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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI), NRLSSI Version 2 (Version Superseded)

Solar Spectral Irradiance

browse graphicThe Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI) produced for this Climate Data Record (CDR) for 1 January 2014.
*Note: This dataset version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended that users access the current version. Users should only use this version for special cases, such as reproducing studies that used this version.* This Climate Data Record (CDR) contains solar spectral irradiance (SSI) as a function of time and wavelength created with the Naval Research Laboratory model for spectral and total irradiance (version 2). Solar spectral irradiance is the wavelength-dependent energy input to the top of the Earth's atmosphere, at a standard distance of one Astronomical Unit from the Sun. Its units are W per m2 per nm. Also included is the value of total (spectrally integrated) solar irradiance in units W per m2. The dataset was created by Judith Lean (Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory), Odele Coddington and Peter Pilewskie (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Science, University of Colorado). The daily- and monthly-averaged SSI data range from 1882 to the present, and annual-averaged SSI data begin in 1610. The data file format is netCDF-4 following CF metadata conventions. The dataset is accompanied by algorithm documentation, data flow diagram and source code for the NOAA CDR Program.
  • Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI), NRLSSI Version 2. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V51J97P6 [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00899
Full Text · XML
Distribution Formats
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA Climate Data Record Program Office
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
+1 (828) 271-4800
cdr_program.ncdc@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Coddington, Odele
UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
+1 (303) 492-9318
odele.coddington@lasp.colorado.edu
Time Period 1882-01-01 to 2017-12-01
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180.0
East: 180.0
South: -90.0
North: 90.0
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
  • CDR Source Code
    • CDR Source Code (download)
      This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
  • CDR Data Flow Diagram
  • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2015-07-22
Edition Version 2
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Superseded - replaced by new
Data Update Frequency Not planned
Supplemental Information
Comment on summing the CDR SSI into Broad Wavelength Bands: Summing the solar spectral irradiance into broader wavelength bands than those of the CDR wavelength bins requires summing the irradiance in each bin (W m-2 nm-1) over all bins within the desired wavelength band and accounting for the (variable) bandwidth of each bin. For example, the total spectral irradiance (W m-2) in a spectral band bounded on the lower end by 'wav1' and on the upper end by 'wav2' is the sum of the spectral irradiance in each of the bins within this band multiplied by the (variable) bandwidth of each wavelength bin.
Purpose The purpose of this Climate Data Record is to provide a continuous and long-term record of solar spectral irradiance (SSI) for scientists and modelers in the solar, atmospheric and chemistry sciences as well as the energy industry.
Use Limitations
  • *Note: This dataset version has been superseded by a newer version. It is highly recommended that users access the current version. Users should only use this version for special cases, such as reproducing studies that used this version.*
  • For a complete description of use limiataions see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI), NRLSSI Version 2. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V51J97P6 [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Coddington, Odele
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • Lean, Judith L.
    DOD/USNAVY/NRL/SSD > Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Lindholm, Doug
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • Pilewskie, Peter
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • Snow, Martin
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • NOAA CDR Program
Principal Investigators
  • Lean, Judith L.
    DOD/USNAVY/NRL/SSD > Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Pilewskie, Peter
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Collaborators
  • Coddington, Odele
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • Lindholm, Doug
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • Snow, Martin
    UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
  • NOAA CDR Program
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Sun-Earth Interactions > Solar Activity > Solar Irradiance
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • UCO/LASP/LISIRD > Lasp Interactive Solar IRradiance Datacenter, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • SORCE > Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global
Project keywords Keyword Thesaurus Title
  • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) Program
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Odele Coddington, Judith L. Lean, Doug Lindholm, Peter Pilewskie, Martin Snow, and NOAA CDR Program (2015): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI), NRLSSI Version 2. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V51J97P6 [access date].
  • 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.
Access Constraints
  • 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.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement The data were produced by the Naval Research Laboratory and the University of Colorado, and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Version 2 indicates the current version of the Naval Research Laboratory solar variability models, denoted NRLTSI2 and NRLSSI2, for total solar irradiance and solar spectral irradiance, respectively. This version labeling distinguishes the models from their original formulation, NRLTSI and NRLSSI (i.e,. Version 1, or original version). The Solar Irradiance Climate Data Record transitioned to the NOAA CDR program is specific to Version 2, although the original formulation of the model has created solar irradiance records used in many previous climate modeling studies, including for the IPCC.
Processor
  • UCO/LASP > Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
Processing Steps
  • For a complete description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram.
Processing Documents
    • CDR Source Code
      • CDR Source Code (download)
        This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
Source Datasets
  • Naval Research Laboratory Solar Spectral Irradiance version 2 (NRLSSI2) model
    • Description of Source:
  • Solar activity indices (University of Bremen Mg II index and USAF white-light sunspot regions)
    • Description of Source:
  • Wavelength-dependent linear regression coefficients
    • Description of Source:
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-09-18
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov