Reformatted CRU TS 2.1 Climate Database Online !!

The CGIAR-CSI is happy to announce that the CRU TS 2.1 Climate Data, reformatted for easy use in geospatial analysis and GIS software packages by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), is now available through the CGIAR Geoportal at:

The CRU TS 2.1 Global Climate Dataset is comprised of 1224 monthly time-series of climate variables, for the period 1901-2002, covering the global land surface, excluding Antarctica, at 0.5 degrees resolution. The nine climate variables available through this dataset are: daily mean, minimum and maximum temperature, diurnal temperature range, precipitation, wet day frequency, frost day frequency, vapor pressure and cloud cover. The CGIAR-CSI GeoPortal provides easy to use, reformatted CRU TS 2.1 Global Climate Data for the entire world.

This data has been produced by the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of University of East Anglia (UEA), and reformatted by International Water Managment Institute (IWMI) for use in geospatial analysis using common GIS software.

The CRU Dataset is provided both in 5 x 5 degrees tiles, and by Continents for easy download and use. It is also available clipped to the Water for Food Challenge Program (CPWF) Priority Basin boundaries.

These are available as ArcInfo Grids to facilitate their ease of use in GIS applications. Many thanks to CRU (Phil Jones) for providing this data giving permission for redistribution, and to Antonio Trabucco for reformatting the data, geoprocessing the dataset for distribution on this site, and providing the impetus for this effort.