The aim of the GRAPE project was to produce a global cloud and aerosol dataset using a state-of-the-art physical retrieval of the entire duration of the Along Track Scanning Radiometer 2 (ATSR-2) mission (aboard ERS-2). This dataset will be compared and contrasted with existing climatologies (based on different instruments and very different retrieval algorithms). The GRAPE project was initially funded through the Clouds, Water Vapour and Climate (CWVC) Programme, a five-year NERC directed research programme. The dataset has been developed further within the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) and now includes data from the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR). The GRAPE dataset contains cloud optical depth, aerosol optical depth (cloud free), cloud phase, cloud particle size, cloud top pressure, cloud fraction and cloud ice/water path along with associated error measurements. Data spans the period 1995 to 2009 (v2 covers 1995-2001, v3 covers 1995-2009).

Global Brightness Temperature imagery animations from the Cloud Archive User Service project. This project produced a long time-series of global thermal infra-red imagery of the Earth using data from operational meteorological satellites, which was used in validating atmospheric General Circulation Models. The higher resolution CLAUS data were used to create monthly animations for educational purposes. The movie collection spans the period 1983-1994. For detailed information about the CLAUS data (processing, quality, etc) please see available documentation (Docs).

Global Brightness Temperature imagery from the Cloud Archive User Service project. This project produced a long time-series of global thermal infra-red imagery of the Earth using data from operational meteorological satellites, which was used in validating atmospheric General Circulation Models. The source data used in CLAUS are the level B3 (reduced resolution) 10 micron radiances from operational meteorological satellites participating in the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Programme (ISCCP) and were obtained from the NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center (LASDC). During the CLAUS project the B3 data were first processed to create a uniform latitude-longitude grid (or image) of Brightness Temperature (BT) values at a spatial resolution of 0.5 by 0.5 degrees and temporal resolution of three hours. The B3 data were also rigorously quality controlled to remove residual noise and navigation/calibration errors that were noticed in the original processing. The 0.5 degree resolution data were updated and supplemented by a new product at one-third degree spatial resolution for use in process studies. The CLAUS Lo-res data archive span the period 1983-2009 and the files are stored in the Portable Grey Map (PGM) format. This is a simple flat file binary format preceded by an ASCII (readable) header that contains information such as the image dimensions and version number. For detailed information about the CLAUS data (processing, quality, etc) please see available documentation (Docs).

Global Brightness Temperature imagery from the Cloud Archive User Service project. This project produced a long time-series of global thermal infra-red imagery of the Earth using data from operational meteorological satellites, which was used in validating atmospheric General Circulation Models. The source data used in CLAUS are the level B3 (reduced resolution) 10 micron radiances from operational meteorological satellites participating in the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Programme (ISCCP) and were obtained from the NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center (LASDC). During the CLAUS project the B3 data were processed to create a uniform latitude-longitude grid (or image) of Brightness Temperature (BT) values at a spatial resolution of 0.5 by 0.5 degrees and temporal resolution of three hours. Information at the grid point level about the satellites used in generating each BT image, and the type of interpolation applied, is held in two supplementary quality files. The CLAUS Lo-res data archive span the period 1983-2009 and the files are stored in the Portable Grey Map (PGM) format. This is a simple flat file binary format preceded by an ASCII (readable) header that contains information such as the image dimensions and version number. For detailed information about the CLAUS data (processing, quality, etc) please see available documentation (Docs).

Data were collected from the 1st of November 2006 to the 31st of October 2010 by the HALO photonics Doppler lidar at Chilbolton Observatory, Hampshire. The dataset contains measurements attenuated backscatter coefficients of aerosols within the atmosphere, as well as the radial and Doppler velocity of these particles. Plots of the attenuated backscatter coefficient at different heights, and of the Doppler velocity of particles are also available.

The GBS (Global Broadcast Service) dataset is a series of radio attenuation measurements made at three sites in the UK: Chilbolton and Sparsholt, both in southern UK, and Dundee in Scotland. The aim of the experiment was to make long term measurements of the signal strength received from a 20.7GHz beacon on the US Department of Defense satellite UFO-9 at multiple sites, in order to determine whether the use of site diversity as a fade mitigation technique would be effective. The dataset spans a period of 3 years, from August 2003 to August 2006 with signal attenuation sampled once per second. This dataset is cited in: S. A. Callaghan, J. Waight, J.L.Agnew, C. J. Walden, C.L.Wrench , S. Ventouras “The GBS dataset: measurements of satellite site diversity at 20.7 GHz in the UK”, Geoscience Data Journal, 17 March 2013, DOI: 10.1002/gdj3.2

The GBS (Global Broadcast Service) dataset is a series of radio attenuation measurements made at three sites in the UK: Chilbolton and Sparsholt, both in southern UK, and Dundee in Scotland. The aim of the experiment was to make long term measurements of the signal strength received from a 20.7GHz beacon on the US Department of Defense satellite UFO-9 at multiple sites, in order to determine whether the use of site diversity as a fade mitigation technique would be effective. The dataset spans a period of 3 years, from August 2003 to August 2006 with signal attenuation sampled once per second. This dataset is cited in: S. A. Callaghan, J. Waight, J.L.Agnew, C. J. Walden, C.L.Wrench , S. Ventouras “The GBS dataset: measurements of satellite site diversity at 20.7 GHz in the UK”, Geoscience Data Journal, 17 March 2013, DOI: 10.1002/gdj3.2

The GBS (Global Broadcast Service) dataset is a series of radio attenuation measurements made at three sites in the UK: Chilbolton and Sparsholt, both in southern UK, and Dundee in Scotland. The aim of the experiment was to make long term measurements of the signal strength received from a 20.7GHz beacon on the US Department of Defense satellite UFO-9 at multiple sites, in order to determine whether the use of site diversity as a fade mitigation technique would be effective. The dataset spans a period of 3 years, from August 2003 to August 2006 with signal attenuation sampled once per second. This dataset is cited in: S. A. Callaghan, J. Waight, J.L.Agnew, C. J. Walden, C.L.Wrench , S. Ventouras “The GBS dataset: measurements of satellite site diversity at 20.7 GHz in the UK”, Geoscience Data Journal, 17 March 2013, DOI: 10.1002/gdj3.2

The Coupled Ocean Atmosphere and European Climate (COAPEC) is a NERC thematic programme designed to examine the variability of the Earth's climate. The goal of COAPEC is to determine the impact on climate, especially European climate, of the coupling between the Atlantic Ocean and the atmosphere. The British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC) is the primary distribution data centre for COAPEC. This dataset contains output from the 500 year HadCM3 control integration performed with UM version 4.5 on a Linux Beowulf Cluster for COAPEC.

The P-Cube data set is a 100 km resolution subset of many important variables from three Polar Pathfinder Projects in common projection (Lambert azimuthal equal-area) and common grid (EASE-Grid). For the first time, data sets from multiple sensors measuring the Arctic region are being distributed in a manner that facilitates study of polar processes and interactions between them. A "data cube" of the Polar Pathfinder Products, hence the name "P-Cube," allows users to access variables derived from three satellite sensors and use them together. The common spatial resolution for P-Cube is dictated by the lowest resolution product (TOVS data). The P-Cube allows browsing of the multi-sensor data and exploring the relationships among the variables. For AVHRR and SSM/I data, the user may turn to the full resolution, single instrument Polar Pathfinder data sets for greater details. A wide range of polar climate research applications is possible using this multi-dimensional suite of variables from AVHRR, TOVS and passive microwave instruments. The prototype version of the P-Cube included on this CD-ROM has a temporal coverage of January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1989, and a spatial coverage poleward of 60 degrees N latitude. Future versions of the P-Cube will have expanded temporal and spatial coverage, as well as additional variables. The current prototype version of the P-Cube includes the following: atmospheric temperature (10 levels), precipitable water (5 layers), boundary layer stratification parameter, geostrophic drag coefficient, turning angle, and microwave surface emissivity (from TOVS); surface albedo, surface (skin) temperature, solar zenith angle, cloud fraction, standard deviation of surface albedo, and standard deviation of surface temperature (from AVHRR); and total ice concentration, surface type and ice velocity (from AVHRR and SSM/I). From the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) surface pressure is provided. Please note that the P-Cube data set is a prototype for a potential long term data set consisting of integrated Polar Pathfinder Products. At the time of the production of the Polar Pathfinder Sampler CD-ROM, the algorithms for a number of variables are still undergoing development and validation.