http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/pubs/NSRDB/
National Solar Radiation Data Base User's Manual (1961-1990)
TMY3 Weather Data Columns
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Dry-bulb uncert (code)
Time (HH:MM)
Dew-point (C)
Dew-point source
ETR (W/m^2)
Direct on Horiz Surf
Dew-point uncert (code)
ETRN (W/m^2)
Dir+Diff Norml to Sun
RHum (%)
GHI (W/m^2)
Dir+Diff on Horiz
RHum source
GHI source
RHum uncert (code)
GHI uncert (%)
DNI (W/m^2)
Direct Normal to Sun
Pressure (mbar)
DNI source
Pressure source
DNI uncert (%)
Pressure uncert (code)
DHI (W/m^2)
Diffuse on Horiz
Wdir (degrees)
DHI source
Wdir source
DHI uncert (%)
Wdir uncert (code)
Wspd (m/s)
GH illum (lx)
Wspd source
GH illum source
Wspd uncert (code)
Global illum uncert (%)
Hvis (m)
Global illum uncert (%)
Hvis source
DN illum (lx)
Hvis uncert (code)
DN illum source
DN illum uncert (%)
CeilHgt (m)
DH illum (lx)
CeilHgt source
DH illum source
CeilHgt uncert (code)
DH illum uncert (%)
Pwat (cm)
Zenith lum (cd/m^2)
Pwat source
Zenith lum source
Pwat uncert (code)
Zenith lum uncert (%)
AOD (unitless)
AOD source
TotCld (tenths)
AOD uncert (code)
TotCld source
Alb (unitless)
TotCld uncert (code)
Alb source
OpqCld (tenths)
Alb uncert (code)
OpqCld source
OpqCld uncert (code)
Lprecip depth (mm)
Lprecip quantity (hr)
Dry-bulb (C)
Lprecip source
Dry-bulb source
Lprecip uncert (code)
Table 1-1. Solar Radiation and Meteorological Elements in the NSRDB
Global horizontal radiation in Wh/m2
Atmospheric pressure in millibars
Direct normal radiation in Wh/m2
Wind direction in increments of 10 degrees
2
Diffuse horizontal radiation in Wh/m
Wind speed in m/s
Extraterrestrial radiation (ETR) in Wh/m2 Horizontal visibility in km
Direct normal ETR in Wh/m2
Ceiling height in decameters
Total sky cover in tenths
Present weather
Opaque sky cover in tenths
Total precipitable water in mm
o
Dry-bulb temperature in C
Aerosol optical depth
Dew-point temperature in oC
Snow depth in cm
Relative humidity in percent
Number of days since last snowfall
Appendix A Units Conversion Factors
Table A-1. Conversion Factors
To Convert From
Into
Multiply By
watt-hours per square meter joules per square meter
3600.0
watt-hours per square meter Btu's per square foot
0.3172
watt-hours per square meter Langleys
0.0860
watt-hours per square meter calories per square centimeter 0.0860
degree Centigrade
degree Fahrenheit
C° X 1.8 + 32
millibars
pascals
100.0
millibars
atmospheres
0.0009869
millibars
pounds per square inch
0.0145
degrees (angle)
radians
0.017453
meters per second
miles per hour
2.237
meters per second
kilometers per hour
3.6
meters per second
knots
1.944
meters
inches
39.37
meters
feet
3.281
meters
yards
1.094
meters
miles (statute)
0.0006214
Table 3-4. TD-3282 Data Type Codes and Descriptions
Code Position Element
ETRH 0XXXX
Values
Definitions
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2
Extraterrestrial Horizontal 0000 - 1415
received on a horizontal surface
Radiation
at the top of the atmosphere.
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2
received on a surface normal to the
sun at the top of the atmosphere.
ETRN 0XXXX
Extraterrestrial Direct
Normal Radiation
0000 - 1415
GRAD 0XXXX
Global Horizontal
Radiation
0000 - 1415
DRAD 0XXXX
Direct Normal Radiation
0000 - 1415
SRAD 0XXXX
Diffuse Horizontal
Radiation
0000 - 1415
TSKC
Total Sky Cover = XX
00 - 10
Opaque Sky Cover = YY
00 - 10
TMPD 00XXX
Dry Bulb Temperature
000 to 600
DPTP 00XXX
Dew Point Temperature
000 to 600
RHUM 00XXX
Relative Humidity
000 - 100
Relative humidity in percent.
99999 = missing data.
PRES
Atmospheric Pressure
0700 - 1100
Atmospheric pressure in millibars.
99999 = missing data.
Wind Direction = XX
00 - 36
0XXYY
0XXXX
WIND XXYYY
Total amount of direct and diffuse
solar radiation in Wh/m2 received
on a horizontal surface.
99999 = missing data.
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2
received within a 5.7o field of view
centered on the sun.
99999 = missing data.
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2
received on a horizontal surface from
the sky (excluding the solar disk).
99999 = missing data.
Amount of sky dome (in tenths)
covered by clouds.
999 = missing data.
Amount of sky dome (in tenths)
covered by clouds that prevent
observing the sky or higher cloud
layers. 99 = missing data.
Dry bulb temperature in oC and
tenths. 600 = 60.0 oC.
99999 = missing data.
Dew point temperature in oC and
tenths. 600 = 60.0 oC.
99999 = missing data.
Wind direction in increments of 10
degrees.
( N = 00 or 36). 99 = missing data.
Wind Speed = YYY
000 - 990
HZVS 0XXXX
Visibility
0000 -1609
CLHT
Ceiling Height
0000 - 3045
Present Weather for the
First Five Weather
Elements
Present weather conditions for the
See
first five weather elements. See Appendix D
Appendix D
for an explanation of weather elements.
Present Weather for the
Second Five Weather
Elements
Present weather conditions for the
See
last five weather elements. See Appendix D
Appendix D
for an explanation of weather elements.
PH2O 00XXX
Precipitable Water
000 - 100
TURB 00XXX
Broadband Aerosol
Optical Depth
000 - 900
0XXXX
PWX1 XXXXX
PWX2 XXXXX
SNOW XXXYY
Snow Depth = XXX
Days Since Last
Snowfall = YY
000 - 900
00 - 88
Wind speed in m/s (in tenths).
000 - 990 = 0.0 - 99.0 m/s.
999 = missing data.
Horizontal visibility in hectometers.
0000 - 1609 = 0.0 - 160.9 km.
7777 = unlimited visibility.
99999 = missing data.
Ceiling height in decameters.
7777 = unlimited ceiling height.
8888 = cirroform.
99999 = missing data.
Precipitable water in millimeters.
99999 = missing data.
Broadband aerosol optical depth
(broadband turbidity ) in thousandths.
000 - 900 = 0.0 - 0.900
99999 = missing data.
Snow depth in centimeters.
999 = missing data.
Number of days since last snowfall.
88 = 88 or greater days.
99 = missing data.
Table 3-6. Solar Radiation Source Flags
Flag
Definition
A
Post-1976 measured solar radiation data as received from
NCDC or other sources
B
Same as 'A' except the global horizontal data underwent a
calibration correction
C
D
E
F
G
H
?
Pre-1976 measured global horizontal data (direct and
diffuse were not measured before 1976), adjusted from
solar to local time, usually with a calibration correction
Data derived from the other two elements of solar
radiation using the relation, Kt = Kn + Kd (see Part 2,
Section 8.1 for more information)
Modeled solar radiation data using inputs of observed sky
cover (cloud amount) and aerosol optical depths derived
from direct normal data collected at the same location
Modeled solar radiation using interpolated sky cover and
aerosol optical depths derived from direct normal data
collected at the same location
Modeled solar radiation data using observed sky cover and
aerosol optical depths estimated from geographical
relationships
Modeled solar radiation data using interpolated sky cover
and estimated aerosol optical depths
Source does not fit any of the above categories. Used for
nighttime values, calculated extraterrestrial values, and
missing data
Table 3-7. Solar Radiation Uncertainty Flags
Flag
Uncertainty Range (%)
1
0-2
2
2-4
3
4-6
4
6-9
5
9 - 13
6
13 - 18
7
18 - 25
8
25 - 35
9
35 - 50
0
Not applicable
Table 3-8. Meteorological Source Flags
Flag
A
Definition
Data as received from NCDC, converted to SI units
B
Linearly interpolated to fill short data gaps
C
Non-linearly interpolated to fill data gaps from 6 to 47 hours in length
D
Long data gaps from 48 hours to one year filled from other years
E
Modeled or estimated, except: precipitable water, calculated from
radiosonde data; and aerosol optical depth, calculated from direct
normal data
F
Precipitable water, calculated from surface vapor pressure; aerosol
optical depth, estimated from geographic correlations
?
Source does not fit any of the above. Used mostly for missing data
Notes: Flag B: For sky cover, temperature, and relative humidity, "short" is less than
6 hours. For precipitable water, "short" is less than 60 hours. Data gaps in
other meteorological elements were not filled.
Table 3-2. Data Elements in the NSRDB Synoptic Format
(For all except the first record of each file)
Field
Element
Position
002 012
002 003
005 006
008 009
011 012
014 017
019 022
Local Standard Time
Year
Month
Day
Hour
Values
Definition
61 - 90
1 - 12
1 - 31
1 - 24
Year of observation
Month of observation
Day of month
Hour of day in local standard time
Extraterrestrial Horizontal 0 - 1415
Radiation
Extraterrestrial Direct
Normal Radiation
0 - 1415
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2 received on
a horizontal surface at the top of the atmosphere
during the 60 minutes preceding the hour
indicated.
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2 received on
a surface normal to the sun at the top of the
atmosphere during the 60 minutes preceding the
hour indicated.
024 030
024 027
029
030
Global Horizontal
Radiation
Data Value
Flag for Data Source
Flag for Data Uncertainty
032 038
032 035
037
038
Direct Normal Radiation
Data Value
Flag for Data Source
Flag for Data Uncertainty
040 046
040 043
045
046
Diffuse Horizontal
Radiation
Data Value
Flag for Data Source
Flag for Data Uncertainty
048 049
Total Sky Cover
0 - 10
051 052
Opaque Sky Cover
0 - 10
054 058
Dry Bulb Temperature
-70.0 to
60.0
Dry bulb temperature in oC.
9999. = missing data.
060 064
Dew Point Temperature
-70.0 to
60.0
Dew point temperature in oC.
9999. = missing data.
066 068
Relative Humidity
0 - 100
Relative humidity in percent.
999 = missing data.
070 073
Atmospheric Pressure
700 - 1100
Atmospheric pressure in millibars.
9999 = missing data.
075 077
Wind Direction
0 - 360
078 082
Wind Speed
0.0 - 99.0
083 088
Visibility
0.0 - 160.9
Ceiling Height
0 - 30450
089 094
0 - 1415
A - H, ?
0-9
Total amount of direct and diffuse solar
radiation in Wh/m2 received on a horizontal
surface during the 60 minutes preceding the
hour indicated. 9999 = missing data.
0 - 1415
A - H, ?
0-9
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2 received
within a 5.7o field of view centered on the sun,
during the 60 minutes preceding the hour
indicated. 9999 = missing data.
0 - 1415
A - H, ?
0-9
Amount of solar radiation in Wh/m2 received
from the sky (excluding the solar disk) on a
horizontal surface, during the 60 minutes
preceding the hour indicated.
9999 = missing data.
Amount of sky dome (in tenths) covered by
clouds.
99 = missing data.
Amount of sky dome (in tenths) covered by
clouds that prevent observing the sky or higher
cloud layers.
99 = missing data.
Wind direction in degrees.
(N = 0 or 360, E = 90, S = 180, W = 270 )
999 = missing data.
Wind speed in m/s. 9999. = missing data.
Horizontal visibility in kilometers.
777.7 = unlimited visibility.
99999.= missing data.
Ceiling height in meters.
77777 = unlimited ceiling height.
88888 = cirroform.
999999 = missing data.
096 105
Present Weather
106 109
Precipitable
Water
110 115
Broadband
Aerosol Optical
Depth
116 119
120 122
Present weather conditions denoted by a ten digit
number.
See
See Appendix D for an explanation of weather
Appendix D
elements
and parameters.
0 -100
0.0 - 0.900
Snow Depth
0 - 100
Days Since Last
Snowfall
0 - 88
Precipitable water in millimeters.
9999 = missing data.
Broadband aerosol optical depth (broadband
turbidity ) on
the day indicated.
99999. = missing data.
Snow depth in centimeters on the day indicated.
9999 = missing data.
Number of days since last snowfall.
88 = 88 or greater days.
999 = missing data.
FORTRAN Format
(4(1X,I2),2(lX,I4),3(1X,I4,lX,Al,I1),2(1X,I2),2(1X,F5.1),1X,I3,1X,I4,lX,I3,F5.1,F6.1,I6,1X,10I
1,I4,
F6.3,I4,3I3)
Notes: With the exception of solar radiation elements, broadband aerosol optical depths, snow
depth,and days since last snowfall, all values were observed or measured at the hour
indicated. Daily values of broadband aerosol optical depth were estimated as
described in Section 5.2.3.
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