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    • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Monthly Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR), Version 2.7

    Metadata Updated: December 12, 2025

    This Climate Data Record (CDR) of monthly mean Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) flux at the top of the atmosphere in all sky conditions is on a 2.5 degree x 2.5 degree grid with global coverage from January 1979 to the present and continuing monthly. It is derived based on the multispectral High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) OLR algorithm and other methodologies. This dataset was created from HIRS OLR retrievals from TIROS-N to NOAA-19, and MetOp-A/B satellites with inter-satellite calibration adjustments and employed the empirical diurnal model for monthly mean derivation. This version 2.7 is an upgrade from the previous version 2.2-1. The main change is in the OLR regression models and the inter-satellite calibration. The version 2.7 OLR regression models improved the retrieval consistency between variant versions of HIRS instruments, HIRS-2, 2i, 3 and 4, and in turn, the accuracy of inter-satellite calibration is significantly improved, thus eliminating the spurious trends presented in the version 2.2-1 data. The data file format is netCDF-4 with CF metadata, and it is accompanied by algorithm documentation, data flow diagram and source code for the NOAA CDR Program.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Date November 25, 2025
    Metadata Created Date December 12, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date December 12, 2025
    Reference Date(s) July 17, 2018 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update monthly

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from ncdc

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Image of Monthly Mean OLR.

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date November 25, 2025
    Metadata Created Date December 12, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date December 12, 2025
    Reference Date(s) July 17, 2018 (publication)
    Responsible Party National Centers for Environmental Information (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C01561
    Access Constraints Cite dataset when used as a source: Hai-Tien Lee and NOAA CDR Program (2018): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Monthly Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR), Version 2.7. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5W37TKD [access date]., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, 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., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180.0
    Bbox North Lat 90.0
    Bbox South Lat -90.0
    Bbox West Long -180.0
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update monthly
    Graphic Preview Description Image of Monthly Mean OLR.
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C01561_OutgoingLongwaveRadiationMonthly.jpg
    Graphic Preview Type JPEG
    Harvest Object Id d4bf1f99-7977-48ea-8bd6-317182731482
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence For a complete description of use limiataions for this CDR, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.
    Lineage The data were produced by the University of Maryland and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
    Progress
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1979-01-01

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