All datasets
Find by variable Search datasets by a variable such as precipitation, temperature or SST Compare datasets Up to four datasets side by side in one table Standard variables What each dataset calls the same quantity Atmosphere 35 Ocean 37 Sea ice 18 Land 30 Satellite 85 138 datasets, each checked against its official sources. Things may have changed since, so re-check the official source before use.
Click a column header to sort, and tick two or more boxes on the left to compare them directly. For easy comparison only a representative value for the grid provided by the main provider is shown (temporal resolution = shortest interval provided); details are on each dataset page. ↔ marks datasets that are also listed in another section.
About resolution values — please read
Provided resolution is the grid spacing you download from the main provider, not the model's native resolution. The same dataset can come on different grids from different providers or products, so always check the grid of the file you actually downloaded.km values are approximations at the equator (1° ≈ 111 km). Longitude spacing shrinks with cos(latitude): at 60° it is half (0.25° ≈ 14 km), so "28 km" is not 28 km everywhere.
Gaussian grids have uneven latitude spacing, and ocean model grids (tripolar, curvilinear) vary from place to place. Grids with different latitude and longitude spacing are written as 0.5°×0.625° (lat × lon).
Polar-stereographic and EASE2 grids of sea-ice satellite products are defined in km; the degree value in brackets is a simple conversion. The NSIDC polar stereographic grid matches its nominal spacing only at 70° latitude.
Grid spacing is not the size of the smallest feature actually resolved (effective resolution). Features are typically resolved only at several times the grid spacing, and interpolating to a finer grid adds no information.
Temporal resolution is the shortest interval provided . Intervals and whether a value is instantaneous, mean or accumulated differ between variables — see 'Available variables' on each dataset page.
Atmosphere35 datasets
Reanalyses
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status ERA5 Reanalysis 1940-01 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 h Available ERA6 Reanalysis 1950 ~ present Global 14 km (0.13°) 1 h Upcoming JRA-3Q Reanalysis 1947-09 ~ present Global 139 km (1.25°) 1 h Available MERRA-2 Reanalysis 1980-01 ~ present Global 56 km (0.5°×0.625°) 1 h Available NCEP–DOE R2 Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 2026-02 Global 278 km (2.5°) 6 h Update delayed CFSR / CFSv2 Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ present Global 56 km (0.5°) 1 h Available CORe Reanalysis 1950-01 ~ present Global 78 km (0.7°) 3 h Available NCEP/NCAR R1 Reanalysis 1948-01 ~ 2026-03 Global 278 km (2.5°) 6 h Discontinued JRA-55 Reanalysis 1958-01 ~ 2024-01 Global 139 km (1.25°) 3 h Discontinued ERA-Interim Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 2019-08 Global 78 km (0.7°) 3 h Discontinued MERRA Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 2016-02 Global 56 km (0.5°×0.667°) 1 h Discontinued JRA-25 Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 2014-01 Global 139 km (1.25°) 6 h Discontinued ERA-40 Reanalysis 1957-09 ~ 2002-08 Global 125 km (1.125°) 6 h Discontinued ERA-15 Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 1993-12 Global 125 km (1.125°) 6 h Discontinued
Regional reanalyses
Reanalyses of a limited region on a finer grid than global reanalyses, with boundary conditions taken from a global reanalysis.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status CARRA2 Reanalysis 1985-09 ~ 2025-12 Arctic 2.5 km (0.023°) 1 h Available CARRA Reanalysis 1990-09 ~ present Part of Arctic 2.5 km (0.023°) 1 h Being replaced
Reanalyses without satellite data
Reanalyses that assimilate only conventional observations such as surface pressure and marine winds, without satellite data. Keeping the observing system stable reduces spurious jumps, which makes them suited to century-long and low-frequency studies.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status 20CR (v3) Reanalysis 1836-01 ~ 2015-12 Global 111 km (1°) 3 h Discontinued JRA-55C Reanalysis 1972-11 ~ 2012-12 Global 139 km (1.25°) 3 h Discontinued ERA-20C Reanalysis 1900-01 ~ 2010-12 Global 125 km (1.125°) 3 h Discontinued CERA-20C Reanalysis 1901-01 ~ 2010-12 Global 125 km (1.125°) 3 h Discontinued
Land reanalyses
Land-surface model reruns at higher resolution, driven by atmospheric reanalysis forcing. Used for soil moisture, snow and surface-flux studies.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status ERA5-Land Reanalysis 1950-01 ~ present Global 11 km (0.1°) 1 h Available
Precipitation
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GSMaP ↔ Satellite product 1998-01 ~ present Quasi-global 11 km (0.1°) 1 h Available GPCP V3.3 Observation-based analysis 1983-01 ~ present Global 56 km (0.5°) 1 day Update delayed GPM IMERG V07 Satellite product 1998-01 ~ present Global 11 km (0.1°) 30 min Update delayed CMORPH CDR ↔ Satellite product 1998-01 ~ present Quasi-global 8 km (0.073°) 30 min Available PERSIANN-CDR ↔ Satellite product 1983-01 ~ present Quasi-global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available CHIRPS ↔ Observation-based analysis 1981-01 ~ present Quasi-global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available APHRODITE Observation-based analysis 1951-01 ~ 2015-12 Asia 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Discontinued
Surface temperature
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status HadCRUT5 Observation-based analysis 1850-01 ~ present Global 555 km (5°) 1 month Available GISTEMP v4 Observation-based analysis 1880-01 ~ present Global 222 km (2°) 1 month Available Berkeley Earth Observation-based analysis 1850-01 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 month Available CRU TS v4.10 Observation-based analysis 1901-01 ~ 2025-12 Global 56 km (0.5°) 1 month Available
Radiation
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status CERES EBAF Ed4.2.1 Satellite product 2000-03 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 month Available CERES SYN1deg ↔ Satellite product 2000-03 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 h Available NOAA OLR ↔ Satellite product 1974-06 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 day Available
Ocean37 datasets
Reanalyses
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GLORYS12 Reanalysis 1993-01 ~ present Global 9 km (0.083°) 1 day Available ORAS5 Reanalysis 1958-01 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 month Available ORAS6 Reanalysis 1950 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 h Upcoming ECCO V4 Reanalysis 1992-01 ~ 2017-12 Global 111 km (1°) 1 day Available SODA4 Reanalysis 1980 ~ 2024-06 Global 11 km (0.1°) 5 days Available SODA3 Reanalysis 1980-01 ~ 2024-12 Global 28 km (0.25°) 5 days Available NCEP GODAS Reanalysis 1980-01 ~ present Quasi-global 111 km (1°) 5 days Available TOPAZ4b Reanalysis 1991-01 ~ present Arctic & N. Atlantic 12.5 km (0.11°) 1 day Available
Sea surface temperature analyses
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status OISST v2.1 Observation-based analysis 1981-09 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available ERSST v6 Observation-based analysis 1850-01 ~ present Global 222 km (2°) 1 month Available ERSST v5 Observation-based analysis 1854-01 ~ present Global 222 km (2°) 1 month Being replaced COBE-SST2 Observation-based analysis 1850-01 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 month Available COBE-SST3 Observation-based analysis 1850-01 ~ 2024-12 Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available HadISST Observation-based analysis 1870-01 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 month Being replaced OSTIA Observation-based analysis 1981-10 ~ present Global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available HadSST4 Observation-based analysis 1850-01 ~ present Global 555 km (5°) 1 month Available GHRSST MUR v4.1 ↔ Observation-based analysis 2002-06 ~ present Global 1 km (0.01°) 1 day Available ESA SST CCI CDR v3 Satellite product 1980-01 ~ present Global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available
Temperature & salinity analyses
Gridded 3-D temperature and salinity fields and climatologies built from in-situ profiles (Argo, CTD, XBT, …).
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status EN4 Observation-based analysis 1900-01 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 month Available WOA23 Observation-based analysis 1955-01 ~ 2022-12 Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 month Available
Satellite products
Model forcing
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status JRA55-do Model forcing 1958-01 ~ 2024-01 Global 62 km (0.56°) 3 h Discontinued
Sea ice18 datasets
Reanalyses
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status PIOMAS Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 2026-02 Arctic 22 km (0.2°) 1 day Update delayed GIOMAS Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ 2026-01 Global 60 km (0.8°) 1 day Update delayed neXtSIM Reanalysis 1993-01 ~ present Arctic 3 km (0.03°) 1 day Available TOPAZ4b ↔ Reanalysis 1991-01 ~ present Arctic & N. Atlantic 12.5 km (0.11°) 1 day Available
Observation-based analyses
Satellite products
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status OSI SAF (sea ice concentration) Satellite product 1978-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available NOAA/NSIDC CDR Satellite product 1978-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available ASI AMSR2 (Univ. Bremen) ↔ Satellite product 2002-06 ~ present Both poles 6.25 km (0.06°) 1 day Available CryoSat-2 Satellite product 2010-10 ~ present Arctic 25 km (0.23°) 7 days Available CS3SMOS Satellite product 2023-10 ~ present Both poles 12.5 km (0.11°) 7 days Available SMOS thin sea ice thickness ↔ Satellite product 2010-10 ~ present Both poles 12.5 km (0.11°) 1 day Available ESA CCI Satellite product 1972-12 ~ 2024-04 Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available ICESat-2 Satellite product 2018-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available CS2SMOS Satellite product 2010-11 ~ 2025-04 Arctic 25 km (0.23°) 7 days Discontinued
Sea-ice drift
Sea-ice motion (drift) vectors tracked from satellite imagery.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status Polar Pathfinder Satellite product 1978-11 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available OSI SAF (sea ice drift) Satellite product 1991-01 ~ present Both poles 62.5 km (0.56°) 1 day Available
Sea-ice indices
Summary indices such as sea-ice extent and area computed from satellite sea-ice concentration.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status Sea Ice Index Satellite product 1978-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available
Land30 datasets
Land reanalyses & data assimilation
Land-surface models driven by observation-based forcing (precipitation, radiation, temperature, …) to estimate soil moisture, evapotranspiration, runoff and snow. Land-only reruns of atmospheric reanalyses are listed here too.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status ERA5-Land ↔ Reanalysis 1950-01 ~ present Global 11 km (0.1°) 1 h Available GLDAS-2 Reanalysis 1948-01 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 3 h Available FLDAS Reanalysis 1982-01 ~ present Global 11 km (0.1°) 1 day Available NLDAS-2 Reanalysis 1979-01 ~ present North America 14 km (0.125°) 1 h Available TerraClimate Observation-based analysis 1950-01 ~ 2025-12 Global 4.6 km (0.042°) 1 month Available
Soil moisture
Soil moisture retrieved from satellite microwave observations, and root-zone soil moisture from assimilating them into land-surface models.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status ESA CCI Soil Moisture Satellite product 1978-11 ~ 2024-12 Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available SMAP (L3·L4) Satellite product 2015-03 ~ present Global 9 km (0.083°) 3 h Available
Evapotranspiration
Actual evapotranspiration and its components, estimated by combining satellite observations with models.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GLEAM4 Observation-based analysis 1980-01 ~ 2025-12 Global 11 km (0.1°) 1 day Available MODIS ET (MOD16) Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 8 days Being replaced
Vegetation
Satellite vegetation products such as leaf area index (LAI), fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR) and vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI).
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status MODIS LAI/FPAR (MCD15) Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 8 days Being replaced VIIRS LAI/FPAR (VNP15) Satellite product 2012-01 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 8 days Available MODIS NDVI/EVI (MOD13) Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 0.25 km (0.0025°) 16 days Being replaced VIIRS NDVI/EVI (VNP13) Satellite product 2012-01 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 16 days Available CLMS LAI/FAPAR/FCOVER Satellite product 1999-01 ~ present Global 0.3 km (0.003°) 10 days Available GLASS Satellite product 1981-01 ~ present Global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available GIMMS NDVI Satellite product 1982-01 ~ 2022-12 Global 9 km (0.083°) 15 days Discontinued
Land cover
Land cover maps classified from satellite imagery. Classification systems (IGBP, LCCS, …) and the number of classes differ between products.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status MODIS Land Cover (MCD12) Satellite product 2001-01 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 1 year Being replaced ESA CCI / C3S Land Cover Satellite product 1992-01 ~ 2022-12 Global 0.3 km (0.0028°) 1 year Update delayed ESA WorldCover Satellite product 2020-01 ~ 2021-12 Global 0.01 km (0.00008°) 1 year Discontinued
Land surface temperature & albedo
Land surface temperature (LST) from satellite thermal-infrared observations, and surface reflectance and albedo products.
Snow
Satellite snow cover extent and snow water equivalent (SWE) products.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status MODIS Snow (MOD10) Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 1 day Being replaced VIIRS Snow (VNP10) Satellite product 2012-01 ~ present Global 0.375 km (0.0034°) 1 day Available ESA CCI Snow Satellite product 1979-01 ~ 2023-12 Global 1 km (0.01°) 1 day Available
Terrestrial water storage
Changes in terrestrial water storage (the sum of groundwater, soil moisture, snow and surface water) from satellite gravimetry.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GRACE / GRACE-FO Satellite product 2002-04 ~ present Global 56 km (0.5°) 1 month Available
Fire
Satellite-detected burned area and fire emissions estimated from it.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status MODIS Burned Area (MCD64A1) Satellite product 2000-11 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 1 month Being replaced VIIRS Burned Area (VNP64A1) Satellite product 2012-03 ~ present Global 0.5 km (0.005°) 1 month Being replaced GFED Observation-based analysis 1997-01 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available
Satellite85 datasets
Precipitation
Precipitation estimated from satellite microwave and infrared observations. Gauge adjustment and latency differ between products.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GSMaP Satellite product 1998-01 ~ present Quasi-global 11 km (0.1°) 1 h Available GPCP V3.3 ↔ Observation-based analysis 1983-01 ~ present Global 56 km (0.5°) 1 day Update delayed GPM IMERG V07 ↔ Satellite product 1998-01 ~ present Global 11 km (0.1°) 30 min Update delayed CMORPH CDR Satellite product 1998-01 ~ present Quasi-global 8 km (0.073°) 30 min Available PERSIANN-CDR Satellite product 1983-01 ~ present Quasi-global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available CHIRPS Observation-based analysis 1981-01 ~ present Quasi-global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available
Clouds & radiation
Satellite observations of cloud properties and top-of-atmosphere and surface radiation.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status CERES EBAF Ed4.2.1 ↔ Satellite product 2000-03 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 month Available CERES SYN1deg Satellite product 2000-03 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 h Available MODIS Cloud (MOD06·MOD35) Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 1 km (0.01°) 1 day Being replaced VIIRS Cloud (CLDPROP·CLDMSK) Satellite product 2002-07 ~ present Global 0.75 km (0.007°) 1 day Available CLARA-A3 Satellite product 1979-01 ~ present Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Available PATMOS-x Satellite product 1981-08 ~ present Global 11 km (0.1°) 1 day Available NOAA OLR Satellite product 1974-06 ~ present Global 111 km (1°) 1 day Available GK-2A (GEO-KOMPSAT-2A) Satellite product 2019-07 ~ present Asia 2 km (0.02°) 10 min Available ISCCP-H Satellite product 1983-07 ~ 2017-06 Global 111 km (1°) 3 h Discontinued
Temperature & water vapour
Atmospheric temperature and water-vapour profiles and layer-mean temperatures from satellite microwave, infrared and GNSS radio-occultation observations.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status AIRS V7 Satellite product 2002-08 ~ present Global 50 km (0.45°) 1 day Available Aura MLS Satellite product 2004-08 ~ present Global 165 km (1.5°) 1 day Available MSU/AMSU (RSS·UAH·STAR) Satellite product 1978-11 ~ present Global 278 km (2.5°) 1 month Available GNSS-RO (COSMIC-2·ROM SAF) Satellite product 2001-09 ~ present Global 555 km (5°) 1 day Available RSS SSM/I·SSMIS Satellite product 1987-07 ~ 2026-09 Global 28 km (0.25°) 1 day Discontinued
Aerosols & atmospheric composition
Satellite aerosol optical depth and atmospheric trace gases such as ozone, NO₂, SO₂, CO, CH₄ and CO₂.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status MODIS Aerosol (MOD04·MOD08) Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 10 km (0.09°) 1 day Being replaced VIIRS Aerosol (AERDB·AERDT) Satellite product 2012-03 ~ present Global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available MISR Satellite product 2000-02 ~ present Global 4.4 km (0.04°) 1 day Update delayed Aura OMI Satellite product 2004-10 ~ present Global 24 km (0.22°) 1 day Available OCO-2 Satellite product 2014-09 ~ present Global 2 km (0.02°) 1 day Available EarthCARE Satellite product 2024-08 ~ present Global 1 km (0.01°) 1 day Available TROPOMI Satellite product 2018-04 ~ present Global 5.5 km (0.05°) 1 day Available GEMS (GEO-KOMPSAT-2B) Satellite product 2020 ~ present Asia 7 km (0.06°) 1 h Available GOSAT (GOSAT-2·GOSAT-GW) Satellite product 2009-04 ~ present Global 10 km (0.09°) 1 day Available CALIPSO Satellite product 2006-06 ~ 2023-06 Global 5 km (0.045°) 1 day Discontinued
Sea surface temperature
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GHRSST MUR v4.1 Observation-based analysis 2002-06 ~ present Global 1 km (0.01°) 1 day Available ESA SST CCI CDR v3 ↔ Satellite product 1980-01 ~ present Global 6 km (0.05°) 1 day Available AVHRR Pathfinder SST v5.3 Satellite product 1981-08 ~ 2023-12 Global 4 km (0.04°) 1 day Discontinued
Ocean surface wind
10 m ocean surface winds from scatterometers and microwave radiometers.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status CCMP V3.1 Observation-based analysis 1993-01 ~ present Quasi-global 28 km (0.25°) 6 h Available Metop ASCAT ocean winds Satellite product 2007-01 ~ present Global 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available
Ocean colour
Ocean optical properties from ocean-colour satellites, such as chlorophyll-a concentration and remote-sensing reflectance.
Sea surface salinity
Sea surface salinity from L-band microwave satellites.
Sea level & waves
Sea surface height and significant wave height from satellite altimetry.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status DUACS ↔ Satellite product 1993-01 ~ present Global 14 km (0.125°) 1 day Available SWOT KaRIn (L2 LR SSH · L3) Satellite product 2023-03 ~ present Quasi-global 2 km (0.02°) 1 day Available ESA Sea State CCI v4 Satellite product 1991-08 ~ 2023-12 Quasi-global 111 km (1°) 1 day Available
Sea ice
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status OSI SAF (sea ice concentration) ↔ Satellite product 1978-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available OSI SAF (sea ice drift) ↔ Satellite product 1991-01 ~ present Both poles 62.5 km (0.56°) 1 day Available Polar Pathfinder ↔ Satellite product 1978-11 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available ICESat-2 ↔ Satellite product 2018-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available Sea Ice Index ↔ Satellite product 1978-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available NOAA/NSIDC CDR ↔ Satellite product 1978-10 ~ present Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available ASI AMSR2 (Univ. Bremen) Satellite product 2002-06 ~ present Both poles 6.25 km (0.06°) 1 day Available CryoSat-2 ↔ Satellite product 2010-10 ~ present Arctic 25 km (0.23°) 7 days Available CS3SMOS ↔ Satellite product 2023-10 ~ present Both poles 12.5 km (0.11°) 7 days Available SMOS thin sea ice thickness Satellite product 2010-10 ~ present Both poles 12.5 km (0.11°) 1 day Available ESA CCI ↔ Satellite product 1972-12 ~ 2024-04 Both poles 25 km (0.23°) 1 day Available CS2SMOS ↔ Satellite product 2010-11 ~ 2025-04 Arctic 25 km (0.23°) 7 days Discontinued
Glaciers & ice sheets
Satellite observations of glacier and ice-sheet velocity, elevation and mass change.
Dataset Type Period Coverage Provided resolution Interval Status GRACE / GRACE-FO ↔ Satellite product 2002-04 ~ present Global 56 km (0.5°) 1 month Available ITS_LIVE Satellite product 1982 ~ present Global 0.12 km (0.001°) 1 day Available
Land