WegenerNet high-resolution weather and climate data from 2007 to 2020

Abstract

Abstract. This paper describes the latest reprocessed data record (version\xa07.1) over 2007 to 2020 from the WegenerNet climate station networks, which since 2007\nhave been providing measurements with very high spatial and temporal resolution of hydrometeorological variables for two regions in the state of Styria, southeastern Austria:\n(1)\xa0the WegenerNet Feldbach Region, in the Alpine forelands of southeastern Styria, which extends over an area of about 22\u2009 km × \u200916\u2009 km and comprises 155 meteorological stations placed on a tightly spaced grid with an average\nspatial density of 1 station per ∼ \u20092\u2009 km2 and a temporal sampling of 5\u2009min,\nand (2)\xa0the WegenerNet Johnsbachtal, which is a smaller “sister network” of the WegenerNet Feldbach Region in the mountainous Alpine region of upper Styria that extends over an area of about 16\u2009 km × \u200917\u2009 km \nand comprises 13 meteorological stations and 1 hydrographic station at altitudes ranging from below 600\u2009 m to over 2100\u2009 m and with a temporal sampling of 10\u2009min.\nThese networks operate on a long-term basis and continuously provide quality-controlled station time series for a multitude of hydrometeorological near-surface and surface variables, including air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, wind gust speed and direction, soil moisture, soil temperature, and others like pressure and radiation variables at a few reference stations.\nIn addition, gridded data are available at a resolution of 200\u2009 m × \u2009200\u2009 m for air temperature, relative humidity,\nprecipitation, and heat index for the Feldbach region and at a resolution of 100\u2009 m × \u2009100\u2009 m for the\nwind parameters for both regions.\nHere we describe this dataset (the most recent reprocessing version\xa07.1) in terms of the measurement site and station characteristics as well as the data processing, from raw data (level\xa00) via quality-controlled basic station data (level\xa01) to weather and climate data products (level\xa02).\nIn order to showcase the practical utility of the data, we also include two illustrative example\napplications, briefly summarize and refer to scientific uses in a range of previous studies, and briefly inform about the most recent WegenerNet advancements in 2020 towards a 3D open-air laboratory for climate change research.\nThe dataset is published as part of the University of Graz Wegener Center s WegenerNet data repository under the DOI https://doi.org/10.25364/WEGC/WPS7.1:2021.1 (Fuchsberger et al., 2021)\nand is continuously extended.