Sources of Online Data for Model Use

Numerical models need data both for input and for validation of results. Below are a few sources of online data, many of which are freely available. As with all modelling, care must be taken: garbage in, garbage out...

Boundary data

• Global tidal constituents
  Link to the DTU10 global ocean tide model. The resolution is 0.125º x 0.125º and includes the 12 major tidal constituents. 
• Water Forecast
  "The Waterforecast" operated at DHI not only provides forecast data, but also stores the hindcast in many parts of the world.
  The following data are available:

  Parameter	Coverage
  Wind (10m), Atm. Pressure	Global
  Waves	Global
  3D Currents	North Sea/Baltic Sea
  3D Temperature	North Sea/Baltic Sea
  3D Salinity	North Sea/Baltic Sea
  3D Biology	North Sea/Baltic Sea

  Demo pages are available, but in order to use data operationally you need to subscribe

• Topographic data (NOAA)
  A 30-arc-second (1-km) gridded, quality-controlled global Digital Elevation Model (DEM).
  Combine with Mike Animator to make impressive graphics !!
• ETOPO2 Topographic & Bathymetric data (NGDC)
  2 by 2 minute resolution of both land surface and seabed.
  You can order a CD or design your own grid online, aswell as download raw data.
• Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC)
  GRDC are in the business of Acquisition, Storage, Dissemination and Reporting of river discharge data on global scale (6395 stations as of Dec 2002).
  Although not really online, river runoff data can be very hard to come by.
  Some very usefull products can be found here, and for instance Long term annual means for the world rivers are available for download.