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MSWEP

Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) is a high-resolution global precipitation dataset. It does not include variables such as temperature, humidity, etc. Its main feature is that it combines or merges different types of data sources to obtain the most accurate and reliable rainfall estimate possible. The amount of precipitation is expressed in mm/3h. It is not an instantaneous precipitation rate. To obtain daily values, the eight 3-hour intervals that make up a day must be added together. To obtain average hourly rates, the 3-hour value would be divided by three.

The data is obtained through:

  • Data from land-based weather stations.

  • Satellite estimates (including oceans and remote areas).

  • Climate reanalysis data (atmospheric models that reconstruct past climate).

By merging each source, MSWEP is able to correct for the weaknesses of each source individually.

API

MSWEP does not offer an API to which requests are made in real time. Instead, access to data is managed through standard protocols and formats for handling large scientific data sets, mainly through files.

As mentioned above, the only data it contains is precipitation. It is presented as the amount of rainfall over a 3-hour period, measured in millimetres (mm).

There are two versions of the data:

  • Near-Real-Time (NRT): updated with a delay of approximately 3 to 12 hours.

  • Research version: this is a corrected and more accurate version that is updated with a delay of several months.

One of its features is full access to the historical record. Data is available from 1979 to the present, allowing for the analysis of trends, past extreme events, and the training of models with a very solid database.

Access to MSWEP data is public for research and educational purposes. To access it, please contact MSWEP:

  • If you are affiliated with a commercial entity and would like to try MSWEP, please fill out the application form.

  • If you do not have a commercial affiliation and intend to use the product for non-commercial purposes, please use the Apply here form in the Data licence section. Once you have completed the form, you will receive a link to the shared Google Drive folder once your request has been approved.