What is Historical Weather Data? Uses, Sources & Examples

What are Examples of Historical Weather Data?

Historical weather data includes various records:

• Temperature Records: Daily, monthly, and annual temperature data.
• Precipitation Levels: Rainfall and snowfall measurements.
• Wind Speeds: Historical wind velocity records.
• Atmospheric Pressure: Barometric pressure data.
• Humidity Levels: Historical moisture content in the air.

For instance, an agricultural researcher might use historical rainfall data to determine the best planting seasons, while a utility company could analyze past temperature data to forecast energy demand during peak seasons.

Historical Weather Data Attributes

Historical weather data possesses the same attributes as all weather data types. Historical weather data is recorded from past measurements of the atmospheric conditions in various locations. Therefore the attributes to historical weather data should be weather conditions, for example humidity, air pressure, wind speed and wind pressure, and any other type of factors that detail the condition of the atmosphere. Here are some of the key weather attributes included in historical weather data:

• Maximum Temperature: The highest temperature recorded over a specified period, usually a day.
• Minimum Temperature: The lowest temperature recorded over a specified period.
• Average Temperature: The mean temperature calculated over a given period, often derived from multiple daily readings.
• Total Precipitation: The sum of all forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail) over a specified period.
• Rainfall: Measurement of liquid precipitation.
• Snowfall: Measurement of solid precipitation, usually converted to its liquid equivalent.
• Wind Speed: The rate at which air is moving at a given location, typically measured in meters per second or miles per hour.
• Wind Direction: The direction from which the wind is blowing, usually measured in degrees from true north.
• Gusts: Sudden, brief increases in wind speed.
• Relative Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage.
• Absolute Humidity: The total amount of water vapor present in the air, usually expressed in grams per cubic meter.
• Cloudiness: The fraction of the sky covered by clouds, often reported in oktas (eighths of the sky) or as a percentage.
• Atmospheric Pressure: The force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air above that surface, typically measured in hectopascals (hPa) or millibars (mb).
• Solar Irradiance: The power per unit area received from the Sun, measured in watts per square meter. This is important for understanding energy balance and plant growth.
• Dew Point: The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and dew forms. It’s a measure of atmospheric moisture.

Is Humidity a Weather or Climate Attribute?

Humidity measures the amount of moisture in the air and can be both a weather and climate attribute:

• Weather: Daily humidity levels impact immediate weather conditions, influencing comfort and health.
• Climate: Long-term humidity trends are studied to understand climate patterns and variations.

Historical weather data includes records of humidity levels, providing insights into both short-term weather phenomena and long-term climate trends.

Where to Get Historical Weather Data?

Some popular options for historical weather data sources include:

• Academic Institutions: Universities often conduct climate research and provide public access to their data repositories.
• Online Databases: Websites like NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) provide historical weather data archives.
• Historical Weather Data Providers: Companies listed on Datarade offer high-quality and extensive historical weather databases for purchase.

How is Historical Weather Data Collected?

Historical weather data is mostly weather data that has been collected and recorded, as well as been stored. Historical weather data providers collate past weather data from databases like weather monitoring systems and bodies, as well as public records. The collection of historical weather data involves various methods and instruments:

• Weather Stations: Ground-based stations recording temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and more.
• Satellites: Providing comprehensive data on weather patterns from space.
• Radiosondes: Weather balloons measuring atmospheric conditions.
• Buoys and Ships: Collecting data over oceans to monitor sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions.

What is Historical Weather Data Important?

Historical weather data provides information for a number of use cases:

• Weather Analytics: Monitoring weather patterns and observing past atmospheric conditions in comparison with the present.
• Weather Forecasting: Predicting weather patterns based on historical information.

Historical weather data is crucial for:

• Supply Chain Management: Determining optimal conditions for the movement and storage of inventory, including work-in-progress, finished goods, and raw materials.
• Climate Research: Understanding long-term climate changes and trends.
• Agricultural Planning: Optimizing planting and harvesting times.
• Disaster Prevention: Improving responses to severe weather events.
• Infrastructure Planning: Designing structures that can withstand historical weather extremes.

How is Weather Different from Climate data?

While historical weather data focuses on daily or seasonal records, climate data emphasizes long-term trends and averages, helping to understand broader environmental changes. Here is the difference:

• Weather data: Refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, such as daily temperature and rainfall.
• Climate data: Represents long-term averages of weather patterns over extended periods, typically 30 years or more.

What is the Geographic Coverage of Historical Weather Data?

Historical weather data products can cover up to 249 countries globally. This extensive geographic coverage includes detailed data from regions such as North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

What is the Historical Coverage of Weather Data?

The historical coverage of weather data varies by product, with some datasets offering records dating back to the mid-1900s. This extensive historical coverage supports long-term climate studies, trend analysis, and research.

How Accurate is Historical Weather Data?

Historical weather data is often highly accurate, with some datasets boasting a 100% accuracy rate. This accuracy is achieved through rigorous data validation processes and the use of advanced data collection methods.

What Quality Assurance Measures are in Place for Historical Weather Data?

Quality assurance measures for historical weather data typically depend on the providers. To maintain quality, these measures often include routine data cleaning, visual inspection by experts, cross-referencing with multiple data sources, and the use of advanced algorithms to filter out erroneous data.

What Delivery Methods are Available for Historical Weather Data?

Historical weather data can be delivered through various methods including APIs, S3 Buckets, email, and secure FTP (SFTP). These flexible delivery options allow users to integrate the data seamlessly into their systems.

In What Formats is Historical Weather Data Available?

Historical weather data is available in multiple formats such as .csv, .txt, .json, .xml, and .bin. This variety ensures compatibility with different analytical tools and software platforms.

How is Historical Weather Data Priced?

The pricing of historical weather data depends on factors such as data volume, geographic coverage, and the number of variables included. Pricing models can include one-off purchases, usage-based pricing, and custom pricing based on specific user needs.

Can I Get a Sample of Historical Weather Data?

Yes, many providers on Datarade offer free samples of their historical weather data products. This allows users to assess the data quality and suitability for their specific needs before committing to a purchase.

What Similar Data Types Complement Historical Weather Data?

Historical weather data complements several other data types that provide comprehensive weather and environmental insights:

• Weather forecast data, offering predictions of future weather conditions;
• Global weather data, offering worldwide weather data;
• Lightning data, which includes data on lightning strikes;
• Climate data, detailing long-term weather patterns;
• Wind data, providing detailed wind information;
• Rainfall data, capturing precipitation measurements;
• Temperature data, recording current and historical temperature records.