Lamb's Dust Veil Index (DVI) is a numerical index that quantifies the impact of a particular volcanic eruption's release of dust and aerosols over the years following the event, especially the impact on the Earth's energy balance. DVIs have been calculated for eruptions occurring from 1500 through 1983. The methods used to calculate the DVI have been intercalibrated to give a DVI of 1000 for the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. The DVI for any volcanic eruption is based on a review of the observational, empirical, and theoretical studies of the possible impact on climate of volcanic dust veils. The DVI allows one to compare volcanic eruptions by a single numerical index. The data base includes the name of the erupting volcano, year of eruption, volcano latitude and longitude, maximum extent of the dust veil, veil duration, DVI for the entire globe, DVI for the Northern Hemisphere, and DVI for the Southern Hemisphere. The data are in one file (22.6 kB).

The Wolf sunspot index and umbral/penumbral ratio
NDP-014
Solar Records: The Wolf Sunspot Index and Umbral/Penumbral Ratio (1985)
D. V. Hoyt (contributor)

These data from observations of sunspot activity cover the period 1875 through 1981; reconstructions are possible back to 1832. Available sunspot models and the theory of mixing length indicate that the observed changes in the umbral/ penumbral (U/P) ratio may be equivalent to changes in the solar constant. The U/P ratio is calculated from measurements of solar activity and has been shown to be in good agreement with the Northern Hemisphere temperature record. The data consist of year, number of sunspot groups, Wolf sunspot number, umbra area, whole area, penumbral area, and umbral/penumbral ratio. The data are in one file (3.3 kB).

Russian dataset of surface air temperatures for the N.H.
NDP-015
Surface Air Temperature Anomalies for the Northern Hemisphere: The Russian Dataset (1985)
A. Robock, I. I. Borzenkova, G. V. Gruza, and K. Ya. Vinnikov (contributors)

These Northern Hemisphere surface-temperature anomalies cover the period from 1891 through 1980 and were derived from maps compiled at the Main Geophysical Observatory (Leningrad) and maps appearing in the Synoptic Bulletin of the State Hydrometeorological Committee. The data include the year, month, and monthly surface-air-temperature anomaly (relative to a reference period mean in degrees Celsius). They may be compared with other Northern Hemisphere surface-air- temperature-anomaly data sets and used for studies attempting to detect carbon- induced climate change. The data are in seven files (three of monthly surface air temperature anomalies, three of monthly average temperature norms, and one of grid points' altitudes above sea level) that range from 5 kB to 1.46 MB and are available on 9-track magnetic tape only.

Climate data for U.S. and Canada stations (1941-1980)
NDP-016
Climatic Data for Selected U.S. and Canadian Stations, 1941-1980 (1985)
T. R. Karl, and F. T. Quinlan (contributors)

For 1941 through 1980, monthly temperature and precipitation data were recorded for 130 nonurban stations in the U.S. and Canada. These stations were selected because they provide reasonably uniform spatial coverage of that area; consist of nonurban stations; have few missing daily and monthly data; have experienced few station relocations; and have undergone little change in observation times. These data were obtained from the archives of the National Climatic Data Center and the Canadian Climate Centre. Included in the data are the station identification number, station name, state abbreviation, province code, country code, station latitude and longitude, station population (1940, 1960, and 1980), name of observer, observing schedule code, time of observation bias codes, year, monthly precipitation, mean temperatures, mean daily maximum temperatures, mean daily minimum temperatures, and difference between the monthly mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures. The data are in eight files [five data files (530 kB each), one station history file (56 kB), one station inventory file (11.7 kB), and one file that lists the Canadian observers (7.9 kB)] and are available on 9-track magnetic tape only.

Ecosystem complexes carbon database
NDP-017
Major World Ecosystem Complexes Ranked by Carbon in Live Vegetation: A Database (1985)
J. S. Olson, J. A. Watts, and L. J. Allison (contributors)

In 1980, this data base and the corresponding map were completed after more than 20 years of field investigations, consultations, and analyses of published literature. They characterize the use and vegetative cover of the Earth's land surface with a 0.5o x 0.5o grid. The data include latitude, longitude, and vegetation code. This world-ecosystem-complex data set and the accompanying map provide a current reference base for interpreting the role of vegetation in the global cycling of CO2 and other gases and a basis for improved estimates of vegetation and soil carbon, of natural exchanges of CO2, and of net historic shifts of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere. The data are in one file of 109 kB.

World organic soil carbon and nitrogen data
NDP-018
Worldwide Organic Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Data (1986)
P. J. Zinke, A. G. Stangenberger, W. M. Post, W. R. Emanuel, and J. S. Olson (contributors)

This data base was begun with the collection and analysis of soil samples from California. Additional data came from soil surveys of Italy, Greece, Iran, Thailand, Vietnam, various tropical Amazonian areas, and U.S. forests and from the soil-survey literature. The analyzed samples were collected at uniform soil-depth increments and included bulk-density determinations. The data on each sample are soil profile number; soil profile carbon content; soil profile nitrogen content; sampling site latitude and longitude; site elevation; profile literature reference source; and soil profile codes for Holdridge life zone, Olson ecosystem type, and parent material. These data may be used to estimate the size of the soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools at equilibrium with natural soil-forming factors. The data are in one file of 323 kB.

U.S. HCN serial temperature and precipitation data
NDP-019/R1
United States Historical Climatology Network (HCN) Serial Temperature and Precipitation Data (revised 1990)
T. R. Karl, C. N. Williams, Jr., and F. T. Quinlan, (contributors)

Extending through 1987, this data base contains monthly total precipitation and temperature data from 1219 stations in the contiguous U.S. To be included in the Historical Climatology Network (HCN), a station had to be currently active (1987), have at least 80 years of monthly temperature and precipitation data, and have experienced few station changes. These data were derived from a variety of sources including the National Climatic Data Center archives, state climatologists, and published literature. The data base contains several hundred variables, including state number; station number; monthly temperatures (minimum, maximum, and mean); total monthly precipitation; and time of observation. This is probably the best monthly temperature and precipitation data set available for the contiguous U.S. because station moves, instrument changes, urbanization effects, and time-of-observation differences have been considered and, where necessary, the data have been corrected. The data are in 13 files [one station inventory file, one station history file, six temperature files, one precipitation file, one time-of-observation correction file, and two quality-assessment files]. The file sizes range from 5 kB to approximately 50 MB and are available on 9-track magnetic tape only.

Updated global grid point surface air temperature (1851-1990)
NDP-020/R1
An Updated Global Grid Point Surface Air Temperature Anomaly Data Set: 1851-1990 (revised 1991)
P. D. Jones, S. C. B. Raper, B. S. G. Cherry, C. M. Goodess, T. M. L. Wigley, B. Santer, P. M. Kelly, R. S. Bradley, and H. F. Diaz (contributors)

This NDP presents land-based monthly surface-air-temperature anomalies (departures from a 1951-1970 reference period mean) on a 5o latitude by 10o longitude global grid. Monthly surface-air-temperature anomalies (departures from a 1957-1975 reference period mean) for the Antarctic (grid points from 65oS to 85oS) are presented in a similar way as a separate data set. The data were derived primarily from the World Weather Records and from the archives of the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. This long-term record of temperature anomalies may be used in studies addressing possible greenhouse-gas-induced climate changes. To date, the data have been employed in producing regional, hemispheric, and global time series for determining whether recent (i.e., post- 1900) warming trends have taken place.

The present updated version of this data set is identical to the earlier version for all records from 1851-1978 except for the addition of the Antarctic surface-air-temperature anomalies beginning in 1957. Beginning with the 1979 data, this package differs from the earlier version in several ways. Erroneous data for some sites have been corrected after a review of the actual station temperature data, and inconsistencies in the representation of missing values have been removed. For some grid locations, data have been added from stations that had not contributed to the original set. Data from satellites have also been used to correct station records where large discrepancies were evident. The present package also extends the record by adding monthly surface-air-temperature anomalies for the Northern (grid points from 85oN to 0o) and Southern (grid points from 5oS to 60oS) Hemispheres for 1985-1990. In addition, this updated package presents the monthly-mean-temperature records for the individual stations that were used to produce the set of gridded anomalies. The periods of record vary by station. Northern Hemisphere data have been corrected for inhomogeneities, while Southern Hemisphere data are presented in uncorrected form.

The NDP consists of a written report and a 9-track magnetic tape (data are also available on CD-ROM or via FTP) containing 14 files, including five ASCII data files, eight FORTRAN and SAS retrieval routines, and a descriptive file. The data files range in size from 2 kB to 20 MB. Because of the size of the data files, it is not feasible to distribute these data on floppy diskettes, even as compressed files.