National Climatic Data Center

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National Climatic Data Center
Agency overview
Formed1934 (1934)
Dissolved2015 (2015)
Superseding agency
JurisdictionUnited States government
HeadquartersAsheville, North Carolina
Annual budget$65 million (2013)[1]
Agency executive
Websitencdc.noaa.gov

The United States National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), previously known as the National Weather Records Center (NWRC), in

Asheville, North Carolina, was the world's largest active archive of weather data
.

In 2015, the NCDC merged with two other federal environmental records agencies to become the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).[2]

Courtesy of: National Climatic Data Center, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, February 2015.

History

In 1934, the U.S. government established a tabulation unit in

Grove Arcade Building
in Asheville, North Carolina.

Processing of the climate data was accomplished at Weather Records Processing Centers at

San Francisco, California, until January 1, 1963, when it was consolidated with the NWRC.[4]

In 1967, the agency was renamed the National Climatic Data Center.[5]

In 1995, the NCDC moved into the newly completed Veach-Baley Federal Complex in downtown Asheville.

In 2015, the NCDC merged with the National Geophysical Data Center and the National Oceanographic Data Center to become the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).[2]

Sources

Data were received from a wide variety of sources, including

solar radiation
networks, and NWS Forecast/Warnings/Analyses Products.

Climate focus

The Center provided historical perspectives on

transportation, recreation, and engineering
. These services are still provided by the NCEI.

The NCDC said:

Evidence is mounting that global climate is changing. While it is generally accepted that humans are negatively influencing the climate, the extent to which humans are responsible is still under study. Regardless of the causes, it is essential that a baseline of long-term climate data be compiled; therefore, global data must be acquired, quality controlled, and archived. Working with international institutions such as the

World Data Centers, and the World Meteorological Organization, NCDC develops standards by which data can be exchanged and made accessible.

NCDC provides the historical perspective on climate. Through the use of over a hundred years of weather observations, reference data bases are generated. From this knowledge the clientele of NCDC can learn from the past to prepare for a better tomorrow. Wise use of our most valuable natural resource, climate, is the goal of climate researchers, state and regional climate centers, business, and commerce.[6]

Associated entities

NCDC also maintained World Data Center for Meteorology, Asheville. The four World Centers (U.S., Russia, Japan and China) have created a free and open situation in which data and dialogue are exchanged.

NCDC maintained the U.S. Climate Reference Network datasets and a vast number of other climate monitoring products.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Osborne, Susan; Vincent, Katy (eds.). "2013 Annual Report" (PDF). NCDC. p. 29. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "About". 2 April 2020.
  3. United States Weather Bureau
    : 82. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  4. United States Weather Bureau: 7. Retrieved 2012-04-22. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
    )
  5. ^ Luther Thigpen (October 1966). "Weather Facts Find Ever Expanding Market" (PDF). ESSA World. Environmental Satellite Services Administration: 14. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  6. ^ NCDC: What Is NCDC?
  7. ^ NCDC: Climate Monitoring