Gaussen Diagram

In this section, we demonstrate the generation of Gaussen diagrams using the Climate Gaussen Diagram component.

Generating Gaussen Diagram

Sample data

The component requires monthly precipitation and average temperature data as inputs. If you already have the data, save it as a .csv file using Excel or similar software. Some sample data is shown below. Note only the Precipitation (PRCP) and Average temperature (TVAG) columns are necessary. Next, we import the data into Grasshopper for processing and visualization, as demonstrated in the Example section.

We encourage you to use in-field measurements or data from local meteorological stations for the best accuracy. However, if that data isn’t available, you can find alternative sources for Swiss and global data in the Climate Data Collection section.

Example

• Download the .gh file here and the .csv data file here.
• Key components: Climate Gaussen Diagram.

Climate Data Collection

We recommend using the IDAweb data portal for Swiss meteorological data and the Global Summary of the Month (GSOM) dataset for global data. The procedure for accessing the relevant data is outlined below.

Swiss Data (IDAweb)

IDAweb is a data portal that provides MeteoSwiss data from MeteoSwiss ground level monitoring networks. The portal is primarily intended for teaching staff, students, and individuals working in teaching and research. To access the data, you need to register on the data portal and submit an application form with all the necessary signatures to MeteoSwiss. After registration, you can retrieve the data by following the official instructions.

Global Data (GSOM dataset)

The GSOM dataset from National Centers for Environmental Information (NECI) provides monthly meteorological data from a large number of stations around the world. To access the desired data, start by visiting the search page and follow the steps below:

1. In the webpage, select the Data Types (Precipitation and Average Temperature), the Location, and the desired Date Range.
2. Once the information is specified, available data from meteorological stations in the selected location will be displayed below. To download all the available data, use the Download button. However, this data might be overwhelming for further processing as it may contain unnecessary information such as other attributes and other date ranges. To download only the relevant data, click the Select button at the top-right corner.
3. After clicking the Select button, you can further specify the format and data configuration at the bottom of the page. Choose csv as the output format and click the Configure and Add button to set additional data options.
4. In the data options page, review and select the desired parameters. Specify the Units of the data as needed. Note that the metric option uses SI units (e.g., °C for temperature, mm for precipitation), while the standard option uses US units (e.g., °F for temperature, inches for precipitation). Then, add the configured data to the shopping cart.
5. In the order review page, enter your email address and submit the order. You should receive a confirmation email immediately, followed by another email with the download link.
6. Use the provided link to download the .csv file. In the file, PRCP represents precipitation and TAVG represents average temperature.