Home/Datasets/Surface Temperature 2003 India

Surface Temperature 2003 India

This dataset contains surface temperature forecasts (TMP_surface) for India during the year 2003. The temperature values are provided in Kelvin and recorded at the surface level. The data is structured as a 4-dimensional grid with dimensions: time (364 daily steps starting from January 1, 2003), forecast_time (81 forecast lead times), latitude, and longitude (both spanning 256 grid points each). The dataset follows the COARDS conventions and was generated using the wgrib2 tool based on GRIB2 grid template 40. Each variable, including latitude (in degrees north), longitude (in degrees east), and time (in days since 2003-01-01), is provided along with fill values and chunk sizes for optimized access. This dataset is accessible via the OPeNDAP protocol through the ARDC server at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

About Dataset

The dataset provides forecasted surface temperature (TMP_surface) data generated by the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) for the year 2003. It is structured as a four-dimensional array encompassing time steps, forecast lead times, and a regular latitude-longitude spatial grid. The temperature values are expressed in Kelvin and mapped over a defined geographic region. This dataset is valuable for a wide range of applications, including climate research, numerical weather prediction, environmental monitoring, and the development of AI-based models for atmospheric analysis.
How to Access the Dataset:

1. Review the Dataset Info Page
On redirection, you’ll land on a URL similar to:
Sample example: https://ardc.tropmet.res.in/thredds/dodsC/data/v10/gdas_2000_india_v10.nc.html
This page provides:

Metadata: file size, variable names, and dataset conventions.
Interactive Access Form: inputs for subsetting and extraction.

2. Locate the Variable of Interest
Scroll to the variable (e.g., VGRD_10maboveground) listed as a “Grid”. This is the dataset’s main content (e.g., wind speed, temperature, etc.). Check the box next to it.

3. Fill in the Data Subsetting Parameters
You must manually fill in five fields to subset the data grid:

Time: Index of forecast issue date in the dataset. Use 1:1:2 to extract data from Jan 1 to Jan 2.
Forecast_time: Indexes the forecast horizon. Use 0:1:80 to access all 3-hourly steps for 10 days.
Latitude & longitude: Leave blank to extract full India coverage (default ~8°N–38°N, 68°E–98°E). You can enter ranges to subset, like 50:1:100 to access a slice.
Variable selection: Ensure only one variable per card is selected to prevent data overload and errors.

4. Data Format Selection
At the top of the page, select:

Get ASCII for plain text viewable in-browser or scripts.
Get Binary for machine-readable scientific applications.

These generate the requested data instantly in the selected format.

5. Download the Output
After clicking “Get ASCII” or “Get Binary,” a new page or download will start. You can copy or save the returned raw data to your machine or pass the OPeNDAP link into software like Python (using xarray or netCDF4) for programmatic access.

Important Notes:

Time and forecast_time are index-based (not real dates). Time = 1 refers to Jan 1, Time = 2 to Jan 2, and so on.
Forecast_time ranges from 0 to 80 representing 3-hour intervals up to 10 days.
This dataset contains a single forecast file per day, so only one “time” index should typically be active per request.
Avoid selecting multiple variables on this form — each dataset card is designed for a single-indicator download.