POWER Monthly Radiation

This monthly radiation service provides time-enabled global Analysis Ready Data (ARD) parameters from 1984 to 2023 for the NASA Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) Project's communities.

The Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) Project gathers NASA Earth Observation data and parameters related to the fields of surface solar irradiance and meteorology to serve the public in several free, easy-to-access, and easy-to-use methods. POWER helps communities become resilient amid observed climate variability by improving data accessibility, aiding research in renewable energy development, building energy efficiency, and agriculture sustainability. POWER is funded through the NASA Earth Action Program within the Earth Science Mission Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).

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This monthly radiation service provides time-enabled global Analysis Ready Data (ARD) parameters from 1984 to 2023 for the NASA POWER Project's communities.


Radiation Data Sources:

For questions or issues please email: [email protected]


Radiation Data Parameters:

  • ALLSKY_KT (All Sky Insolation Clearness Index): A fraction representing clearness of the atmosphere; the all sky insolation that is transmitted through the atmosphere to strike the surface of the earth divided by the average of top of the atmosphere total solar irradiance incident.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_LW_DWN (All Sky Surface Longwave Downward Irradiance): The downward thermal infrared irradiance under all sky conditions reaching a horizontal plane the surface of the earth. Also known as Horizontal Infrared Radiation Intensity from Sky.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_LW_UP (All Sky Surface Longwave Upward Irradiance): The upward thermal infrared irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_PAR_TOT (All Sky Surface PAR Total): The total Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_DIFF (All Sky Surface Shortwave Diffuse Irradiance): The diffuse (light energy scattered out of the direction of the sun) solar irradiance incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_DNI (All Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Direct Normal Irradiance): The direct solar irradiance incident to a horizontal plane normal (perpendicular) to the direction of the sun's position under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_DWN (All Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Irradiance): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under all sky conditions. An alternative term for the total solar irradiance is the "Global Horizontal Irradiance" or GHI.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_UP (All Sky Surface Shortwave Upward Irradiance): The upward shortwave irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_UV_INDEX (All Sky Surface UV Index): The ultraviolet radiation exposure index.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_UVA (All Sky Surface UVA Irradiance): The ultraviolet A (UVA 315nm-400nm) irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_UVB (All Sky Surface UVB Irradiance): The ultraviolet B (UVB 280nm-315nm) irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SRF_ALB (All Sky Surface Albedo): The all sky rate of reflectivity of the earth's surface; the ratio of the solar energy reflected by the surface of the earth compared to the total solar energy incident reaching the surface of the earth.
  • AOD_55 (Aerosol Optical Depth 55): The optical thickness at 0.55 um measured vertically; the component of the atmosphere to quantify the removal of radiant energy from an incident beam.
  • AOD_55_ADJ (Adjusted Aerosol Optical Depth 55): The adjusted optical thickness at 0.55 um measured vertically; the component of the atmosphere to quantify the removal of radiant energy from an incident beam.
  • CLOUD_AMT (Cloud Amount): The average percent of cloud amount during the temporal period.
  • CLOUD_AMT_DAY (Cloud Amount at Daytime): The average percent of cloud amount during daylight.
  • CLOUD_AMT_NIGHT (Cloud Amount at Nighttime): The average percent of cloud amount during nighttime.
  • CLOUD_OD (Cloud Optical Visible Depth): The vertical optical thickness between the top and bottom of a cloud.
  • CLRSKY_DAYS (Clear Sky Day): The number of Clear Sky Days if the daytime cloud amount is less than 10 percent.
  • CLRSKY_KT (Clear Sky Insolation Clearness Index): A fraction representing clearness of the atmosphere; the clear sky insolation that is transmitted through the atmosphere to strike the surface of the earth divided by the average of top of the atmosphere total solar irradiance incident.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_LW_DWN (Clear Sky Surface Longwave Downward Irradiance):  The downward thermal infrared irradiance under clear sky conditions reaching a horizontal plane the surface of the earth. Also known as Horizontal Infrared Radiation Intensity from Sky.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_LW_UP (Clear Sky Surface Longwave Upward Irradiance): The upward thermal infrared irradiance under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_PAR_TOT (Clear Sky Surface PAR Total): The total Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_DIFF (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance): The diffuse (light energy scattered out of the direction of the sun) solar irradiance incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_DNI (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Direct Normal Irradiance): The direct solar irradiance incident to a horizontal plane normal (perpendicular) to the direction of the sun's position under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_DWN (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Irradiance): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under clear sky conditions. An alternative term for the total solar irradiance is the "Global Horizontal Irradiance" or GHI.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_UP (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Upward Irradiance): The upward shortwave irradiance under clearsky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SRF_ALB (Clear Sky Surface Albedo): The clear sky rate of reflectivity of the earth's surface; the ratio of the solar energy reflected by the surface of the earth compared to the total solar energy incident reaching the surface of the earth.
  • MIDDAY_INSOL (Midday Insolation Incident): The total amount of solar irradiance (i.e. direct plus diffuse) incident on a horizontal plane at the earth's surface during the solar noon hour midday period.
  • PW (Precipitable Water): The total atmospheric water vapor contained in a vertical column of the atmosphere.
  • TOA_SW_DNI (Top-Of-Atmosphere Shortwave Direct Normal Radiation): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane where oriented to the sun's position at the top of the atmosphere (extraterrestrial radiation).
  • TOA_SW_DWN (Top-Of-Atmosphere Shortwave Downward Irradiance): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the top of the atmosphere (extraterrestrial radiation).
  • TS_ADJ (Earth Skin Temperature Adjusted): The adjusted average temperature at the earth's surface.

Datasets available for download

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated March 24, 2026, 21:07 (UTC)
Created March 24, 2026, 21:07 (UTC)
Domain / Topic
Domain or topic of the dataset being cataloged.
Title
Title for the Dataset.
POWER Monthly Radiation
Description
A description of the dataset.

This monthly radiation service provides time-enabled global Analysis Ready Data (ARD) parameters from 1984 to 2023 for the NASA Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) Project's communities.

The Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) Project gathers NASA Earth Observation data and parameters related to the fields of surface solar irradiance and meteorology to serve the public in several free, easy-to-access, and easy-to-use methods. POWER helps communities become resilient amid observed climate variability by improving data accessibility, aiding research in renewable energy development, building energy efficiency, and agriculture sustainability. POWER is funded through the NASA Earth Action Program within the Earth Science Mission Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This monthly radiation service provides time-enabled global Analysis Ready Data (ARD) parameters from 1984 to 2023 for the NASA POWER Project's communities.


Radiation Data Sources:

For questions or issues please email: [email protected]


Radiation Data Parameters:

  • ALLSKY_KT (All Sky Insolation Clearness Index): A fraction representing clearness of the atmosphere; the all sky insolation that is transmitted through the atmosphere to strike the surface of the earth divided by the average of top of the atmosphere total solar irradiance incident.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_LW_DWN (All Sky Surface Longwave Downward Irradiance): The downward thermal infrared irradiance under all sky conditions reaching a horizontal plane the surface of the earth. Also known as Horizontal Infrared Radiation Intensity from Sky.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_LW_UP (All Sky Surface Longwave Upward Irradiance): The upward thermal infrared irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_PAR_TOT (All Sky Surface PAR Total): The total Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_DIFF (All Sky Surface Shortwave Diffuse Irradiance): The diffuse (light energy scattered out of the direction of the sun) solar irradiance incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_DNI (All Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Direct Normal Irradiance): The direct solar irradiance incident to a horizontal plane normal (perpendicular) to the direction of the sun's position under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_DWN (All Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Irradiance): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under all sky conditions. An alternative term for the total solar irradiance is the "Global Horizontal Irradiance" or GHI.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_SW_UP (All Sky Surface Shortwave Upward Irradiance): The upward shortwave irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_UV_INDEX (All Sky Surface UV Index): The ultraviolet radiation exposure index.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_UVA (All Sky Surface UVA Irradiance): The ultraviolet A (UVA 315nm-400nm) irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SFC_UVB (All Sky Surface UVB Irradiance): The ultraviolet B (UVB 280nm-315nm) irradiance under all sky conditions.
  • ALLSKY_SRF_ALB (All Sky Surface Albedo): The all sky rate of reflectivity of the earth's surface; the ratio of the solar energy reflected by the surface of the earth compared to the total solar energy incident reaching the surface of the earth.
  • AOD_55 (Aerosol Optical Depth 55): The optical thickness at 0.55 um measured vertically; the component of the atmosphere to quantify the removal of radiant energy from an incident beam.
  • AOD_55_ADJ (Adjusted Aerosol Optical Depth 55): The adjusted optical thickness at 0.55 um measured vertically; the component of the atmosphere to quantify the removal of radiant energy from an incident beam.
  • CLOUD_AMT (Cloud Amount): The average percent of cloud amount during the temporal period.
  • CLOUD_AMT_DAY (Cloud Amount at Daytime): The average percent of cloud amount during daylight.
  • CLOUD_AMT_NIGHT (Cloud Amount at Nighttime): The average percent of cloud amount during nighttime.
  • CLOUD_OD (Cloud Optical Visible Depth): The vertical optical thickness between the top and bottom of a cloud.
  • CLRSKY_DAYS (Clear Sky Day): The number of Clear Sky Days if the daytime cloud amount is less than 10 percent.
  • CLRSKY_KT (Clear Sky Insolation Clearness Index): A fraction representing clearness of the atmosphere; the clear sky insolation that is transmitted through the atmosphere to strike the surface of the earth divided by the average of top of the atmosphere total solar irradiance incident.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_LW_DWN (Clear Sky Surface Longwave Downward Irradiance):  The downward thermal infrared irradiance under clear sky conditions reaching a horizontal plane the surface of the earth. Also known as Horizontal Infrared Radiation Intensity from Sky.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_LW_UP (Clear Sky Surface Longwave Upward Irradiance): The upward thermal infrared irradiance under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_PAR_TOT (Clear Sky Surface PAR Total): The total Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_DIFF (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance): The diffuse (light energy scattered out of the direction of the sun) solar irradiance incident on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_DNI (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Direct Normal Irradiance): The direct solar irradiance incident to a horizontal plane normal (perpendicular) to the direction of the sun's position under clear sky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_DWN (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Downward Irradiance): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the surface of the earth under clear sky conditions. An alternative term for the total solar irradiance is the "Global Horizontal Irradiance" or GHI.
  • CLRSKY_SFC_SW_UP (Clear Sky Surface Shortwave Upward Irradiance): The upward shortwave irradiance under clearsky conditions.
  • CLRSKY_SRF_ALB (Clear Sky Surface Albedo): The clear sky rate of reflectivity of the earth's surface; the ratio of the solar energy reflected by the surface of the earth compared to the total solar energy incident reaching the surface of the earth.
  • MIDDAY_INSOL (Midday Insolation Incident): The total amount of solar irradiance (i.e. direct plus diffuse) incident on a horizontal plane at the earth's surface during the solar noon hour midday period.
  • PW (Precipitable Water): The total atmospheric water vapor contained in a vertical column of the atmosphere.
  • TOA_SW_DNI (Top-Of-Atmosphere Shortwave Direct Normal Radiation): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane where oriented to the sun's position at the top of the atmosphere (extraterrestrial radiation).
  • TOA_SW_DWN (Top-Of-Atmosphere Shortwave Downward Irradiance): The total solar irradiance incident (direct plus diffuse) on a horizontal plane at the top of the atmosphere (extraterrestrial radiation).
  • TS_ADJ (Earth Skin Temperature Adjusted): The adjusted average temperature at the earth's surface.
Tags / Keywords
Keywords/tags categorizing the dataset.
Format (CSV, XLS, TXT, PDF, etc)
File format of the dataset.
Dataset Size
Dataset size in megabytes.
0.1
Metadata Identifier
Metadata identifier – can be used as the unique identifier for catalogue entry
Published Date
Published date of the dataset.
2021-11-30
Time Period Data Span (start date)
Start date of the data in the dataset.
Time Period Data Span (end date)
End date of time data in the dataset.
GeoSpatial Area Data Span
A spatial region or named place the dataset covers.
Field Value
Access category
Type of access granted for the dataset (open, closed, service, etc).
public
License
License used to access the dataset.
Data Use: When POWER data products are used in a publication, we request the following acknowledgment be included: "These data were obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center POWER Project funded through the NASA Earth Science Directorate Earth Action Program."Data Redistribution: To assist the POWER Project in providing the best service to the scientific community, we request notification if you transmit POWER data to other researchers.Publication Reprints: The POWER Project requests a reprint of any published papers or reports or a brief description of other uses (e.g., posters, oral presentations, etc.) of data products that we have distributed. This will help us determine the use of data that we distribute, which is helpful in optimizing product development. It also helps us to keep our product-related references current. Please contact us at [email protected] for instructions on mailing reprints.Acknowledgements: The POWER team could not have completed this task without both technical and scientific inputs from the following Earth Science Mission Directorate teams: The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment's (GEWEX) Surface Radiation Budget (NASA/GEWEX SRB) and the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) projects at NASA Langley Research Center and the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Limits on use
Limits on use of data.
Location
Location of the dataset.
https://climate.esri.ca/datasets/NASA::power-monthly-radiation
Data Service
Data service for accessing a dataset.
Owner
Owner of the dataset.
bmacpher_NASA
Contact Point
Who to contact regarding access?
NASA ArcGIS Online
Contact Point Email
The email to contact regarding access?
[email protected]
Publisher
Publisher of the dataset.
NASA ArcGIS Online
Publisher Email
Email of the publisher.
Author
Author of the dataset.
bmacpher_NASA
Author Email
Email of the author.
Accessed At
Date the data and metadata was accessed.
2024-12-17
Field Value
Identifier
Unique identifier for the dataset.
f8b59c55f66c47bba486354a122a5489
Language
Language(s) of the dataset
English
Link to dataset description
A URL to an external document describing the dataset.
https://climate.esri.ca/datasets/NASA::power-monthly-radiation
Persistent Identifier
Data is identified by a persistent identifier.
Globally Unique Identifier
Data is identified by a persistent and globally unique identifier.
Contains data about individuals
Does the data hold data about individuals?
Contains data about identifiable individuals
Does the data hold identifiable data about individual?
Contains Indigenous Data
Does the data hold data about Indigenous communities?
Portal Type
Platform type of the source portal.
Field Value
Version
Version of the datatset
None
Source
Source of the dataset.
None
Version notes
Version notes about the dataset.
Is version of another dataset
Link to dataset that it is a version of.
Other versions
Link to datasets that are versions of it.
Provenance Text
Provenance Text of the data.
NASA ArcGIS Online
Provenance URL
Provenance URL of the data.
Temporal resolution
Describes how granular the date/time data in the dataset is.
GeoSpatial resolution in meters
Describes how granular (in meters) geospatial data is in the dataset.
GeoSpatial resolution (in regions)
Describes how granular (in regions) geospatial data is in the dataset.
Field Value
Indigenous Community Permission
Who holds the Indigenous Community Permission. Who to contact regarding access to a dataset that has data about Indigenous communities.
Community Permission
Community permission (who gave permission).
The Indigenous communities the dataset is about
Indigenous communities from which data is derived.
Field Value
Number of data rows
If tabular dataset, total number of rows.
Number of data columns
If tabular dataset, total number of unique columns.
Number of data cells
If tabular dataset, total number of cells with data.
Number of data relations
If RDF dataset, total number of triples.
Number of entities
If RDF dataset, total number of entities.
Number of data properties
If RDF dataset, total number of unique properties used by the triples.
Data quality
Describes the quality of the data in the dataset.
Metric for data quality
A metric used to measure the quality of the data, such as missing values or invalid formats.

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