Climate stations statistics

NIWA generates ‘Statistics’ from Climate Station Observations collected as part of our Climate Station Network.

What are Statistics?

NIWA generates ‘Statistics’ from Climate Station Observations collected as part of our Climate Station Network. These are monthly (e.g. ‘for January 1974') and annual (e.g. 'for 1974’) averages for a large range of station locations, calculated for a large range of parameters. The following table provides key parameters that are often used.

ParameterVariables includedUnitCode (Internal)
RainTotal Rainfall​mm​00​
Total Runoff (WBal AWC=150mm)mm73
Total Deficit (WBal AWC=150mm)mm75
Rain Days (with 0.1mm or more)days40
TemperatureMean Air Temperature​Deg C​02​
Mean Daily Maximum Air Temperatures​Deg C​03​
Mean Daily Minimum Air Temperatures​Deg C​04​
Standard Deviation of Mean Air TemperatureDeg C61
Mean 10cm Earth TemperatureDeg C11
Mean 9am TemperatureDeg C65
Mean 9am Humiditypercent64
Extreme Grass Minimum TemperatureDeg C08
Days of occurrence: Ground Frostdays22
Mean vapour pressurehPa16
SunshineTotal Sunshine Hours​Hrs​09​
PressureMean Sea-level Pressure at 9am​hPa​30​
WindMean Wind Speedm/s33
EvaporationTotal Penman Potential Evapotranspiration​mm34
Total Priestley-Taylor Potential Evapotranspirationmm35
Total Penman Open Water Evapotranspirationmm36
Degree daysTotal Growing Degree Days for 5Cdays37
Total Growing Degree Days for 10Cdays38
Total Cooling Degree Days for 18Cdays39
Total Heating Degree Days for 18Cdays68
Winter Chill Unitscu77
Winter Chill Hourscu78

What can the data be used for?

  • Monthly and annual values can be used to look at long term trends of data.
  • Monthly data can be used to analyse seasonal cycles and their changes over time.

Where can I get Statistics?

The data can be obtained from NIWA DataHub

Station Statistics Data Format

  • Data is provided in separate csv files / tables per variable in two formats:
    • Annual and monthly values are provided as time series formatted csv files
    • A combined file / table includes annual AND monthly data for one year in one row, and monthly and annual values in columns.
  • Naming convention for the files:
    • [agentno]_annual_[variable]_.csv
    • [agentno]_monthly_[variable]_.csv
    • [agentno]_combined_[variable]_.csv
  • The data is “packaged” as zip files for each station and parameter, naming convention for the files is [agentno]_[parameter]. zip.