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MeteoSwiss provides two high-resolution alpine precipitation datasets for scientific, non-commercial applications: EURO4M-APGD and APGDEns. These datasets, their characteristics and how to access them are explained.
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Two Alpine precipitation datasets are described hereafter: EURO4M-APGD and APGDEns:
EURO4M-APGD
DOI:
10.18751/Climate/Griddata/APGD/1.0
Name:
Alpine Precipitation Grid Dataset (EURO4M-APGD)
Version:
2.0
Reference:
Isotta, F.A. et al. 2014: The climate of daily precipitation in the Alps: development and analysis of a high-resolution grid dataset from pan-Alpine rain-gauge data. Int. J. Climatol., 34: 1657-1675. doi: 10.1002/joc.3794.
Dataset DOI: 10.18751/Climate/Griddata/APGD/1.0
Description:
MeteoSwiss has developed a grid analysis of daily precipitation, extending over the entire Alpine region. The dataset is based on measurements at high-resolution rain-gauge networks, encompassing more than 8500 stations from Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. The dataset was developed in the framework of EURO4M (European Reanalysis and Observations for Monitoring), a FP7 (seventh framework program) Collaborative Project of the European Union.
Data Access:
To get access to the data (available for scientific, non-commercial use only):
- Download and fill out the data agreement form below. The conditions must be accepted.
- Send the form by e-mail (see the address on the form)
- Access information will be sent to your e-mail address within 1-5 working days.
Dataset characteristics:
| Parameter: precipitation (rainfall plus snow water equivalent, in mm) Domain: the European Alps and adjacent flatland regions: 4.8-17.5°E / 43-49°N, (47.6°N in France). (Notice that domain available for download is slightly reduced compared to the figures on this web page). Underlying station data: High-resolution rain-gauge networks of seven Alpine countries. More than 8500 time series in total, approx. 5500 measurements each day. Period: Jan.-Dec., 1971-2019. | Grid: regular grid in the ETRS89-LAEA coordinate system, grid spacing 5x5 km Effective resolution: approx. 10-20 km, depending on local station density (see station map below) Quality check: a specific quality control procedure (for gross errors) was applied to the station data Format: NetCDF Reference: Isotta, F.A. et al. 2014: The climate of daily precipitation in the Alps: development and analysis of a high-resolution grid dataset from pan-Alpine rain-gauge data. Int. J. Climatol., 34: 1657-1675. doi: 10.1002/joc.3794. https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/joc.3794 Dataset DOI: DOI 10.18751/Climate/Griddata/APGD/1.0 |
Example visualizations:
APGDEns
Name:
Alpine Precipitation Ensemble Dataset (APGDEns)
Reference:
Frei, C. and Isotta, F.A. 2019: Ensemble Spatial Precipitation Analysis from Rain-Gauge Data – Methodology and Application in the European Alps. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., in review.
With the stations measurements used for APGD, a probabilistic precipitation analysis for the Alpine region has been calculated (APGDEns) as part of the UERRA project. The method derives an ensemble that represents the Bayesian predictive distribution of the available information from rain-gauge data. The data is provided as ensembles of area-average precipitation over more than 500 hydrological catchments in the Alps.
Data Access
To get access to the data please contact the customer service. APGDEns is free for non-commercial research and non-commercial education projects.
Data Access:
| Parameter: precipitation (rainfall plus snow water equivalent, in mm) Domain: the European Alps and adjacent flatland regions: 4.8-17.5°E / 43-49°N. Underlying data: High-resolution rain-gauge networks of seven Alpine countries (more than 8500 time series in total, approx. 5500 measurements each day). Period: Jan.-Dec., 1971-2008. | Spatial support: hydrological partitioning of 325 elementary areal units and aggregation of them. Hierarchical subdivision in three levels (185 units with areas between 400–2000 km2, 113 units with 2000–5000 km2 and 67 units with 5’000–20’000 km2). Format: NetCDF Reference: Frei, C. and Isotta, F.A. 2019: Ensemble Spatial Precipitation Analysis from Rain-Gauge Data – Methodology and Application in the European Alps. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., in review. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD030004 |