Overview
For product information and Climate Data API purchases, please see the Climate Data API product page. This page here and the following subpages contain all technical information about the Climate Data API.
The meteoblue Climate Data API provides access to three types of future climate data:
- Core data
- Processed data
- Risk data
The data provided through this API are consistent with global climate projections produced within the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), coordinated by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and widely used in assessment reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The CMIP data are updated in successive phases (e.g., CMIP5, CMIP6), each reflecting the latest scientific understanding. meteoblue has currently integrated selected models from two CMIP phases.
| climate model framework | included future scenarios |
|---|---|
| CMIP5 | RCP: 2.6; 4.5; 6.0; 8.5 |
| CMIP6 | SSP: 1-2.6; 2-4.5; 3-7.0; 5-8.5 |
Data types
Data of each of the three climate data types can be retrieved via the corresponding endpoints:
Core data
Core data consist of pure meteorological data. meteoblue applied statistical downscaling to the output of global climate models within the CMIP framework, enhancing the spatial resolution to 12 km.
Base URL:
https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/hourly/climate_plus_data/
Template URL:
https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/hourly/climate_plus_data/future?[decades]&variable=[variable]&emission_scenario=[emission_scenario]&[output_format]=[output_format]&lat=[lat]&lon=[lon]&location_name=[location_name]&country_init=[country_init]&apikey=[apikey]
Example API call:
https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/hourly/climate_plus_data/future?decades=2021-2030&variable=Temperature&emission_scenario=SSP1-2.6&output_format=csv&lat=47.55&lon=7.58&location_name=Basel&country_init=CH&apikey=12456789abcd
| Parameter | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
decades | 2031-2040, 2041-2050, (...), 2091-2100 | The future period is available in decades |
variable | Temperature Precipitation Wind%20speed Relative%20shumidity Shortwave%20radiation | Available variables |
emission_scenario | RCP (CMIP5):RCP-2.6; RCP-4.5; RCP-6.0; RCP-8.5 SSP (CMIP6): SSP1-2.6; SSP2-4.5; SSP3-7.0; SSP5-8.5 | The four most commonly used future climate scenarios, represented as RCPs in CMIP5 and SSPs in CMIP6 |
output_format | CSV JSON | One can choose between these two formats |
lat | maximum: 90; minimum: -90 | Latitude of the coordinate in degrees (e.g. 47.55) |
lon | maximum: 180; minimum: -180 | Longitude of the coordinate in degrees (e.g. 7.58) |
location_name | Optional | Name of the location, e.g. Basel |
country_init | Optional | Initials of the country, e.g. CH (for Switzerland) |
apikey | Your API key |
The parameters location_name and country_init can optionally be specified so that the filename of the generated csv file is easier to identify, e.g., CH_Basel_Temperature_2021-2030_SSP1-2.6.
Processed data
Processed data are derived climate variables created from the core data. One or more variables together characterize a specific climate dimension, a term used interchangeably with climate hazard. Each dimension is related to temperature, wind, water, or solid mass. For example, the temperature-related climate dimension heat wave is defined using the variables Warm Spell Duration Index and Maximum Universal Thermal Comfort Index.
Base URL: https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/processed_data/
Template URL: https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/processed_data/[emission_scenario]?model=[model]&dimension=[dimension]&downscale=[downscale]&latitude=[latitude]&longitude=[longitude]&start_year1=[start_year1]&end_year1=[end_year1]&start_year2=[start_year2]&end_year2=[end_year2]&start_year3=[start_year3]&end_year3=[end_year3]&apikey=[apikey]
Example API call: https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/processed_data/SSP5-8.5?model=CMIP6&dimension=temperature_related&downscale=true&latitude=40.00&longitude=7.90&start_year1=2021&end_year1=2050&start_year2=2046&end_year2=2075&start_year3=2070&end_year3=2099&apikey=123456789abcd
| Parameter | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
emission_scenario | RCP (CMIP5):RCP-2.6; RCP-4.5; RCP-6.0; RCP-8.5 SSP (CMIP6): SSP1-2.6; SSP2-4.5; SSP3-7.0; SSP5-8.5 | The four most commonly used future climate scenarios, represented as RCPs in CMIP5 and SSPs in CMIP6 |
model | CMIP5 CMIP6 | Select between the CMIP5 or CMIP6 climate model framework. CMIP5 uses the RCPs, CMIP6 the SSPs |
dimension | temperature_related wind_related water_related solid_matter_related | All climate dimensions are grouped into four categories: temperature, wind, water, or solid mass. For instance, choosing temperature_related retrieves all climate dimensions (and their variables) associated with temperature. |
downscale | true false | Boolean value: Choose between a resolution of 30 km (true) or 12 km (false) |
latitude | maximum: 90; minimum: -90 | Latitude of the coordinate in degrees (e.g. 47.55) |
longitude | maximum: 180; minimum: -180 | Longitude of the coordinate in degrees (e.g. 7.58) |
start_year1 | Value must be greater than or equal to 2005 | Start of the first future period |
end_year1 | Value must be less than or equal to 2100 | End of the first future period |
start_year2 | Value must be greater than or equal to 2005 | Start of the second future period |
end_year2 | value must be less than or equal to 2100 | End of the second future period |
start_year3 | value must be greater than or equal to 2005 | Start of the third future period |
end_year3 | value must be less than or equal to 2100 | End of the third future period |
apikey | Your API key |
For each time-range selection, a period between 10 and 30 years is recommended to ensure climatologically meaningful results.
Risk data
Risk data indicates the risk class of the climate dimension and its associated climate variables. Each dimension or variable is classified into one of five risk classes. The classification is determined by the number of years (out of a 41-year ensemble) in which the future mean annual value for a given location and climate scenario exceeds the current median value for that same scenario and location.
Accordingly, the standard risk classification is strucutred as follows:
| No risk | Low risk | Medium risk | High risk | Red flag | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage deviation from current climate | [0,5[ | [5,33[ | [33,66[ | [66,95[ | >=95 |
| Number of years | [0,22[ | [22,28[ | [28,35[ | [35,40[ | >=40 |
The 41-year ensemble can be interpreted as 41 individual realisations (members). As an example, if the mean value in at least 25 of these 41 members exceeds the median value of the current period, the situation is classified as low risk, as this corresponds to the 5th-33rd percentile range of the distribution.
Base URL:
https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/risk_data/
Template URL: https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/risk_data/[emission_scenario]?model=[model]&dimension=[dimension]&downscale=[downscale]&latitude=[latitude]&longitude=[longitude]&start_year=[start_year]&end_year=[end_year]&apikey=[api_key]
Example API call: https://climateplus.meteoblue.com/risk_data/SSP1-2.6?model=CMIP6&dimension=temperature_related&downscale=true&latitude=45.5&longitude=12.5&start_year=2031&end_year=2050&apikey=123456789abcd
| Parameter | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
emission_scenario | RCP:RCP-2.6; RCP-4.5; RCP-6.0; RCP-8.5 SSP: SSP1-2.6; SSP2-4.5; SSP3-7.0; SSP5-8.5 | The four commonly used future scenarios in CMIP5 (RCPs) and CMIP6 (SSPs) climate model simulations |
model | CMIP5 CMIP6 | Select between the CMIP5 or CMIP6 climate model framework. CMIP5 uses the RCPs, CMIP6 the SSPs |
dimension | temperature_related wind_related water_related solid_matter_related | All climate dimensions are grouped into four categories: temperature, wind, water, or solid mass. For instance, choosing temperature_related retrieves all climate dimensions (and their variables) associated with temperature. |
downscale | true false | Boolean value: Choose between a resolution of 30 km (true) or 12 km (false) |
latitude | maximum: 90; minimum: -90 | Latitude of the coordinate in degrees (e.g. 47.55) |
longitude | maximum: 180; minimum: -180 | Longitude of the coordinate in degrees (e.g. 7.58) |
start_year | Value must be greater than or equal to 2005 | Start of the future period |
end_year | Value must be less than or equal to 2100 | End of the future period |
apikey | Your API key |
For each time-range selection, a period between 10 and 30 years is recommended to ensure climatologically meaningful results.