAL LOCATION > BOUNDARY LAYER
VERTICAL LOCATION > LAND SURFACE
VERTICAL LOCATION > TROPOSPHERE
VERTICAL LOCATION > STRATOSPHERE
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
revision  Date   2015-04-07
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
instrument Keywords
RADIOSONDES
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
revision  Date   2015-10-02
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
platform Keywords
RADIOSONDES
PIBAL > Pilot Balloons
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
revision  Date   2015-09-23
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
dataResolution Keywords
Vertical Resolution Range: Point Resolution
Horizontal Resolution Range: Point Resolution
Temporal Resolution Range: Hourly - < Daily
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Resolution Keywords
revision  Date   2013-03-19
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
dataCenter Keywords
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
revision  Date   2015-10-02
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
Theme keywords (theme):
Geophysics
thesaurus name >
Title Science Domain > Earth Science
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
RADIOSONDES
PIBAL
thesaurus name >
Title Equipment > Platform
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
NOAA
thesaurus name >
Title Organization > GOVERNMENT AGENCIES-U.S. FEDERAL AGENCIES
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Dynamics
Difference
thesaurus name >
Title Feature > Marine Feature
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Averaging
thesaurus name >
Title Method > information processing
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Temperature
Level With
Centered
Vertical
Horizontal
thesaurus name >
Title Property > Measure
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Time Series
Dataset
thesaurus name >
Title Resource Type > Dataset
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Instrument
thesaurus name >
Title Equipment > Instrument
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Base
thesaurus name >
Title Material > Chemical
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
National Centers for Environmental Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
thesaurus name >
Title Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) Corporate Names
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:46 UTC 2018
purpose:
RATPAC is intended to be used for the assessment of long-term changes in tropospheric and lower-stratospheric temperatures on large spatial scales. For analyses of interannual and longer-term changes in global, hemispheric, and tropical means, use of RATPAC-A is recommended since it contains the most robust large-scale averages. For individual station data, monthly data, or regional means on smaller scales, use of RATPAC-B, is recommended, albeit with careful attention to the potential of inhomogeneities influencing the analysis after 1997. For analyses that require data not included in RATPAC and that are less sensitive to long-term biases, users are referred to the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA).
Browse image (thumbnail):
thumbnail file name:  ...
file type: PNG
thumbnail file description:  Upper air balloon
Resource language:  eng; USA
Resource progress code:  onGoing
Resource Maintenance Information
maintenance or update frequency:  monthly
Constraints on resource usage:
Constraints
Use limitation statement:
Approximately 15 of the 85 stations used have closed since the 1990s, resulting in a decrease in the station density over time. The impact of this reduction in the station network on the RATPAC time series has not been assessed.
Constraints on resource usage:
Legal Constraints
use constraint:  otherRestrictions
Other constraints
Cite this dataset when used as a source: Durre, Imke; Xungang, Yin; Vose, Russell S.; Applequist, Scott. Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate, Version 2. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. DOI:10.7289/V5SF2T7J [access date].
Constraints on resource usage:
Legal Constraints
use constraint:  otherRestrictions
Other constraints
NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NCEI makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Spatial representation type code:  textTable
Processing environment:  The data were processed under Linux using several Fortran 77 programs and one bash script.
Resource extent
Geographic Extent
Geographic Bounding Box
extent Type Code  1
westBoundLongitude  -180.0
eastBoundLongitude  180.0
northBoundLatitude  90.0
southBoundLatitude  -90.0
Temporal Extent
ground condition 1958 1
point of contact - pointOfContact
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Back to top:

Scope of quality information
scope level  dataset
Resource lineage description
Lineage statement
The data sources and processing methods are documented in several peer-reviewed papers.

Scope of quality information
scope level  repository
Level Description
other component described  NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Resource lineage description

Resource distribution information

Distributor
distributor contact - distributor
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Format
Format name XML
Format version 
Standard ordering process
fees In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free, however fees may apply for data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Digital Transfer Options
transfer Size 1
Linkage for online resource
name Radiosonde Atmospheric Temperature Products for Assessing Climate (RATPAC), Version 2 Landing Page
URL: https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.ncdc:C00978
protocol HTTP
link function information
Description Dataset landing page with general information and access links for the dataset.
target application profile  Description
Distributor
distributor contact - distributor
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Format
Format name ASCII
Format version 
file Decompression Technique  zip
Standard ordering process
fees In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free, however fees may apply for data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Digital Transfer Options
transfer Size 
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA RATPAC download website
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/ratpac/access/
protocol HTTPS
link function download
Description NOAA RATPAC website to download data
target application profile  Download

Metadata data stamp:  2017-04-24
Resource Maintenance Information
maintenance or update frequency:  asNeeded
notes: Bulk metadata change applied on 2017-04-24. See version control repository history for metadata change details.
Metadata contact - pointOfContact
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name ISO 19115 Metadata Contact
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Metadata scope code  dataset
Metadata language  eng; USA
Metadata character set encoding:   utf8
Metadata standard for this record:  ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data
standard version:  ISO 19115-2:2009(E)
Metadata record identifier:  gov.noaa.ncdc:C00978

Metadata record format is ISO19139-2 XML (MI_Metadata)