GeoTIFF / ASCII
WorldClim v2.1
Global climate rasters at 30 arc-second resolution including temperature, precipitation, and 19 bioclimatic variables.
Species distribution modeling Climate change analysis
Climate & weather
Climate & Weather Data
Global climate rasters, historical weather records, and reanalysis datasets including WorldClim, CHELSA, NOAA CDO, and ERA5 for environmental and ecological GIS analysis.
WorldClim temperature precipitation climate normals ERA5 bioclimatic variables
Downloadable datasets in this category
4
Each dataset page captures official source links, access notes, and related GIS workflows.
Official sources and direct access
Mixed delivery
Pages combine official portals, direct downloads, and task-focused usage guidance in one canonical URL.
GEO coverage
Task-first content
Intros, FAQs, and workflows are written to answer real “where do I download…” searches.
Climate pages target GIS users who need spatially interpolated climate surfaces (temperature, precipitation, bioclimatic variables) rather than raw station readings.
The category spans global climate normals, high-resolution downscaled products, and reanalysis datasets suited for ecological modeling and climate impact studies.
Downloadable datasets in this category
Category directory
Category pages aggregate the most useful entry points first, then push visitors into detailed dataset pages with richer steps and FAQ sections.
GeoTIFF / NetCDF
CHELSA Climate
High-resolution global climate data using orographic and downscaled climate models, more accurate in mountainous terrain than WorldClim.
Mountain climate research Species distribution modeling
CSV / XML
NOAA Climate Data Online (CDO)
Historical weather station data from NOAA including daily and monthly observations for thousands of stations worldwide.
Historical climate analysis Weather station data extraction
GRIB / NetCDF
ERA5 Reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Store)
Global reanalysis dataset from ECMWF providing hourly climate variables from 1940 to present at ~31km resolution.
Climate reanalysis Historical weather reconstruction
Recommended climate workflow
How to choose a source
- Start with WorldClim for global bioclimatic variable rasters at multiple resolutions.
- Use CHELSA for higher-accuracy climate data in mountainous and complex terrain.
- Use NOAA Climate Data Online for station-level historical observations when you need actual weather records.
- Use ERA5 reanalysis when you need continuous hourly gridded climate data from 1940 to present.
Category FAQ
Category FAQ
What is the best free global climate dataset for species distribution modeling?
WorldClim bioclimatic variables are the most widely used for species distribution modeling. CHELSA provides a higher-accuracy alternative, especially in mountainous regions.
How does ERA5 differ from WorldClim?
ERA5 is a reanalysis product providing hourly atmospheric variables from 1940 to present at ~31km resolution, while WorldClim provides long-term climate averages (normals) at up to 30 arc-second resolution.