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ECMWF/EEA

ERA Explorer

The ERA Explorer is an interactive web application that allows users to explore historical climate conditions worldwide based on the ERA5 global reanalysis dataset developed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. It provides quick visualisations and statistics on variables such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and frost for specific locations, based on hourly climate data from 1940 to the present. The tool uses ERA5’s high-resolution reanalysis (about 31 km) to generate climate summaries and maps (typically based on 1991–2020 averages). As the data represent model-assimilated grid cells rather than site-specific observations, results should be interpreted as approximations and mainly as a starting point for further climate analysis.

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What you can do with it

Input

  • Select a location and a variable (temperature, precipitation, wind, frost)
  • Explore hourly ERA5 data from 1940 to present
  • Review summaries typically referenced to 1991–2020

Output

  • Location-specific climate summaries and statistics
  • Maps and interactive visualisations
  • Historical time series at ~31 km resolution

Use it to

  • Establish a historical climate baseline for a location
  • Screen past temperature, precipitation, wind and frost conditions before deeper analysis

Why is it relevant to climate adaptation

Saves users from sourcing and processing raw reanalysis data themselves — delivers a ready-made global climate baseline that can support quick screening before commissioning more detailed local studies.

Used in

  • Initial climate baselining for national/subnational assessments
  • Used by authorities, researchers, consultants, NGOs and citizens

Metadata

User Group
Commission services and/or AgenciesNational authoritiesSubnational authorities
Geographic coverage
Global
Spatial resolution

Local

Support of Adaptation Policy Cycle
Step 2: Assessing Climate Change Risks and Vulnerabilities
Adaptation sectors
AgricultureBusiness and industryDisaster Risk Reduction
Climate hazards
Heavy precipitation / extreme rainfallHeatWind / storm
Type of outputs
Maps and graphsDatasets and indicators
Temporality of data
Historical/past
Language
English
Accessibility and usability
High
Data sources
Public datasets from external providers
Tool validation use
Peer-reviewed methodologyExpert validation / reputable institution

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This translation is generated by eTranslation, a machine translation tool provided by the European Commission.

Exclusion of liability
This translation is generated by eTranslation, a machine translation tool provided by the European Commission.