Darwin SLP data set

Indices Darwin slp standardized sea level pressure

Important Note:As of approximately 2200 UTC on 25 Feb 2014, the Darwin sea level pressure anomaly and standardized anomaly data in this dataset were fully replaced with data calculated with respect to the 1981-2010 base period and placed in a sub-dataset that is so labeled. Before this date, anomaly and standardized anomaly data values in this dataset before January 2011 contained anomalies calculated with respect to the 1971-2000 base period, and data from January 2011 onward contained anomalies calculated with respect to the 1981-2010 base period.

The data are available here as a dataset, including an interactive data viewer and downloadable data files.

These Sea Level Pressure (SLP) measurements at Darwin, Australia, were originally provided to us by Julie Cole. They covered the period from Jan of 1882 through early 1991.

The updated data are now being downloaded on a monthly basis from the U.S. Climate Prediction Center (CPC):

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/data/indices/

The historical sea level pressure data from Darwin, covering the period 1882-1950 are here merged with the updated sea level pressure data, covering the period 1951-present.  These are listed separately at the CPC site. 

The sea level pressure values are given here (and at the CPC site) in terms of the original sea level pressure value (in millibars, mb, i.e., hectopascals) minus 1000 mb.  For example, an original value of 1011.3 mb is displayed as 11.3.

Besides the sea level pressure variable, sea level pressure anomaly and standardized sea level pressure anomaly variables are available as well.  A frequently asked questions (FAQ) page at the CPC that describes the indices and the base period used for the anomalies can be found here:  http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/data/indices/Readme.index.shtml .

For more information about the indices available from the CPC, please contact:

Don Garrett
Department of Commerce, NOAA
Climate Prediction Center, Camp Springs, MD  20746
Ph : (301) 763 - 8000, 7541
Fax : (301) 763 - 8395
email:  Donald.Garrett@noaa.gov